Great Culverden Park facts for kids
Great Culverden Park is a small woodland area, about 9½ acres in size. It is located near the center of Tunbridge Wells in Kent, England. The park is surrounded by homes and cannot be reached or seen from public roads.
This park is what remains of the large grounds of a house called Culverden House. A famous architect named Decimus Burton designed the house in 1830 for Jacob Jeddere Fisher. It was built on the highest point in the wood. Later, Jacob Jeddere Fisher built a new house and named it Great Culverden. A brave naval officer, Rear Admiral Charles Davis Lucas, VC, once lived there. He was awarded the Victoria Cross, a very high military honor. He passed away at Great Culverden House in 1914.
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History of the Park's Land
The original Great Culverden House was taken down to build the Kent & Sussex Hospital. Later, in 2014, the hospital itself was demolished. This made way for a new housing area called Royal Wells Park, which was finished in 2018.
A Green Space for Wildlife
Great Culverden Park is an important "green link" in the area. The Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's plan from 2011 aims to connect green spaces. This park helps create a wildlife corridor. This corridor allows animals and plants to move safely between the park, Rusthall Common, and other natural areas nearby. New homes built along Mount Ephraim must include a special Protected Ecology Zone. This zone helps support the wildlife corridor.
What Remains of the Past
Not much is left of the original house that gave the park its name. You can still find an ice house. An ice house was a building used to store ice before refrigerators existed. There is also a hydraulic ram, which is a pump powered by water pressure. This ram is connected to a natural spring. Some other old water systems are also still there. Great Culverden Park is owned by a company called Great Culverden Park Ltd. This company can offer shares to people who own homes next to the park.
Images for kids
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The Lower Pond in June
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Map of Great Culverden Park
