Central Park

The park was developed on land that was previously part of the Manor Farm estate grazing land and included the grounds of the early C18th Rancliffe House.  It was purchased by the East Ham Urban District Council (UDC) in 1896. The founding of Central Park was spearheaded by John Harvey Bethell (first mayor of East Ham UDC) with William H. Savage (the district surveyor for East Ham UDC), and local landowner Colonel Henry Burges (Lord of the Manor and owner of Rancliffe House). The site was acquired as part of the Council's policy to provide a recreation ground in each of the district's four newly developed wards. The park's well-attended opening ceremony took place on 5 July 1898.  Mayor Bethell's speech passionately advocated for more public parks to enhance the well-being of East Ham’s working-class population. Reportedly, over 5,000 residents attended the event, enjoying refreshments and speeches stressing the importance of creating resources for children.

Designed by the Council's Surveyor, it had tree-lined avenues and walks, recreational open spaces, a sundial, drinking fountains and seats provided by the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association, and extensive ornamental gardens along its whole northern edge, which remain largely intact today. These ornamental gardens then, as now, were divided into two distinct areas, in the east more formal rose gardens were centred on a bandstand, which by 1971 had been replaced by the ornamental pond and fountain, and to the west more undulating gardens with serpentine walks and specimen trees and shrubberies. There were glasshouses in the north-west and north-east corners, since removed.

Rancliffe House originally stood within the boundaries of the park but was demolished in 1908, at which point this land was added to the park and the perimeter walk was completed. Situated near the house, a public swimming pool, East Ham Open Air Baths, was opened on 31 May 1901 by Councillor F G Francis, built by direct labour for £1,400. It was closed for much of WWI between 1915-18 and although it re-opened after the war it eventually closed in 1923 and the site converted to dressing rooms. A number of ponds are shown near the western boundary, no longer there although the children's paddling pond is in this area. By 1920 the Art Deco war memorial to the 1600+ residents of East Ham killed in WWI had been erected, surrounded by a garden. It was located in the south eastern corner where a new park entrance was created. The original park entrance gates still stand on the High Street. In 1920 the swimming pool was still in existence, but this is now the site of tennis courts, and a bowling green was also provided near the original site of the house.

One of the most anticipated events in Central Park’s annual calendar was the East Ham Fair, which began in the early 20th century and later became the Newham Show. Historical records from the local archive show that this event featured parades, beauty pageants, brass bands, and stalls. According to an article in the Newham Recorder from 1952, the carnival was a major event that brought together people from all over East London. 

The area was badly bombed during WWII but many of the mature trees and the park's layout essentially survives. Since the 1960s/70s a modern park cafe and toilets have been built near the ornamental gardens on the main north-south avenue, near which was a concrete stage with two metal columns no longer there. At the south-east entrance is a raised ornamental bed. In the formal gardens pairs of trees have been planted by former mayors and councillors, including silver birch, red oak and pyramidal hornbeam.

Four large stone urns from the nearby Cooperative building in East Ham North (which was demolished in 1989) have been re-sited in the formal gardens at corners of the paths that surround the ornamental pond and fountain now referred to as the 'Edwardian Garden'. These urns date from c.1929 and have a placard marking their donation to the park and may become locally heritage listed. In the 1990s, other improvements were made, including the restoration of the Bowling Green. 

Near the formal gardens is a marker to East Ham Manor Hall.  Other markers can be found as part of both a 'tree trail' and a separate 'history trail' around the park.

The bandstand was removed in 1965, along with the old Green House and Baths, which now house the tennis courts. In 2007 Newham Council secured a £1.9m HLF grant for restoration of the park. Works undertaken include a new and improved cafe building with improved public toilets; an extension to the bowling pavilion to provide a base for gardeners; new footpaths, lighting and re-landscaping of a tranquil garden by the historic war memorial. In 2024, there were plans to reinstate a modern bandstand near the cafe. There are rocks and sculptural elements to be found in the 'Discovery Garden' that runs along the Northern edge of the park to the western side of the main avenue.