Description
Barley Lane Recreation Ground dates from the 1950s, and is home to Barley Bowls Club, which was established in 1957. The 1:2500 Ordnance Survey map of 1961 records the park laid out with a bowling green and pavilion, tennis courts, paths and planting, and provided with facilities such as public toilets. To the north of the recreation ground is Barley Lane Primary School, built in 1952 as part of the education facilities provided by the County Council.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Barley Lane Park |
|---|---|
| Site location | Barley Lane, High Road, Thackeray Drive, Ilford |
| Postcode | RM6 4QT |
| What3Words | ///decent.pillow.detail |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Redbridge |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | closes dusk |
| Facilities | Barley Bowls Club, bowling green, children's play area, multi-use games area, tennis courts, toilets |
| Public Transport | Rail: Goodmayes. |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ465875 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | LB Redbridge |
| Site Management | Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure Ltd |
| Dates | 1950s |
| 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 | Redbridge |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Archaeological Priority Area - Roman Road |
| Other LA Designation | Green Lane Corridor; Important Urban Open Space; Small Local Park; Network Rail 200m Buffer |
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
Westwood Recreation Ground is a rolling parkland bisected by the canalised Kings Water, dammed at the centre of the park to form a small pond, with a bridge over the channel. Dating from c.1930s, the park is almost entirely surrounded by houses, with access from east and north through Gothic style gates and the area is surrounded by bare 2m high concrete slatted walls. There are notable C19th limes and planes in the north corner and scattered trees include holly, lime and ash. The children's playground is large and has landscaped mounds and a red metal bridge.
The Seven Kings area had developed rapidly after the Great Eastern Railway opened the station here. Originally called Seven Kings and Goodmayes Recreation Ground, the park was opened in 1902, laid out on land donated to the borough in 1900 by A. Cameron Corbett, who developed much of Ilford and later became Lord Rowallan. The house of Downshall Farm was demolished to make way for the park and the surrounding estate was developed c.1914. Among facilities provided in Seven Kings Park were an ornate bandstand and bowling green, both of which remain, together with formal planting in a symmetrical layout of beds, largely roses, some trees and shrubs.
The public park was laid out in 1901 to provide a green 'lung' for the new Mayfield Estate, built by developer A Cameron Corbett, who donated land for the park to the UDC. The area grew up following the arrival of the railway in 1901 and is named after Goodmayes Farm, which once stood on what is now the park. The park is divided by Mayesbrook Road into two compartments, that in the north having a pair of lakes. One lake was created in 1945 from the crater left by a V2 bomb. The park has avenues of horse-chestnut and lime trees and retains its gothic-style gates and stretches of railings. In 2018 the area known as Goodmayes Park Extension was renamed Orchard Playing Fields.
