News

A crowd funding appeal has been launched to improve the equipment in the Manor House Gardens playground,

Art Voyage Biennial CIC, which also supported the sculpture in the middle of the Gardens lake, believe if they can raise £24,000 they can meet the target of £96,000 with a grant from the Arts Council National Lottery fund.

Tima Jam, who is behind the project, has the support of Lewisham Council. says “The play area has outdated grey surfacing installed over 20 years ago, damaged flooring, and several pieces of broken equipment. It currently offers very limited activities for children, specifically for those aged 2–5, leaving younger families without a safe or engaging space to play.”

Her vision is to transform the Manor House Gardens playground into a “Magic Corner”, a vibrant, inclusive space by delivering free creative workshops and community planting days that bring residents, schools, and local organisations together. 

Peter Maynard, Lewisham’s Green Space Contract Officer says “The proposal is fully aligned with Council policies for enhancement of green spaces and we confirm the involvement of Art Voyage Biennial CIC in leading this project in partnership with the Friends of Manor House Gardens, a passionate and dedicated volunteer organisation, which is recognised by the Council as the constituted representative of park users. The project will have oversight from council officers and Glendale, the Council’s principal parks contractor.”

The Lee Manor Society is celebrating its Golden Anniversary with an exhibition in the Manor House library of historic pictures of Lee and of the Society’s modern-day role in its enhancement.

Starting on Monday June 29 and running for two weeks to Saturday July 11 the exhibition is free to view during normal library opening hours (10am-6pm Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm Saturday, closed Sunday).

The display comprises photographs of Lee from its largely Victorian origins and through the first half of the 20th century up to the present day. It shows images of Society activities including restoration of the 250-year-old Ice House in Manor House Gardens, the planting of street trees and the removal of intrusive graffiti.

The photographs also display the results of members’ behind-the-scenes work on scrutinising planning applications to prevent change that would damage the neighbourhood and promote developments that enhance its character. Current schemes such as the restoration and replanting of the neglected “Big Bed “at the Old Road entrance to Manor House Gardens demonstrate the range of Society activities and the value we can add to the local scene.

Established in 1976 by residents concerned at the demolition of swathes of Victorian housing – then dismissed as hopelessly outdated but now prized for its convenience and fine detailing – the Society has worked for 50 years, alongside other local community groups, to maintain Lee as an attractive neighbourhood in which to live and work.

We welcome all local residents to an evening drinks event from 6.30-8pm on Thursday, July 2nd in Manor House Library entrance hall, to celebrate the anniversary and the exhibition. A free drink and snacks for every guest.

Can you help the Manor House Gardens Festival on June 20th? The organisers are appealing for volunteers, especially for two specific roles.

They need people to help escort vehicles on and off the site in the morning and evening . They also need stewards to welcome guests at the various gates for an hour between 11.00 AM and 6 PM.

If you can help please email the Festival team at mhgfestival@gmail.com

Year 4 pupils at Brindishe Lee School have sent London Square a list of ideas for naming the buildings and roads in the new Lee Green development.

Their teacher Mrs Janine Rathbone told the Lee Manor Society “In our geography unit, we have been looking at how Lee Green has changed over time using maps and as the brief says that London Square prefer names with historical significance we looked again at the map from circa 1745 that we had used. It shows Lee Green in its infancy and the children used some of the names on it – both people and geographical parts – to generate their ideas.”

Here are the names the Brindishe children have sent in: Gregory Road, Ridley Marsh Road, Stubbs House, Splash Common Tower, John Lade Tower, Green Wood Lane, Downtrees Court, Grassy Heath Road and Lee Page Road. 

Mrs Rathbone added “We have also been for a walk around our local area using our own list of criteria for what makes somewhere a good place to live.”