casualties of the 24th Bn, The London Regiment, whose headquarters were in New Street, now Braganza Street. 1926 The park occupied during the General Strike. 1930s Wooden shelter (replaced in the 1950s and repaired at the end of 2006). 1931 Old English Garden opened, based on the designs of Lt-Col JJ Sexby. 1931 The Lido provided by the LCC was opened. (It closed at the end of the 1987 season – see external link below.) 1934 Last licence given to Princess of Wales Theatre. 1938 Architecturally bland Park Superintendent's house built in north east corner. 1940 The local areas of Lambeth and Southwark very heavily bombed in The Blitz. 1940 (15 October) A public trench-style bomb shelter dug as a grid of trenches in the field, known as the 'south pitch', suffers a direct hit during the Blitz. An estimated 104 people are killed. Only c. 50 bodies could be identified by name. Due to treacherous wet ground conditions, with the shelter walls collapsing on rescuers, the remains of up to another 54 local people were left in the ground, covered in lime, and the trenches were filled in. 1940 The north field of the Park used for allotments so people can grow their own food. (source: aerial photos taken by the Royal Air Force) 1944 (16 August) Horns pub was badly damaged by a flying bomb. 1947 Additional panels were added to the war memorial to commemorate World War II casualties. 1949 A 24 ft high illuminated Christmas tree erected in the park. 1950s The Horns Tavern was 'one of the most famous landmarks of South London'. It is still remembered as being a centre of Kennington's community spirit in the 1950s. 1951 Eighteen acres of land to the east of the park were earmarked as an extension to the park. 1958 St. Agnes new parish church, designed by Ralph Covell (who was the parish organist), is consecrated by the Lord Bishop of Kingston. The old church designed by George Gilbert Scott was demolished in the 1940s following bombing by enemy action. John Betjeman, poet laureate, dedicated his first Collins Guide to the English Parish Church to the memory of St. Agnes Kennington Park, describing it as being "...destroyed by the diocese of Southwark after some war damage." 1960s Horns public house demolished (later replaced by Richard Seifert's Department of Social Security building – see photo) 196? Land to