Description
Churchfield Gardens were formerly fields next to the old Ruislip parish church of St Martin's. The land was passed over to Ruislip and Northwood UDC by Harold George Dyke on 16 November 1927, the land transfer document dictating that it was to be preserved for use as a public open space in perpetuity. It was laid out as a recreation ground, with a formal rose garden in the north part, which is still in place today with a central ornamental feature. The park opens out to a grassed area, with various trees including a grove of horse chestnuts.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Church Field Gardens |
|---|---|
| Site location | off Eastcote Road, Ruislip |
| Postcode | HA4 8BE |
| What3Words | ///frozen.elaborate.video |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Hillingdon |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 7.30am - dusk |
| Facilities | Children's play area, tennis courts |
| Events | Various events; planting days organised by Friends Group |
| Public Transport | Tube: Ruislip (Piccadilly, Metropolitan). Bus: 331, H13, E7, U1, U10 |
| Research Updated | 1 October 2016 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Up until the C19th most of the parish of Ruislip south of Eastcote Road was fields, of which Church Field was one of the main fields, the land was enclosed under an Act of 1804. Adjacent to the park is the churchyard of St Martin's Church (q.v.) and it is opposite the historic Manor Farm Complex (q.v.). Two local groups, Friends of Churchfield Gardens and Ruislip Residents Association, take an active interest in the park. Activities organised by the Friends have included planting events such as replanting of a flowerbed by the playground in which children took part, and a herb bed in 2008.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ091876 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 1.82 |
| Site Ownership | LB Hillingdon |
| Site Management | Green Spaces Team. Friends of Churchfield Gardens |
| Dates | 1927 |
| 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 | Hillingdon |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Ruislip Village |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Local Area of Play |
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
A church is recorded here as early as 1190 and Ruislip is mentioned in Domesday Survey. The village, which centred around St Martin's Church and Manor Farm, remained undeveloped until the early C20th, the railway reaching Ruislip in 1904. In the churchyard are a couple of long wooden graveboards, one that of Olive White of Southill Farm Eastcote. Relatively rare now, wooden graveboards were once a common sight in Middlesex churchyards, generally used due to the expense of stone and granite. The churchyard has a number of railed chest tombs, a fine old yew and other trees, and two lych-gates. Near the church is Ruislip War Memorial.
The Manor Farm Site contains much of historical interest centred around remains of a Norman Motte and Bailey fort. It remained in use as a farm until 1932, when it was given to Ruislip-Northwood UDC. The historic buildings include the Great Barn, Cow Byre, and the Little Barn, which have been converted for public use in a pedestrianised area with some landscaping, including a scented garden for the blind. The Manor House now provides an interpretation centre.
Warrender Park was created on a fragment of the landscape park of High Grove. The Highgrove Estate was inherited by the Warrender family in 1894. In 1935 Miss Eleanor Warrender sold the 4.35-hectare site to Ruislip-Northwood UDP for a recreation area, which was initially named Eastcote Recreation Ground. By the late 1970s it was called Warrender Park after the family. High Grove Nature Reserve has woodland with parkland trees and a pond, possibly a relic from the former garden.