Danson Park

Elthamaddick

clive said:

Danson Park could Go Ape with zip wire course planned

https://greenwichwire.co.uk/2025/12/18/go-ape-danson-park-bexley-council/

been rumoured for some time now - don't see it getting the go ahead personally, seems to be a fair bit of opposition to it.

guinnessaddick

Elthamaddick said:

clive said:

Danson Park could Go Ape with zip wire course planned

https://greenwichwire.co.uk/2025/12/18/go-ape-danson-park-bexley-council/

been rumoured for some time now - don't see it getting the go ahead personally, seems to be a fair bit of opposition to it.

If it does get the go ahead, some people will definitely be going ape.

ME14addick

I remember using the pool as a child, it was a lovely place. 

FiveGoalSummers

Danson Park was one of my favourite places in the 1950s. I have great memories of the miniature railway that ran along the south bank of the lake. I believe it was built during the war as part of the 'holidays at home' scheme. Later there was also a similar line near Briset Road, Eltham.

Getting to the park involved a trolleybus ride on route 696. Always good fun to stand at the stop at Welling Corner and watch the trolleys sweep into view. There was a very frequent service. As a kid it was an experience to stand on the staircase of the trolleybus, as it accelerated away from the stop. They were much quicker than diesel buses and 'boy' did you feel the G forces!

They were simple pleasures in those days for a youngster. 

bobmunro

ME14addick said:

I remember using the pool as a child, it was a lovely place. 

Likewise - the lido was fantastic and much better than Charlton (although I had some fun times there when I was older). Long hot summer days with my mum and sister, packed lunch, the little tea rooms.

Also, fishing on the lake and taking rowing boats out.

So many happy memories.

ME14addick

bobmunro said:

ME14addick said:

I remember using the pool as a child, it was a lovely place. 

Likewise - the lido was fantastic and much better than Charlton (although I had some fun times there when I was older). Long hot summer days with my mum and sister, packed lunch, the little tea rooms.

Also, fishing on the lake and taking rowing boats out.

So many happy memories.

I also remember the pool at Martens Grove  but Danson Park was brilliant. 

SuedeAdidas

T_C_E said:

We used to have a bath race there when I was in the LFB, it was all the services the LAS and MP. All started in good fun, we used to fill fire extinguishers with a red dye and with the LAS go straight for the OB and sink the gits the public loved it. I think was part of the Bexley show, Health & Safety wouldnt allow it now.

I went to a few of these when I was a kid. 

My brother was in the LFB at Plumstead at the time.
Along with the health and safety angle, I think the PC Police would have a field day. One year, my brother’s crew had a Zulu theme and the all blacked up. I distinctly remember my brother being the only one not wearing an Afro wig as he had a wet look perm at the time and didn’t need one to complete the look. 

ValleyGary

Walk round it most days for an hour, beautiful piece of green land and say hello to the regular dog walkers.

Its my happy place.

DaveMehmet

ValleyGary said:

Walk round it most days for an hour, beautiful piece of green land and say hello to the regular doggers.

Its my happy place.

Curb_It

Sometimes you don’t even have to look at who made a particular post… 

loved Danson growing up and it’s still a wonderful park. I hope this gets refused. 

R0TW

ValleyGary said:

Walk round it most days for an hour, beautiful piece of green land and say hello to the regular dog walkers.

Its my happy place.

Likewise. Most mornings with the dog and a coffee at the boat shed.

Elthamaddick

Very lucky to live a 2 min walk from it and now seem to know most of the dog walkers on nodding terms

killerandflash

clive said:

Danson Park could Go Ape with zip wire course planned

https://greenwichwire.co.uk/2025/12/18/go-ape-danson-park-bexley-council/

Is that zip wire to allow opposition managers to get in and out of Park View Road safely?

fat man on a moped

Masterbrew said:

I remember the railway as well. The locomotive eventually went to the Bredgar and Wormshill Railway; it is now owned by one of the volunteers there, who is currently restoring it

I don't rember the train running but do remember the tracks still being there, probably in the late 60s. Back in 2004 I had an email conversation with someone who was researching it's history. 

This is what he told me:

"The railway opened in 1949 and had an old engine shed built out of sections of Anderson Shelters. In 1962 the owner of the line, Ron Hammett, negotiated a new 10 year lease at a very advantageous rate. One of his promises was to build a new, larger engine shed and this he did at the end of the 1962 season. The track was sunk into the concrete floor and it just needed the doors to be fitted and the track to be connected to the mainline. Unfortunately the railway's main emplyee, Charlie Barbee, died in February 1963 unexpectedly and Ron took the decision to close the railway and move abroad on health grounds (he had a couple of serious heart attacks during the 50s and was never the fittest of men). So the engine shed stood empty and unfinished while the Council debated on wether to buy the railway. When they found they couldn't find an operator they decided against buying and Ron sold the railway. The engine shed, which had cost £600 (a not inconsequential sum in 1962) passed to the Council by default and they erected the doors and have used it for the last 40 years as a store for lawnmowers etc.

 

Ron lived in Danson Road (No.38) and before the war he was a prolific local builder who built various properties including those in Lancelot Road (Welling), the Halcot Estate at the top of Gravel Hill etc. He certainly built a lot of property in the Welling, Bexleyheath, Blackfen area."