Fans of archaeology - made popular by the popular TV programme 'Time Team' - who are interested in the hidden history of Wandle Park will soon have a chance to look at what lies beneath its surface. A team from the Museum of London will be opening five trenches in the park and offering people a guided tour of the excavations.
Digging starts on Monday 16 August, and free public tours - suitable for all the family - will take place later that week.
The investigation forms an important part of the work involved in applying for a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. If their bid is successful then the council will have raised sufficient money to carry out extensive improvements to Wandle Park - including the restoration of the river Wandle.
The archaeologists have been set the task of discovering what remains of the original river and lake walls and the foundations of the bandstand from Victorian times. They will also analyse the sediment of the ground where the original lake was located.
Councillor Sara Bashford, cabinet member for customer services, culture and sport, said: "It's always exciting to have the chance to dig back into the history of an area, and I'll be fascinated to see what the team from the Museum of London are able to uncover."
Anyone wishing to attend a tour should come to Wandle Park Pavilion for 1pm on Wednesday 18 August or Thursday 19 August. The tours will last approximately 45 minutes.
