Description
Athelstan Recreation Ground is an interwar park laid out on former fields as the area south of Kingston town centre was being developed from the early C20th. Its name recalls the Anglo-Saxon King Athelstan, who was crowned at Kingston in 925 AD. The town gets its name for once being the residence of Surrey under-kings, as well as of King John, and reputedly 7 Saxon kings were crowned here although this number is disputed.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | King Athelstan Recreation Ground |
|---|---|
| Site location | Villiers Road/Athelstan Road, Kingston |
| Postcode | KT1 3AY |
| What3Words | ///fortunate.posts.deals |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Kingston |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Facilities | Playground, football, toilets |
| Public Transport | Bus: K1, K4 |
| Research Updated | 1 April 2012 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Villiers Road was an old route formerly known as Oil Mill Lane, and Oil Mills are marked on the OS Map of 1868 just north of the Hogsmill River (q.v.). Disused by the 1890s, the site was later a soap and candle works, and by 1934 was Kingston Corporation Depot. By this time the recreation ground had been laid out, with lavatories near the north-west corner forming the only built structure shown on the OS of 1934. By the late 1940s there was large square playground area in the north east corner, with a drinking fountain in one corner, near the middle of the park, and a shelter midway along the south perimeter with the the name shown as Athelstan Recreation Ground. Athelstan House has been built to the east on Athelstan Road. The London Loop runs through the park.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ188685 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 1.22 |
| Site Ownership | RB Kingston |
| Site Management | Grounds maintenance contractor: Quadron Services Ltd |
| Dates | 1930s |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Kingston |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Area of Archaeological Significance |
| Other LA Designation | Local Open Space |
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
Kingston Cemetery was set up in 1855 on a hilly site bordered to the south by the Hogsmill River. It was simply laid out on formal lines and has two gothic chapels linked by a porte-cochère. The cemetery was extended in the south and in 1952 a brick Crematorium was built, with landscaping around the building completed in 1958. Throughout the cemetery are mature trees including various exotic species, and the cemetery has a war memorial.
Surbiton Cemetery was opened in 1915, its modest brick chapel with gothic spire designed by John Bannen. The cemetery was laid out with a grid of paths, now tarmac, and a line of evergreens. The cemetery was expanded post 1930s. Among the memorials are some good carvings.
Fairfield Recreation Ground was provided as a public recreation ground in 1865 but had long existed as a market and meeting place. It continued to be used for livestock trading into the C20th, for example for Kingston Horse Fair from 1866 and a cattle market from 1925. It was also the venue for town celebrations and pageants. Today it is used for sports and informal recreation, a rectangular, largely grassed site that still has its Victorian railings. It is divided north / south by a path flanked by an avenue of mature lime trees, with trees around its perimeter including lime and London plane. Silver maple and cherry are among other trees planted in the park.