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An oasis in Streatham
I have not seen any rooks. I have not heard any rooks and yet I am sitting in one of London's best kept secrets, The Rookery.
Situated in Lambeth at the top of Streatham Common, this is my little oasis of pleasure where I come to just sit and watch the world
go by.
Originally the site of Streatham's natural springs, (farm labourers would use the water to cleanse and reportedly heal themselves), the area was later developed into a spa resort in the 17th century.
Three wells were built in the grounds for the people who would journey to the spas because of their medicinal qualities.
Today the Rookery has only one remaining well. No longer used or really flocked-to, probably a health and safety hazard, but still beautiful if you know why it's there. It is called the wishing well' and I have just tossed a shiny two pence piece in and made a wish.
The wishing well is situated in a wonderful little formal garden in the Rookery. Just adjacent to the well is the white garden and is best viewed at this time of year, June, July and into August, as the whole garden is covered in beautiful and intoxicating white flowers.
Even the benches and the bench I am sitting on are painted white. From where I sit I look forward down a long, thin concrete path to a circle of white flowers and bushes.
I don't normally come here at this time of the morning, but it is beautiful and so peaceful.
Who would think that 200ft away is a major road, the A23, with commuters travelling into work?
As I sit here and take in the Rookery with its tall, substantial and almost architectural fir trees and oaks, and the sun on my face I watch the playful and very friendly grey squirrels dig up bits of the garden. A
s I relax more I can hear a blackbird singing to me, an incredible song of short chirps and long cheeps. The longer I sit here the more wildlife I notice, to the point where it starts to feel a little like a Walt Disney cartoon. I half expect a deer to come wandering into view, but that alas does not happen, instead a jogger runs past and everything else runs away.
This is a truly spectacular ex-spa, and I wish that the mansion buildings were still around as I imagine 17th century residents wandering about and convalescing in these wonderful surroundings.
12:22pm Friday 22nd June 2007
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