Description
Clapton Park is on land formerly the site of a farmyard, which was itself built on what was probably an old Roman foss-way leading directly across the old River Lea. The area was laid out by the London County Council as Clapton Park Housing Estate between 1967-1972. The small park consists of a flat grassed open space with perimeter shrubs and some notable trees. It is overlooked by Council housing and separated from Hackney Marshes by the River Lee Navigation. A tarmac path runs between two entrances, and a fenced-off adventure playground and children's playground are the only amenities.
Practical Information
| Site location | Daubeney Road |
|---|---|
| Postcode | E9 |
| What3Words | ///manual.round.scope |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Hackney |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Facilities | Adventure playground; children's playground |
| Public Transport | London Overground: Homerton. Bus: 242. |
| Research Updated | 1 August 2008 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ362858 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | LB Hackney |
| Site Management | Hackney Parks Service |
| Dates | late C19th - 1970s? |
| Designers | ?LCC |
| 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 | Hackney |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Open Space |
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
Hackney Marshes were formerly Lammas land, which in the C12th was divided into marshy meadows. By the mid C18th these amounted to nearly 300 small strips, with the remainder of the land owned by the Lord of Hackney Manor. There is a long history of sports and recreational use of Hackney Marshes. The land was acquired by the LCC under the Open Spaces Act 1893 and was formally dedicated as public open space in 1894. Hackney Marshes are predominantly used for playing fields.
Between 1915 and 1922, 37.5 acres of land were taken from Hackney Marsh for the Government War Department's National Projectile Factory manufacturing munitions, but later the area was cleared to provide Mabley Green Recreation Ground. It remains a large open playing field surrounded by notable London planes on the north and east sides. In 2008 a huge granite stone was placed in the centre of the park, part of 'Boulder' a sculpture project by artist John Frankland in two Hackney parks. In both parks the boulders are intended to be used for climbing.
By the mid C18th there were a number of large houses in the area and St Barnabas was consecrated in 1847 when the population of the former hamlet of Homerton was increasing. Its site had been that of a coach-house, stabling, and two paddocks. The church was built largely at the instigation of the Hackney Phalanx, an Anglican group who were instrumental in building churches and schools in Hackney. The churchyard is largely grassed and contains a number of headstones, with a war memorial in front of the church.