May 15, 2001 10:01: ONE of the jewels in Lewisham's crown celebrates its 100th birthday this weekend.

Sydenham Wells Park described a century ago as one of the prettiest in south London hosts its own party on Saturday to mark the milestone.

A day of entertainment is planned, including a funfair, and performances from Sedgehill School Band.

It will be almost 100 years to the day since Whit Monday crowds gathered at the same spot to welcome the park into the world. The opening speeches took place around the bandstand in brilliant sunshine, and included one from the then chairman of London County Council, A M Torrance.

The land was bought from H W Forster MP for £7,000, in 1898.

It followed a campaign launched three years previously by Lewisham Mayor and bank manager Theophilus William Williams, who called for a the creation of an open playground.

Landscaping began in late 1898. The plans included a series of slopes intersected by broad footpaths and decorated with small lakes and rivulets crossed by rustic bridges. Tennis courts and a quoit pitch were added.

The opening ceremony, on May 27, 1901, included a vision of Wells Park being connected to Crystal Palace Park by a tunnel, and there were pleas for girls and boys not to destroy the plants and flowers.

The celebrations, a century on, have been organised by Lewisham Council, park managers Glendale and the Sydenham Wells Park Improvement Group. Free tennis lessons are also included during the family day, which runs from noon to 6pm.

A full history of the park, which is considered among the finest in Lewisham, has been written by Steve Grindlay appearing in this month's issue of Sydenham Society News.