Bridge to Nowhere

A walk from Walworth Road to Old Kent Road through Burgess Park listening to the sounds of activity all around. The soundscape also incorporates comments from park users recorded as part of the Heritage Lottery oral history project in 2014.

Close your eyes and visualise the walk, starting at the new west-end playground near Addington Square, passing through sports facilities and playgrounds, and the underpass, ending up at the Glengall Wharf Garden. The sounds were recorded by Tom Rogers over a weekend in June 2019.

A journey through the streets and canalways of the Camberwell of 1917, bringing to life the events of the Raid of October 1917.

As part of a season of events within Burgess Park to commemorate 100 years since that tragic night, this special oral history has been created out of the findings of a dedicated team of volunteer researchers, and tells the story of those living and working in the area whose lives were so sorely devastated when a Zeppelin bomb fell on Calmington Road, killing 10 people.

Throughout October 2017, the Friends of Burgess Park, with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, created a month-long project, Zeppelin 1917, to uncover the stories of local heroes and the dramatic raid - right over what is now Burgess Park. Discover more about the other events and findings we uncovered on the Bridge to Nowhere website.

The story of the post-war creation of Burgess Park, told by some of the prime instigators - Joyce Bellamy, OBE, former head of parks for GLC, Dave Sadler, former park manager, Robert Hadfield, formerly with Groundwork Southwark, revealing first-hand, the development of the park from its WWII bomb site beginnings through the multi-million pound 2010 make-over to the present day.

More details of the event can be found here.

Local Historians Stephen Humphrey, John Beasley and Tim Charlesworth deliver a fascinating talk celebrating the rich history of Burgess Park.

More details of the event here.

Oral history weaving together thoughts on the recent revitalisation.

In 2013/14, together with Heritage Lottery funding, Reprezent FM and FOBP recorded memories of people from the area talking about the setting up and development of the unique Burgess Park.

Part of the Bridge to Nowhere project of the Friends of Burgess Park.

Oral history weaving together thoughts about the evolution of the park.

In 2013/14, together with Heritage Lottery funding, Reprezent FM and FOBP recorded memories of people from the area talking about the setting up and development of the unique Burgess Park.

Part of the Bridge to Nowhere project of the Friends of Burgess Park.

Oral history weaving together thoughts on the emotional impact of the development of the park.

In 2013/14, together with Heritage Lottery funding, Reprezent FM and FOBP recorded memories of people from the area talking about the setting up and development of the unique Burgess Park.

Part of the Bridge to Nowhere project of the Friends of Burgess Park.

Oral history weaving together recollections of growing up in the area, and the canal which ran through the middle of what is now the park.

In 2013/14, together with Heritage Lottery funding, Reprezent FM and FOBP recorded memories of people from the area talking about the setting up and development of the unique Burgess Park.

Part of the Bridge to Nowhere project of the Friends of Burgess Park.