Description
In March 1898 Chestnuts House, which had been built in the mid-C19th, and 13 acres of its grounds were purchased by Tottenham UDC. With some additional land, it was laid out as Chestnuts Recreation Ground and opened in November 1900 in commemoration of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. The house was initially used as a public reading room and museum, later becoming a health clinic until it was demolished in the 1980s to make way for a Leisure Centre. At one time there was an ornamental fountain on a mound and various areas of ornamental planting; avenue of plane trees remain on the west, north and south boundaries of Chestnuts Park.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Chestnuts Recreation Ground |
|---|---|
| Site location | St Ann's Road/Black Boy Lane/Cornwall Road |
| Postcode | N15 |
| What3Words | ///cling.thank.saves |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Haringey |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Facilities | Toilets, Chestnuts Café; playground & play centre; football, tennis courts, basketball, MUGA |
| Public Transport | London Overground: Harringay Green Lanes. Tube: Turnpike Lane (Piccadilly) then bus. Bus: 67, 341, 259, 279. |
| Research Updated | 1 September 2014 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Chestnuts House was built in c.1850 for Mr Haynes, a timber merchant. At that time St Ann's Road was still a rural lane where City merchants were beginning to build houses. The OS Map of 1894-6 shows the house with a circular carriage drive, some remnant of which remains today, and behind the house were gardens with a fountain. The boundary of the site to the west follows the line of an old footpath, Blackboy Lane. In March 1898 the house and grounds of 13 acres adjacent to Cornwall and St Ann's Roads were purchased for £7,760 by Tottenham Urban District Council following a poll of ratepayers to decide whether the site should be retained for public use. This was overwhelmingly approved by 911 votes and, with some additional land purchased, it was laid out as Chestnuts Recreation Ground, although the area of gardens were built over by 1913. It was intended as a commemoration of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee and opened to the public in November 1900.
At one time the Recreation Ground boasted a fine circular ornamental fountain on a mound, surrounded by planting, and various areas of ornamental planting. Avenues of plane trees remain on the park's western, southern and northern boundaries. Chestnuts House was initially used as a public reading room and museum, and it was the public library until St Ann's Branch Library was built in 1938. After this it became a health clinic but was demolished in the 1980s to make way for a Leisure Centre, now the Chestnuts Community Centre, which risked closure in 1992.
In 2008 various improvements to the park were carried out by Haringey Council in partnership with the New Deal for Communities team and the Friends of Chestnuts Park. The completion of the works was celebrated in May 2008 by a Community Day organised by the Friends. An open playing field now forms the west side of the park with a café and picnic terrace overlooking a new playground to the south. The eastern side of the park has newly refurbished tennis courts, basketball area, and a new Multi-Use Games Area. The Park Pavilion houses the Chestnuts pre-school playgroup and play centre, and the community centre is located in the south-east corner on St Ann's Road.
In autumn 2008, consultation was carried out to find out how local people would like to see Chestnuts Park improved further, following which a master plan was produced. This provides a long term plan for the park with demolition of the Park Pavilion and the central area of the park completely refurbished. The services that the Pavilion currently runs will be moved elsewhere at some point in the future and if funding allows, the works can then begin in the park.
At one time the Recreation Ground boasted a fine circular ornamental fountain on a mound, surrounded by planting, and various areas of ornamental planting. Avenues of plane trees remain on the park's western, southern and northern boundaries. Chestnuts House was initially used as a public reading room and museum, and it was the public library until St Ann's Branch Library was built in 1938. After this it became a health clinic but was demolished in the 1980s to make way for a Leisure Centre, now the Chestnuts Community Centre, which risked closure in 1992.
In 2008 various improvements to the park were carried out by Haringey Council in partnership with the New Deal for Communities team and the Friends of Chestnuts Park. The completion of the works was celebrated in May 2008 by a Community Day organised by the Friends. An open playing field now forms the west side of the park with a café and picnic terrace overlooking a new playground to the south. The eastern side of the park has newly refurbished tennis courts, basketball area, and a new Multi-Use Games Area. The Park Pavilion houses the Chestnuts pre-school playgroup and play centre, and the community centre is located in the south-east corner on St Ann's Road.
In autumn 2008, consultation was carried out to find out how local people would like to see Chestnuts Park improved further, following which a master plan was produced. This provides a long term plan for the park with demolition of the Park Pavilion and the central area of the park completely refurbished. The services that the Pavilion currently runs will be moved elsewhere at some point in the future and if funding allows, the works can then begin in the park.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ324888 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 5 |
| Site Ownership | LB Haringey |
| Site Management | Parks Service (West Green Neighbourhood); Friends of Chestnuts Recreation Ground (Kerry Williams) |
| Dates | 1898-1900 |
| 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 | Haringey |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | St Ann's |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Local Importance |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Significant Local Open Land |
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
Settlement here is recorded as early as 1384, and West Greene is marked on a survey of 1619. By the C19th the green had a horse pond and a pump that served the village with water. It was enclosed between 1864-94 and was laid out with curved walks and surrounding iron railings in c.1897, the latter later removed. West Green was redesigned on a geometric plan focusing on the war memorial, erected to commemorate those who died in WWI.
The park is on land that was once part of the large Mount Pleasant estate where in 1789 Downhills House was built, which had ornamental gardens on the south and a grove of trees towards the river. Part of Downhills Estate was leased to Broadwater Farm. The estate had numerous private owners, the last of whom sold it to the British Land Company who sold it on to Tottenham UDC in 1902, when the house was demolished. The public park was laid out on the former landscaped grounds although many fields were built over. Downhills Park opened in 1903 but was extended in 1904 with 4 acres purchased from the railway company. Early features included a rockery, Italian Garden, lake, thatched arbour, water-tower, conservatory, bandstand, model railway, keeper's lodge, elaborate stone terraces and fine hornbeam avenue. Although little of this survives, the Italian Gardens are still laid out with formal bedding, and the park has many fine trees. On the west side of the park is the more informal area of Downhills Recreation Ground.
The site was made public property by a deed of gift by Mr T A Mason in February 1925, on the condition that it should be laid out as a garden providing a restful retreat for the aged and infirm. Originally called Seven Sisters Gardens, it was laid out with a central grass plat with a small circular pool at its centre, with seating, perimeter walks, raised mixed borders and a small square pavilion. The garden was later renamed Manchester Gardens. Having become neglected, improvements were undertaken in 2008 and the gardens have been redesigned, although retain a formal layout.