Results (2594)
Sort Z-A-
Brent Park was opened to the public in 1934. It is on the site of Brent Bridge House, demolished in 1935, whose grounds contained Decoy Wood and a small stream forming a narrow lake, with the house situated at the southern tip. The lake was created as a duck decoy and the farmland surrounding it was known as Decoy Farm. A stretch of the lake remains, crossed in the north by a rustic bridge, with a perimeter walk between thickly wooded banks, with some mature evergreen specimens surviving close to the site of the former house.
-
Brent River Park was created as part of the River Brent Restoration Project, and links two existing public open spaces on either side of the river Brent in Tokyngton,.Together with the acquisition of further land holdings to the north this now provides a linear park of c.2km. The area on the west of the river is Tokynton Recreation Ground, with St Raphael's Open Space on the east, both dating from the 1980s. Originally part of the land here was a sewage farm. The Brent River Park Project is part of a wider flood alleviation scheme; a partnership between LB Brent and the Environment Agency, the project aims to enhance employment, provide opportunities for recreation and improve safety and accessibility to the locality.
-
Brentham Garden Suburb was built from 1901-1915, a pioneering Arts and Crafts-inspired housing estate built on open country, formerly part of Pitshanger Farm estate. It was developed by Ealing Tenants Ltd, founded in 1901 as the first co-operative tenants society to provide improved housing for working people. The first chairman was Henry Vivian MP, whose co-operative building firm, General Builders Ltd. undertook much of the work. The first phase was completed by 1905, the earliest houses named after Vivian. In 1907 a further 30 acres had been purchased and the Ealing Tenants engaged Ray Unwin and Barry Parker, who were responsible for schemes including Hampstead Garden Suburb. The estate's garden aspect was created through low hedges and trees as well as playing fields and recreation grounds, particularly north of the Institute. A major feature was the provision of allotment gardens behind some of the larger groups of houses.
-
The first house on the site was inherited in 1160, since when the land around was cultivated and Bretons was a working farm within living memory. Probably named from the Le Breton family who owned land in Hornchurch from C12th-C14th, the manor had a number of illustrious owners, including William Ayloffe, JP for Essex and Suffolk, who built the 4th house in 1501 and the estate was held by his family for 150 years, from which time date the brick barns and walled garden. Remnants of the latter have bee-boles in the walls and an orchard existed until the early 1980s. By 1742 Bretons was owned by John Hopkins (1683-1772) who built the present house using brick and other materials from the earlier houses. It remained in private hands until 1869 when it was sold to Romford Local Health Board and used a sewage farm until 1968. In 1976 the farmland was developed as a Youth Centre and sports ground. Renovation of the house began and in December 1978 Bretons Sports and Social Club was opened.
-
The site of the garden of the Brewers' Hall consists of a series of raised beds and seating in an area of pavement. The Brewers' Company is one of the oldest livery companies in the City of London and one of the first Guilds to have its own Hall, which stood on the same site as the present one. By 1422 Brewers' Hall was regularly let out for use to other City Livery Companies, Guilds and other groups including the 'footballpleyers', one of the earliest known references to football. When the Hall was rebuilt in 1960, the site of the garden was taken over by the Corporation of London, since when it has been re-landscaped a number of times. The statue of 'The Gardener' by Karin Jonzen, 1971 was relocated here from Moorgate c.2005.
-
The site was a former brickfield that was compulsorily purchased in 1899, cleared and laid out as public gardens by the LCC. It opened as Brickfield Gardens in 1904 with a children's playground and bandstand. It later provided recreational space for residents of the Locksley Estate, which was built from the 1950s by the LCC, when further open space was laid out to the north. Photographs of the 1960s show there was once a popular paddling pool, but this has since been re-landscaped, with play equipment, grass and flower beds. Some of the original plane trees remain in the gardens.
-
Bridge House Pond is an area of public gardens opposite Feltham station, including a Victorian duck pond that was created when the railway was built in 1849, and soil was dug out to create an embankment for a new railway bridge. The pond is surrounded by trees, and has an area of open space next to it. Having suffered years of neglect, a local group, the Friends of Bridge House Pond, has worked to restore the pond and the adjacent gardens.
-
Bridgehouse Meadows is a public park that incorporates a separate nature reserve. New Cross is deficient in accessible wildlife sites so Bridgehouse Meadows provides a welcome opportunity to enjoy a variety of wildflowers and a walk through open grassy areas skirting the railway line, with large areas suitable for dog walking. The path snakes around some hills and provides distant view of City buildings and there is even a glimpse of Millwall Football Club's stadium (The Den) on the horizon. The hills are most likely the result of the banking that remains from the site's previous use as the New Cross Greyhound and Speedway Stadium. This stadium was in use from c.1900-1969. Though once significant for the local community it was demolished in 1975, leaving the open site that is enjoyed today. In 2010/11 when TFL closed access to the meadows and used them as their headquarters (albeit temporarily) there were online protests. Under a new housing scheme approved by Lewisham Council in January 2022 'improvements to the existing park at Bridgehouse Meadows' are now projected for the future.
-
Bridgewater Square was built on the site of the early C16th mansion and gardens of the Earl of Bridgewater. In 1687 Bridgwater House burnt down, causing the deaths of the 3rd Earl's eldest sons and tutor, and was not rebuilt. The residential square was subsequently developed around a central garden. In 1925 there was a campaign to save the garden as public open space. It was acquired by public subscription in 1926 and laid out as public gardens, opening to the public on 15 October 1928 for 'use by local workers'. Now essentially part of the Barbican Estate, it is used as a playground for a children's nursery, with adjacent land to the north laid out as Barbican Wildlife Garden, accessible to residents of the estate.
-
Following WWII much of the Victoria housing in the area was demolished and the area south of Clifton Crescent, which had been open space in the 1870s, was once more laid out as open space. The façade of Clifton Crescent was restored in 1977 and the houses converted to flats by LB Southwark. Brimmington Park was provided as a public amenity, an area of green space between the two roads on slightly undulating ground simply laid out with grass and some blocks of hedging. It extended to the east up to the railway where a playground was provided. Since 2005 new paths, seating and lighting have been installed, and a new playground was opened in 2008, with a small sensory garden nearby.
-
The site was that of Tavistock House and grounds, built in 1796 and demolished c.1900, once the home of Charles Dickens. The buildings occupied by the British Medical Association were originally designed for the British Theosophical Society by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1911-14. The unfinished site was acquired by the BMA in 1923 and Lutyens again worked on the project until 1925, when the new headquarters opened, although later additions were made by others. Lutyens' work included the rear Council Garden, his design comprising a semi-circular terrace and oval pool that echoed the geometry and clarity of his architectural style. He also designed a memorial garden in the Court of Honour but this was re-configured in 1954 with a bronze fountain in a circular pool, flanked by figurative stone sculptures representing Sacrifice, Cure, Prevention and Aspiration. Planting in the Council Garden includes a fine Catalpa and a collection of plants with medicinal properties.
-
The British Museum was built in stages from 1823 onwards, planned as a large quadrangle with an open courtyard extending north from Montagu House. This was the original museum, which opened in 1759 housing the collection Sir Hans Sloane had bequeathed to the nation. The quadrangle was essentially completed in 1852, the South Range built as the principal facade following the demolition of Montagu House in c.1840. The forecourt of the museum has a lawn either side of the main entrance on Great Russell Street. The West Lawn has been used for special exhibitions from time to time including Africa Garden, China Landscape, India Landscape and, in 2010, South Africa Landscape.