Until the 1870s the Grove Park area did not even have a name.

It was the extreme rural south of Lee, an area of ancient woodland gradually cleared of trees over centuries, largely by the charcoal burners who gave their name to Burnt Ash Road and Hill.

In 1863 the fields were divided between Grove Farm, east of what is now Baring Road, and Claypit Farm in what is now Marvels Lane. The only other buildings were a few labourers' cottages.

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Ordnance Survey 1863.