1801 The Grand Surrey Canal was authorised by an Act of Parliament. Intended to link the River Thames to Portsmouth via Epsom.

1810 Canal stopped at Camberwell Road due to a lack of funds.

1823 The Friendly Female Society, founded in 1802 ‘for the relief of poor infirm aged widows and single women of good character who have seen better days’ opened its almshouses for 20 occupants in Chumleigh Street off Albany Road (see 1938 booklet for a short history of their work). 

1824 St George's Church, Wells Way by Francis Burford (1784–1858). It was built in the Greek Revival style. 

1826 Peckham Canal extension built from Glengalls Wharf to Peckham High Street.

1860s Stanford’s Map of London & Suburbs (Camberwell + Peckham sections showing canal).

1903 Passmore Edwards Library, Baths and Wash House opened on the corner of  Wells Way and Neate Street. Designed by Maurice Bingham Adams and William Oxtoby (1862–1918), on land donated by the Rolls family. 
Photo - copy from Camberwell History Timeline    under 1903

1906 Bridge added over canal (still stands - see Bridge To Nowhere)

1908 Bartholomew's Handy Reference Atlas Of London & Suburbs (Camberwell map showing canal).             

1917 Zeppelin air raid on Calmington Road (now in Burgess Park) killed 12 people.

c.1928 Grand Surrey Canal, crossed by Wells Way with St. George’s. Painting by William Whately (1912-2002).

1934 Painting of Grand Surrey Canal Basin by JH Milner. Peckham branch of canal with Jones & Higgins Department store in background

1943 County of London plan by Patrick Abercrombie published. It proposed clearing a large area (220 acres) of bomb-damaged and slum buildings in North Camberwell to create a new park. 

1949 Aerial photo of Grand Surrey Canal with St George’s in the middle.

1951 Construction began on the new park.

1960 Canal drained from Glengalls Wharf to Camberwell Road.

1963 The Changing Face of Camberwell Film (canal shown at 29:54) showing St Georges Park (later part of Burgess Park).

1970 Canal filled in from Glengall Wharf to Camberwell Road.

1973 Burgess Park built over old Camberwell basin and canal. Named after a former Mayor of Camberwell, Jessie Burgess.

197? Adventure Playground added to park.

1981 Councillor Jessie Burgess died.

1982 Camberwell Beauty logo relocated from Samuel Jones & Co print manufacturer to the site of the former library and baths on Wells Way.
A large lake added to Burgess Park. It had the world’s largest plastic sheet lining, 12 million gallons of water and 11,000 fish. 

1995 Park expanded to its present 56-hectare area. This meant the loss of houses to the south of Trafalgar Avenue, and the streets to the east between Glengall Avenue and the west to Cobourg Road. 

1995 Chumleigh World Garden added. Mediterranean, Islamic, Oriental, Caribbean (at back of Almshouses) & English garden (at front).

2008 Friends of Burgess Park formed.

2012 William IV, on Albany Road last pub in park area to be demolished (now an open air gym).
Park re-opened after an £8 million redevelopment. 

2013 New Peckham BMX track built at a cost of £1.1 million. Kye Whyte (b. 1999) trained there and won a silver at the Tokyo Olympics.

2018 Park expanded in South west corner with removal of one of the last remaining roads, New Church Road.

2020 Demolition of Aylesbury Estate began with destruction of Chiltern House.

Books:
Story of Burgess Park - Tim Charlesworth (Groundwork 2000)

Online:
Friends of Burgess Park (est. 2008)
Excellent pressure group.

Bridge To Nowhere
In-depth research on the Canal plus oral histories and fascinating visitor comments.