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Odeon (now Mecca) car park where local residents could grow their own crops.
After the war the grounds were gradually reinstated as peace returned and people used their local open spaces as part of the ‘Holidays at home’ scheme as they could not afford to go away. The maintenance team for the local open spaces kept their equipment and tractor in a shed on rising ground near the Eltham Hill houses where the cleared site is today marked by a slab of concrete.
the children’s playground and park keeper’s hut
from where they sold their wares outside the recreation ground which had a model boating pool and paddling pool with a park keeper to guard over it who rang the bell at dusk when the park closed.’
m trees were felled
When the Second World War loomed the recreation ground was to play its part in the war effort. The most dramatic action taken, as agreed by the Home Office, occurred at Briset Road Recreation Ground, Shrewsbury Park, Eltham Park South, and here at Queenscroft where from 24 September 1938 several deep slit, timber lined, trenches were dug across the grounds to afford shelter for 1,000 people against enemy aerial attack. Gas chambers were also installed in the grounds to test gas masks. In the quest to provide more home- g r own food some of the land was put ‘to the plough’ and crops like cabbages and sprouts were grown on the ground nearer Eltham Hill while an allotment section was created on the slopes near the
Volunteer and help out
In the 1950s roller skating was a popular pastime and Woolwich Borough Council agreed to install two rinks in the borough. One was at Plumstead Gardens and the other at Queenscroft which were both opened on 31 October 1956. The park did not escape the dreaded Dutch elm disease in the early 1970s and several old trees were felled. In 1996 a Queenscroft Park Community Project was initiated. Included in the plans
HISTORIC ELTHAM
Woolwich Borough Council employees by the roller skating rink in the 1950s (Picture from Harry Jones)
roller-skating rink fenced and laid out for volley/basket ball sports and a 2012 Olympic legacy gym installed.
Community Fair in 1998
was the staging of a couple of fairs by local people to re-focus the delights of Queenscroft Park and local organisations had stalls and events, including a ‘wild west shoot-out’, which proved popular. Storm damage has seen the uprooting of some of the boundary trees but the ancient oaks survive as a link with former days.
Like all council-maintained parks and open spaces vandalism has reared its ugly head causing unnecessary expense in keeping the facilities in a fitting and safe environment. Some buildings, including the toilets and park keepers hut, have been removed. Sadly the pools have long been out of use. However, the children’s playground has been updated, the former
The park hit the news in 2009 when two new asphalt paths were cut across the park. This was in connection with a Transport for London scheme to add extra paths across open spaces to make shorter cuts for walkers – a path was also cut across Eltham Green. This caused much local controversy and after deliberations between Greenwich Council and TFL the paths were removed and grass reinstated. However early this year another path was laid along part of the edge of the park – but this time of a temporary nature – to be used by pupils from Eltham Hill Technology College to access their building as their premises are being rebuilt.
Unfortunately there has never been enough volunteers to form a ‘Friends’ group for this park – perhaps having read this article some people might be moved to start one!
One of the controversial paths through the park in 2009
All pictures are from the John Kennett collection 21
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