Information on the history of Blythe Hill Fields

[Mark Wellband]

So I thought I'd start a few topic threads that people might wish to contribute to. Do you, or does any one you know, have information, stories, pictures of Blythe Hill Fields from previous generations? We would all like to hear/see them. We will hopefully have the website up soon and should include a place to share these pictures and stories. Let us all know about them here.

[tigger]

I used to live in Blythe Hill Lane 1958 - 1980. l have many happy memories of a child of the park that was at the top of the hill. l have since returned and was saddened to see the change. The swings that l had remembered all gone, there had been a hut in which someone looked after all the children while using the facility. Children were all protected from bullying, on regular occassion when accidents occured she would rush out and attend - often calling an ambulance. Adjacent to the swing park was a park keepers lodge, they were kitted out in a brown uniform who kept the park in excellent condition. As children we often ran from the park keepers (Parkies) - They cut the grass, looked after the trees (kept kids out of their branches)

l to would be interested in history of the fields - l understand that Blythe House had stood in the grounds of what is now the park - does anyone have any addtional information?

[DavidH]

I was also a kid about the same time and remember my dad having an allotment in the park. I remember when we had to give it up and clear the area after the war. My dad's plot was right next to the water fountain on the path up the hill. I can remember picking wonderful red tomato's warm from the sun. Pity the swings are not there, I broke my arm on a swing falling off the very long chained swings. H & S not to be seen. I trudged off all the way to Lewisham hospital with my broken arm, all on my own.

David.h

[The Humble One]

In the early Sixties before the Fields were transferred from the GLC to the tender mercies of Lewisham one of the playground attendants would have been my mum. Hopefully she had moved on or her oppo, my friend Nigel's mum, was on when DavidH had his incident cos she would have been all too keen to put her St John's training to good use after practising it on me. And yes I can well believe it went hard for bullies. She later worked at other parks before becoming Chair then Secretary of Lewisham NUPE (later Unison)when it sometimes went slightly hard with Local Councillors (even the estimable Nick Taylor). But I think she was happiest working with kids and always kept her GLC badge.