You can join The Friends of Croydon Road Recreation Ground by following this link
You will receive newsletters about our events and updates about our fundraising efforts to restore the bandstand and paddling pool
and, if you want to do something practical, we are always looking for volunteers to help us with our events!
Our Annual General Meeting is held every November and, as a member, you will be able to vote at this meeting.

Paddling Pool status update

The Paddling Pool is now Closed

Gate Lodge and adjacent Gateway to Croydon Road Recreation Ground
Awarded Listed Building Status

The building was added to the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest in June 2021. The building is now listed at Grade II.

HISTORIC ENGLAND HAS STATED THE FOLLOWING REASONS FOR DESIGNATION DECISION

The gate lodge and gateway to Croydon Road Recreation Ground, Beckenham, built in 1890 to 1891, are recommended for listing at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest:

A late Victorian gate lodge forming a strong architectural composition alongside the gateway at the entrance to the park, including wooden verandas, a circular bay window for the supervision of the park covered by an elegant ogee dome, and a pyramidal roof rising to a tall central chimney stack;

The lodge survives relatively well and compares favourably to listed lodges of the period.

Historic interest:

For the historic association with the wider expansion of the public park movement in the late 19th century, following the Public Health Act (1875), when parks developed in suburbs and small towns for recreation and as an expression of civic pride.

Group value:

As a component of a fine late Victorian and Edwardian ensemble alongside the Grade II-listed (2019) Bowie Bandstand (1905), which is also associated with the 1969 Summer Growth Festival and David Bowie’s rise to fame after performing in the park, adjacent to housing of the same period.