The History Of Waring Park

Lord Waring

Samuel Waring was an industrialist who made his fortune in the family business supplying high quality furniture and cabinet making. This fortune expanded when the firm were chosen to supply the Royal Navy. Latterly as Waring and Gillow they moved into the supply of fixtures and fittings for luxury cruise liners including the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth ships.

His family owned large areas of land around the borough including the family esate at Footscray Meadows. In 1929 the family donated a 12 acre parcel of land to the people of Sidcup in perpetuity for the purpose of recreational pursuits.

Planning and building the Park

Once the land was donated in 1929 plans were put in place for the layout. Men from Cumberland who had been made redundant from local blast furnaces were employed to do the required groundworks. It is understood that many of these workers remained in the area after the project was completed.

Lord Waring was quite specific in his requirements for the park. He was particularly keen that the park should have provision for older people by the provision of walks, shelters and by extending and improving the large area of existing woodland.

Around the remainder was to be a belt around 10yards deep and was to be planted with large and varied selection of ornamental and forest trees and flowering and evergreen shrubs.

The main portion of the site was to be levelled and laid to grass to provide: A bowling green, tennis courts, two Cricket pitches and pitches for "Association Football" , Rugby Football and Hockey. There would also be four Netball pitches.

As if this was not enough there was also to be a playground area with a sandpit for smaller children.

The total cost at the time was £11,477!

Click on the links below for more details:

Waring & Gillow Oxford Street Store