On the 10 October go 1878 a Deed of Arrangement for the enclosures between William Walter Earl of Dartmouth and Leopold Stiebel, Worcester Villa;  Peter Hamilton, Woodneuk Cottage; Henry Goodwin, Horbling Lodge; Terrick Jones Williams, Oaklands and John Knechtli, Linden Villa. The 1902 Enclosures rule book lists the Trustees, Chairman: Geo. J. W. King, J.P. (No. 20); Treasurer: Geo. J. Faro (No. 52); Secretary: G. W. Bristow (No. 49); N. H. Nuding (No. 16) and John Meakins (No. 42). Rule 10: No person shall fire any gun or other firearm within the Enclosure.

After World War II as part of its plans for the development of the Lewisham Park area the council designated the enclosure subject to compulsory acquisition but on 25 March 1959 the Housing Committee were informed the opportunity had arisen to purchase by agreement the freehold interest of the enclosure for £5,500. The Council acquired the freehold interest of the enclosure in 1960 . It was proposed to discuss with the Trustees of the Enclosure if they would be prepared to surrender the Deed of Arrangement which was not due to expire till 29 September 1974.

 The 1963 end of year accounts of the trustees show a new mower was bought for £30 - 10 shillings and repairs to the old mower cost £31 – 08s – 5d. Treasurer was F. C. Noquet was in the position of having expenses totaling £202 – 13s – 10d while income totaled £107 – 01s a loss of over £95. 

 The Trustees told the council in 1964 they were experiencing difficulty meeting the costs of maintaining the enclosure and had decided to hand over the enclosure on 1 January 1965. It was recommended the Council take over the enclosure as a public open space. On 21 July 1965 the council’s General Purposes Committee approved proposals for the first stage of development which provided for the improvement of the existing grass lands as lawns, interspersed with ornamental trees, flowering shrubs and flower beds, the development of the old gravel pit as a formal garden with a series of paved terraces approached by a broad path between flower beds from the main entrance, a children’s playground, a building comprising mess room, store, shelter, refreshment kiosk and lavatories. Provision for a groundsman’s flat over part of the building which will be located close to the children’s playground. At the same meeting it was proposed to replace the fencing around the Park with railings of a similar type to those fronting the Council’s adjoining flat development.

The Deptford Post  01 Oct 1965 described how the council intended to transform the run down Lewisham Park by creating a paddling pool, playground, formal gardens and a fountain. The park was to be surrounded by bushes and shrub, with a long, flower lined broadwalk leading to the pit. Work was due to be completed by the summer of 1966.

The last annual meeting of the Trustees was reported by The Mercury 31 Dec 1965. Treasurer Frederick Noquet said several blocks of flats built by the council were ‘the beginning of the end of our peace and quiet’. In their last year the Trustees had spent £140 on the park, the council intended spending £25,000.  Mr. Noquet told of seeing a sparrowhawk attacked by all the birds in the park after it killed a sparrow, and expected he had seen the last of all the unusual forms of life. The following year in July 1966 a petition from 37 residents asked for additional gates, originally there were 3 between numbers 26 & 60. The Council responded it had paved under trees and up the road, making a pleasant walk to shops & transport.

 As an experiment the Lewisham Concert Band performed in Lewisham Park on 8 Jun 1969. “The concert proved to be very popular and was well attended and it is hoped that similar events will be arranged in the future.” On 13 October 1971 the council decided as a matter of urgency the sunken oval garden be laid out as an open grassed play area for children. The committee felt the trees surrounding the oval would help reduce the noise of the children’s activities. It would seem the previously proposed playground had not be constructed ?

A month later the council announced there would be a series of concerts on Sunday afternoons during the summer of 1972. In 1974 attendance at concerts in Lewisham Park was said to have been reasonable. Entertainment included traditional brass bands, jazz & banjo bands, steel bands and light orchestral ensembles.

It was not till November 1974 the cost of a new playground (£13,800) and Pool (£9,500) was announced by the council. The Mayor urgently approved the playground on 12 Mar 1975 so work could be completed in the current year by F. M. Conway Ltd. Councillor Walker presented a petition on 14 Jul 1976 signed by 342 residents requesting toilets be installed and the paddling pool be restricted to under 8’s. The council proposed mobile toilets during the summer months until permanent toilets can be provided, the age limits were said to be enforced informally as some toddlers required their mothers or older children to accompany them in the pool.

 A proposed water main from Honor Oak to Oxleas Wood going under Lewisham Park was due to commence in 1976 and taking 18 months. (Council drawing BE 5206)

 In the 1970’s or 1980’s the council produced a booklet entitled “The Parks of Lewisham” which described Lewisham Park thus:

'Just behind Lewisham High Street and serving as a garden to the nearby high blocks of flats is Lewisham Park. At first sight, it can be deceptive. A patch of grass, the occasional handsome oak and some randomly placed flower beds. But if you enter from either of the gates in the road which bears its name you could almost be in a mediaeval glade, so tall are the elms and horse chestnuts and so generous their cover, so rich the verdant ground beneath your step.

 Set in the middle of the park is a very large sunken rose garden with beds of lavender and completely surrounded by plane trees. Steps lead down on one side and it is protected from tumbling children by a low wooden fence. Down in the hollow you enter a quiet private world away from the neighbouring traffic, which is unheard and unseen.

 From the park you can notice the contrast between the nearby tower blocks of flats which are named after Kent villages, and the stately Victorian houses in the road behind, partly screened by the mixed deciduous trees that line the edge of the park. In one corner are two magnificent sycamores towering above some seats, often occupied by old men with their memories of bygone days.

 Until 1965 Lewisham Park was a private enclosure available only to the tenants or lessees of neighbouring properties owned, or previously owned, by the Earl of Dartmouth, who handed the park over to the Trustees under a Trust Deed in 1878. Rising costs, however, made its maintenance increasingly difficult for the Trustees and in 1964 a general meeting of members agreed that the enclosure should be handed to the Council, who had previously purchased the freehold in 1960 so that it could be maintained as an open space.'

Frederick Noquet the last treasurer of the Trustees wrote in the 1980’s a short history of the Lewisham Park area. Of the enclosure he wrote that some residents had their own tennis courts; taught their children to drive; practiced their golf shots; picnicked and were able to cross it as a pleasant walk to enjoy their evenings in the “Coach & Horses” after attending evening service at St. Mary’s Church. It was a bird sanctuary with sparrow-hawks, owls and rooks. Some aged residents remembered when trees were planted surrounding a lake which was later emptied for safety reasons. The slopes of the pit were used for meetings of Girl Guides and Brownies. During the 2^nd World War a balloon garage was stationed in the park. Since the council took over their gardeners have considerably enhanced the beauty of the park with flower beds, shrubs and maintained the grassy areas.