Kennington Park

Today, a number of commercial and community events are held in the park each year and recently the Flower Garden was restored with a Heritage Lottery grant.

As the flood water receded, the river silt left a level field which was ideal for grazing animals or playing team ball games.

"During the holiday season, Kennington Common in the last (18th) century was an epitome of "Bartlemy Fair", with booths, tents, caravans, and scaffolds, surmounted by flags.

It also had one peculiarity, for, as we learn from "Merrie England in the Olden Time", it was a favourite spot for merryandrews, and other buffooneries in open rivalry, and competition with field-preachers and ranters.

"[3] "Inclosure, thou'rt a curse upon the land, And tasteless was the wretch who thy existence plann'd" John Clare the peasant poet from Peterborough (1793–1864) By now there were more people in cities than country.