Chumleigh Gardens
Burgess Park sits on the site of what was once a densely packed area of factories, housing, and the Surrey Canal. Heavily bombed in WWII, the area was subjected to much redevelopment between the 1950s and 80s, resulting in the park as it is today. Largely a collection of wide, open, green spaces, there are yet still a few traces of the area’s pre-20th Century history.
Among these are Chumleigh Gardens, a collection of former almshouses and themed gardens. The almshouses date back to the early 19th Century, constructed by the Female Friendly Society to be a place for “poor, aged women of good character”. The houses were restored after being badly damaged in WWII, and are now contain park offices and a rather good café.
The main attractions though are the gardens. To the front of the almshouses is the English Garden, with well-tended lawns and flower beds. Behind the houses is the World Garden, designed to reflect the diversity of the local populations heritage. It is divided into three main areas of African, Asian and Islamic gardens; the latter is probably the most impressive, complete with a raised, tiled pool surrounding a huge jelly palm.