FEATURE Take a trip, get fit
Ideal for walking, jogging or cycling, the new Green Chain extension is reviewed here by John Webb
The
extension to the Green Chain Walk, the network
of paths and tracks which links green spaces across south east London, is being planned.
The extension will connect Eltham Palace, where Henry VIII spent much of his childhood, with Greenwich, where he was born.
The four mile connection between two sites takes in parks, greens, alleyways and the historic open vista of Blackheath, with surprisingly little urban streetscape in between.
Eltham Palace
Depart from the entrance to Eltham Palace down King John’s Walk for 100 metres
Immediately on the right is a 16th century timber-framed building called Lord Chancellor’s lodgings, the only surviving Tudor building of the Green Court of the Palace, and now converted into three houses.
Queenscroft Park
Queenscroft Park was created with the Middle Park Estate between 1931-1936 on former Royal parkland.
Continue through Queenscroft Park to Queenscroft Road. Turn right and cross over Eltham Hill via the pelican crossing.
Eltham Green
Cross Eltham Green to the pelican crossing over Westhorne Avenue, continuing along Eltham Road to the entrance to Sutcliffe Park
The green is marked on maps going back to 1740s and is owned by the Crown
Originally made into a park in 1937, the River Quaggy was put underground in the 1970s in an attempt to stop flooding. In 2004, the river was exposed again as part of a flood protection scheme, becoming a reservoir in times of heavy rain. Species found there include heron, kingfishes and grebes.
The ‘Kidbrooke Vision’ re-development of Ferrier Estate will create 4,500 new homes over 15 years. First to be finished are the City Point apartments, between Tudway Road and Eltham Road, prices ranging up from £215,000.
From King John’s Walk, look back to the left to see the 15th century moat bridge with its four Gothic arches and for views of the Great Hall built by Edward IV in 1480.
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Estate. It was registered as a village green under the Commons Registration Act 1965 and has withstood threats of development by Thames Water and more recently from an inappropriately- sited footpath. The houses, 1 – 13 Eltham Green, on the north side, were built in the 1840s.
Turn right in Tudway Road, past the Kidbrooke hoardings to the railway. Go over the footbridge, through the motorway underpass, then left and follow the path onto Kidbrooke Green.
Kidbrooke Green
Keep to the west side of Kidbrooke Green to Rochester Way
A patch of grass which has been threatened by supermarket and housing developers but now consolidated as a
Be active in your community
Turn right northwards to the junction with Kingsground. Then turn left and enter Queenscroft Park by the gate.
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Sutcliffe Park Take the path along the eastern side of the park to Tudway Road, or divert through the park.
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