Dulwich Park when it closes at night

[Katherty]

I was out in the park till just before 10pm today. A lovely warm evening. 

There was a moment when it seemed very quiet and I wondered if it had closed and I was locked in. Luckily it was still open. 

Wondering if there's a warning that it's closing? Does anyone drive round to check no-one's about? 

Has anyone ever been locked in all night? 

[alice]

Long time back I got locked in. 

[rjsmall]

From what I have seen in the past the person locking up drives around and locks each gate as they go. I am surprised there isn't a one way turnstile gate somewhere as I have been locked in (managed to climb over a gate) and know several others that have been locked in.

[Sue]

My partner and I once got locked into Nunhead Cemetery. They have a notice at the gate (I assume at all the entrances) which gives a phone number to ring if you are locked in.

We had to wait a while, during which time we at least caused some amusement to passers by.

Apparently being locked in is not a particularly rare occurrence.

Does  Dulwich Park not  have some similar arrangement?

[Angelina]

DP has a noticeboard of the Park closing times. It's also online.

The gates are locked by the gatekeeper which drives around the perimeter, and not before the noted closure time and not usually before dark.

The fire brigade have been called to help children who have been locked in. They didn't have a set of keys, so really best avoided.

[Sue]

  On 30/07/2024 at 09:58, Angelina said:

DP has a noticeboard of the Park closing times. It's also online.

The gates are locked by the gatekeeper which drives around the perimeter, and not before the noted closure time and not usually before dark.

The fire brigade have been called to help children who have been locked in. They didn't have a set of keys, so really best avoided.

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Surely the fire brigade could have got keys from the gatekeeper?

That doesn't seem like a great arrangement, particularly if the fire brigade were out at more urgent events? Fires, for example.

[Angelina]

You'd also think there would be an emergency number to call other than the Fire.

 

 

[Katherty]

  On 30/07/2024 at 09:58, Angelina said:

DP has a noticeboard of the Park closing times. It's also online.

The gates are locked by the gatekeeper which drives around the perimeter, and not before the noted closure time and not usually before dark.

The fire brigade have been called to help children who have been locked in. They didn't have a set of keys, so really best avoided.

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Does the gatekeeper announce that they're closing the gates with a megaphone or anything? 

[malumbu]

How exciting, were there any teddy bears having picnics, or other interesting things going on?  Too fat east for wombles.

Horniman ring a bell  which lets the bats and owls have a bit of notice.

Edited July 30, 2024 by malumbu

[Angelina]

  On 30/07/2024 at 12:31, Katherty said:

Does the gatekeeper announce that they're closing the gates with a megaphone or anything? 

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why would he do that?

If it's late and dark, the park will close. It's not hard - it does get really dark in there so you would know

I've not been to the Horniman in the evening, but tempted now

 

[Cyclemonkey]

Yeah at the Horniman the parkie walks around  ringing a handbell about 10 mins or so before closure starts.  Simple but effective. 

[Sue]

  On 30/07/2024 at 11:54, Angelina said:

You'd also think there would be an emergency number to call other than the Fire.

 

 

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Yes, exactly.

It wasn't dark when we got locked in the cemetery. I think it was quite early evening.

I can't remember what time it closed. Obviously we should have checked, but I don't think it crossed our minds at the time.

Edited July 30, 2024 by Sue

[Pugwash]

Years ago the park keepers used to ring a bell to give notice of closing - they were the only people who could drive around the perimeter of the park. Park used to close 'at dusk'   no idea now of time - check notice boards by gates. 

[Sally Eva]

The gate onto Fireman's Alley often remains open all night.

[Angelina]

Not reliably enough to assume you can get out. That's how the kids got locked in.

They're better at locking it now.

[AntP2015]

Pretty easy to jump the main gate. (I may have been locked in before)

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

  On 30/07/2024 at 16:44, Pugwash said:

Park used to close 'at dusk'   no idea now of time

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  On 30/07/2024 at 09:58, Angelina said:

DP has a noticeboard of the Park closing times. It's also online.

The gates are locked by the gatekeeper which drives around the perimeter, and not before the noted closure time and not usually before dark.

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As @Angelina says, the gates are never closed before the posted closing time. In July, the park is closed after 9.30pm. If you enter or remain after that time, bring a ladder or a sleeping bag!

https://www.southwark.gov.uk/parks-and-open-spaces/parks/opening-times

[cactus]

I think it’s a bit tricky when there are multiple gates and not being aware of the order that they are locked. As I found out when walking through Ruskin Park last winter. Gate open at Coldharbour Lane side, but by the time I got to Denmark Hill that exit was locked. Had to walk up the perimeter to find a lower part of the fence to climb over, with the help of a kind passer by on the other side. 
It wasn’t a very graceful manoeuvre! 

[Earl Aelfheah]

I've had the same experience in Ruskin. Easier to jump the fence there though

[Sydney Carton]

A security car travels around after the gates are closed