Description
Cathnor Park opened in 1973, laid out on a former bomb site that had been derelict apart from a day nursery built on part of the site. The decision had been taken in 1971 by LB Hammersmith & Fulham Development Group Committee that it was a priority to provide open space in this area and this was achieved when land was transferred from the GLC. The park was provided with new play equipment in 2010.
Practical Information
| Site location | Leffern Road/Cathnor Road/Melina Road, Shepherds Bush |
|---|---|
| Postcode | W12 9HY |
| What3Words | ///upper.abode.bands |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Hammersmith & Fulham |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Facilities | Playground |
| Public Transport | Tube: Goldhawk Road (Hammersmith & City) then bus. Bus: 94, 237, 266. |
| Research Updated | 1 July 2011 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The brief for the first phase was approved in 1972 and it was laid out and opened to the public in December 1973. The park has been enlarged post 1985 and has an undulating area of grass, part of which is fenced off and equipped for under 5s, and a paved area. There are a number of older trees (self sown or regrowth), some recently planted Prunus and Malus and thick shrubbery around the edge. There are some trees planted (or retained) in the paved area. The adjacent part of Melina Road has been pedestrianised. New natural and adventurous play equipment including a large climbing frame was installed in the park in 2010.Cathnor Park Children's Centre is one of 12 designated children's centres provided in the borough.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ224796 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 1.06 |
| Site Ownership | LB Hammersmith & Fulham |
| Site Management | Environment Department, Parks Service (ground maintenance by Quadron Services) |
| Dates | 1973 |
| 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 | Hammersmith & Fulham |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Local Importance |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Small Local Park; Open Space of Borough-wide Importance |
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
St Andrew Bobola was originally built in 1870 as St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, a stone church designed by Edmund Woodthorpe. In 1961 it was converted by A P Klecki to serve the Polish Roman Catholic community. The small churchyard has a few evergreen trees, the main feature being the many low dark brick walls set with copper memorial plaques.
Godolphin Road Community Garden was created on a former bomb site, leased for a peppercorn rent from Hammersmith & Fulham Council by Godolphin Road Community Garden Association. The formal part of the garden was re-designed in March 1996. It is laid out with grass, trees, hedges and raised beds that were created with disabled gardeners in mind, a play area and paved area with seating. A pond was dug in 1990, which is of ecological interest. In May 2009 work began to erect an Eco-shed in the garden.
Starch Green is so-called as the site was once used for a laundry green. It was a flooded brick pit that was filled by an unnamed stream that flowed from Wormwood Scrubs down the Askew Road. The land was conveyed to the Hammersmith Vestry free of charge in 1894. The pond refilled gradually post-1926 and was planted up with shrubs. Originally entirely surrounded by roads, the north side was paved in the late 1980s. In the early 1990s the end of Ashchurch Grove was closed and paved. A raised bed planted with periwinkle was built and much of the planting is recent although there is one mature London plane tree.