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After the War, rebuilding did take place and the
Docks took on a new lease of life that continued until containerisation
was introduced in the mid 1960s. then the rise of Tilbury and
the East Coast ports combined with increasing mechanisation to
greatly reduce the demand for traditional dock labour in the up-river
docks. Surrey Docks finally closed in 1970, its 350 acres became
derelict and 270 years of tradition came to an end.
After 10 years of neglect, the Pumphouse and its
surroundings were in a sorry state, the old timber pond having
been filled in when the docks were closed. Then. In 1981, the
Pumphouse was made sound and the Nature Park was created, bringing
back, not only open water, marsh, meadow, reed bed and trees,
but also the name of Lavender Pond.
In 1989 the Pumphouse was renovated to become the
Pumphouse Educational Museum, housing the Rotherhithe Heritage
Collection. It has a well equipped classroom and a resident teacher.
The Park
Despite covering only 2.5 acres, the Park Features
a variety of habitats each with characteristics communities of
plants and animals. Some areas are left as undisturbed as possible,
while others are heavily used by schoolchildren and other visitors.
A system of wooden boardwalks enables people to see the plants
and animals at close quarters without trampling the vegetation.
The Park is continually being developed to increase
its value for education, improve facilities for visitors and create
new demonstration features. A network of paths have been built
to provide access for people with disabilities. This network connects
the classrooms within the Pumphouse to the boardwalk system by
a gradual meandering ramp. Wheelchair users can also gain access
from both Salter Road and Rotherhithe Street.
 Contact
details, access and opening times
Volunteering
at Lavender Pond
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