ARCHIVES & Galleries

Grove Adventure Playground has a long and interesting history and we hope you enjoy some of our archive.

The playground opened in 1970 as Angell Town Adventure Playground, in Overton Road, SW9, (now the site of St. John’s Angell Town Primary School), before moving moving a short distance to Elam Open Space in Loughborough Junction in 1972.

The playground stayed in the park for 16 years until it hopped across Gordon Grove and moved to its present location in 1986, squeezed between the railway embankment, scrap yard and garages as well as the imposing Loughborough Estate.

At the Gordon Grove site, the playground space has had a number of identities, including the original Angell Town Adventure Playground name, Brixton Arts Group, Brixton Youth Circus and Angell Arts & Play, but was renamed Grove Adventure Playground; Games Arts and Play in 2004.

After the playground was shut in 2015, the playground was squatted and occupied by live in security until 2017 when local Charity LJAG gained permission from the council to try and rescue the main play equipment and recommission the building.

The playground then reopened in May 2018, with a 3 year Meanwhile lease, as Grove Adventure Playground and has been going strong ever since. We were awarded a new 10 year lease in 2021.

Angell Town Adventure Playground

1970 - 1986

OVERTON ROAD, SW9, (1970-72) & ELAM OPEN SPACE, GORDON GROVE, SE5, (1972-1986)

1969 - Angell Town Adventure Playground, Overton Road

Ye Venture Tuck Shoppe with some customers

The playground on demonstration through Brixton

Angell Town Adventure Playground, Angell Arts & Play, Brixton Youth Circus, Brixton Arts Group, Grove Adventure Playground; Games, Arts & Play

1986 - 2017

18 Gordon Grove, SE5

Appeal - we have very few images of this period 1986-2017, if anyone can help or has any images that could be shared, could they get in touch with the playground.