Danson Park (c.1935)

An amateur film from Bexley Local Studies and Archive Centre of Bexley's Danson Park. The video aims to reveal its attractions, the tennis courts, the tree lined avenue, the manor house of Danson Mansion and the lake with swans, boats and people bathing.
(The full catalogue record for this film, LSA/0042, is available at www. londonsscreenarchives.org.uk.)

[@larryina]

I can't believe I'm seeing Danson Park on TH-cam! I lived in Bexleyheath until I emigrated to Canada in 1963 with my family. I can remember boating on the lake with my sister....... Lovely memories.

[@TriflingCircle]

Very interesting film.
I was born in the borough in 1939. I was evacuated from time to time depending on how heavy the bombing raids became.
i remember the "lake" as always being empty and just a stream running through middle.
I believe that during early part of war wood and logs were floated to cover water. Sometime later it was drained. The lake if visible from air made a good marker for the enemy bobbers
The lake pictures showing people suggest to me this is peacetime. Any observations?

[@davidbeavan9521]

My headmaster used to live on the corner house

[@TriflingCircle]

A further thought.
We lived in a long road that was mainly in Bexleyheath but the last approx ten houses were in Erith. Our house was first in Erith and my parents had named the propeerty Erith Edge.
At the start of the war we received a visit from a policeman on a bike and was told to remove sign. It would have been helpful to the enemy had invasion taken place. We were bombed out but my father always said the sign could not have been replaced till 1945
Park sign would not be there in 1942

[@TriflingCircle]

I was interested in your reply.
I find that Bexley was an Urban District Coucil between 1984 and 1935 when it became a Municipal Borough.
The sign at 15 seconds into film refers to UDC. The sign is in good condition and looks to be recently painted. Therefore I think you are right and it was filmed well before 1942.
I cannot see any further clues in film.

[@TriflingCircle]

Error to correct in my previous post.
Bexley was an Urban District Council between 1894 (not1984) and 1935. Sorry
Looking again at the film I do not recall the skiifs, single seater boats, when the lake was refilled after the war.

[@wysiwyg2006]

not much different to as it is now