Description
Clayhall Park is on former land of the Manor of Clay Hall, which was broken up in 1927. First mentioned in 1203, it probably remained in ownership of the de la Claie or Clay family until 1313 and then passed through various owners. The manor house, which must have once been a substantial building, was demolished in the mid C18th and replaced by a farmhouse. The park opened to the public in 1934 and the farmhouse, outbuildings and chapel were demolished in 1935. The large, flat park is interspersed with sycamore, ash, oak, lime and horse chestnut avenue.
Practical Information
| Site location | Woodford Avenue/Longwood Gardens, Ilford |
|---|---|
| Postcode | IG5 |
| What3Words | ///lift.stroke.itself |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Redbridge |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | Daily 8am-dusk (check site owner for closing time); closed Christmas Day |
| Facilities | Tennis courts, cricket pitches, football pitches, children's play areas, bowling green (Clayhall Bowls Club) |
| Public Transport | Tube: Gants Hill (Central). Bus: 123, 179,251, 462. |
| Research Updated | 1 September 2010 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Clayhall Park was formed upon the manor of Clay Hall, which was broken up in 1927. The Manor of Clayhall was first mentioned in 1203 when it was a free tenement held of Barking Abbey. It probably remained in the de la Claie/Clay family until 1313 when it was sold to Walter de Basingge. Various owners ensued and in 1410 John Tiltesbury of London, a skinner, and his wife Margaret conveyed the Manor of Clayhall to William and John de Fynd(ere?) and others, which appears to be the first time the manor was thus named. By the 1760s the estate was being let to tenant farmers but in the C17th the manor house was probably a considerable building since it was the residence of rich and titled owners. The house was demolished in the mid C18th and replaced by a farmhouse. The park opened to the public in 1934 and the Manor House farmhouse, outbuildings and chapel were demolished in 1935. The large, flat park is interspersed with sycamore, ash, oak, lime and horse chestnut. It has early C20th railings and gates (stamped ‘Croggan London') opening onto Longwood Gardens. Of fairly recent date is a circular slightly sunken garden area in the centre of four long covered walkways or pergolas in cruciform shape.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ428893 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 14 |
| Site Ownership | LB Redbridge |
| Site Management | Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure Ltd |
| Dates | 1934 |
| 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 | Redbridge |
| 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 | Local Open Space |
Gallery
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
Redbridge Recreation Ground is a public park that provides facilities for informal recreation in a scenic natural environment. It is largely grass with two play areas and the north area is designated for nature conservation, where an arboretum has been planted with trees of interest within an area of naturalised spring bulbs. The southern end of the park provides areas for informal sport and play equipment for children of all ages and abilities with a spider web climbing frame, roundabout, swings and floor markings for games like hop-scotch. The park is recognised for its importance for nature conservation, and the grassland that covers most of the park contains a higher than usual proportion of wildflowers, including autumn hawkbit and yarrow. A line of poplars along one edge has three clumps of mistletoe, a rare plant in London. The park has been designated a Queen Elizabeth II Field.
Barkingside Garden of Rest was set up as an extension to the municipal Barkingside Cemetery to the east. Opened in 1954, the first burial took place on 8 October of that year. It is a functional C20th cemetery laid out with straight roadways and paths, some flanked by ornamental trees. A prominent weeping willow stands near the main carriage sweep at the Longwood Gardens entrance where there is a covered waiting area. Until the early C20th Barkingside was a small village, development taking place after Barkingside Station opened in 1903.
Ilford Animal Cemetery dates from the late 1920s, after the land was purchased for the PDSA Sanatorium in 1927. Shortly after this the first animal was buried at the request of its owner, since when thousands of family pets have been buried here, as well as military animals including those awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal for war service. Now closed for burial the cemetery was restored in 2007 and is maintained as a historical site. The PDSA Paws Forever Tribute Garden was laid out together with a Garden of Remembrance designed by Bob Flowerdew and opened in June 2008.
