Description
By the early C20th Hanwell's population had rapidly grown and Hanwell UDC, keen to make provision for public open space, approached the owner of Osterley Park, Lord Jersey in 1907. He offered a 7.5 acre site, then leased out. Due to the pressing need for a place for children to play the Council requested temporary use of the site while negotiations were in progress, to which Lord Jersey agreed. Elthorne Park was officially opened on 11 June 1910 by Lady Jersey accompanied by her son Lord Villiers. Among its facilities were a bandstand that remains today and a drinking fountain. The layout included lime and horse chestnut trees planted on the lawn, open lawns with an axial walk, and floral displays. The park abuts Elthorne Waterside on the River Brent, which was created in the 1970s and is managed for nature conservation.
Practical Information
| Site location | Boston Road, Hanwell |
|---|---|
| Postcode | W7 |
| What3Words | ///mouth.onion.twig |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Ealing |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Facilities | Playground, tennis courts, football pitches. Elthorne Waterside: car park |
| Events | Hanwell Carnival and other events |
| Public Transport | Tube: Boston Manor (Piccadilly) then bus. Bus: E8. |
| Research Updated | 1 October 2010 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
By the early C20th the population of Hanwell had more than doubled in ten years, as a result of which Hanwell Urban District Council was endeavouring to make provision for open spaces for the children of the neighbourhood to play in. In September 1907 the Council decided to negotiate for a suitable space and approached Lord Jersey, owner of Osterley Park (q.v.) and one of the original members of Middlesex County Council when it was formed. In July 1908 Lord Jersey, 'also anxious to promote the prosperity and welfare of the community . . . had been glad to do his part, and meet their representatives half-way'. He offered the Council, for the sum of £4,500, a 'magnificent site' of seven and a half acres, then leased to a Mrs Goodenough. The total cost to create the recreation ground was £5,400, with Middlesex County Council contributing £1,162.10s. However, the need for somewhere for the children to play was so pressing that the Council requested temporary use of the ground while the negotiations were in progress, to which Lord Jersey agreed. As a result the park was used for some time before it was officially opened.
The opening date was postponed as a result of the death of King Edward the day before it was due to take place, and Elthorne Park was finally opened on 11 June 1910, the events officiated by Lady Jersey accompanied by her son Lord Villiers. A newspaper report of the occasion described it as a 'very successful function' remarking that 'the felicity of the whole of the proceedings was unqualified except by the undue length of the speech-making'.
Among its facilities were a bandstand that remains today and a drinking fountain, and it is bounded by railings, with iron gates and brick gate piers. To the south-east are lime and horse chestnut trees scattered on the lawn and at the north-west are open lawns with an axial walk. Inside the main entrance is a circular floral display with central bed and surrounding rose beds.
At the far end, the park leads to Elthorne Waterside down to River Brent, which is now part of the Brent River Park. This was created in the 1970s and is managed for nature conservation; improvement works c.2001 include pond restoration, creation of a water-filled ditch and bank habitat, with a sloping meadow area and a woodland site created. Brent River Park was created in 1976 following proposals by the Brent River and Canal Society, which was established in 1973 to set up a linear park and improve the Brent Valley river corridor. Brent River Park covers 400 hectares along its 7km length, and includes formal parks such as Brent Lodge Park, Churchfields Recreation Ground, and Pitshanger Park (q.q.v.) and open space, golf courses, sports grounds, allotments and privately owned land. Brent River Park received £400,000 in 2009 under the Mayor of London's Priority Parks scheme, which was matched by £487,000 from Ealing Council. Improvement projects are underway in the various parks and open spaces that come under Brent River Park.
The opening date was postponed as a result of the death of King Edward the day before it was due to take place, and Elthorne Park was finally opened on 11 June 1910, the events officiated by Lady Jersey accompanied by her son Lord Villiers. A newspaper report of the occasion described it as a 'very successful function' remarking that 'the felicity of the whole of the proceedings was unqualified except by the undue length of the speech-making'.
Among its facilities were a bandstand that remains today and a drinking fountain, and it is bounded by railings, with iron gates and brick gate piers. To the south-east are lime and horse chestnut trees scattered on the lawn and at the north-west are open lawns with an axial walk. Inside the main entrance is a circular floral display with central bed and surrounding rose beds.
At the far end, the park leads to Elthorne Waterside down to River Brent, which is now part of the Brent River Park. This was created in the 1970s and is managed for nature conservation; improvement works c.2001 include pond restoration, creation of a water-filled ditch and bank habitat, with a sloping meadow area and a woodland site created. Brent River Park was created in 1976 following proposals by the Brent River and Canal Society, which was established in 1973 to set up a linear park and improve the Brent Valley river corridor. Brent River Park covers 400 hectares along its 7km length, and includes formal parks such as Brent Lodge Park, Churchfields Recreation Ground, and Pitshanger Park (q.q.v.) and open space, golf courses, sports grounds, allotments and privately owned land. Brent River Park received £400,000 in 2009 under the Mayor of London's Priority Parks scheme, which was matched by £487,000 from Ealing Council. Improvement projects are underway in the various parks and open spaces that come under Brent River Park.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ159794 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | LB Ealing |
| Site Management | Leisure & Parks Service |
| Dates | 1910, 1970s |
| 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 | Ealing |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Elthorne Waterside |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | Yes |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Archaelogical Interest Area |
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
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
In 1853 St George's Hanover Square Burial Board purchased land in Hanwell for a new cemetery, its existing burial grounds overcrowded. Hanwell Cemetery opened in 1854, and was initially only for use of parishioners of St George's Hanover Square, but later extended to Hanwell parishioners. In 1889 ownership transferred to the Metropolitan Borough of City of Westminster. Its layout was influenced by John Claudius Loudon, who advocated combining the functional with the aesthetic, with a grid pattern of paths for ease, and evergreen trees planted singly to avoid dropping leaves and obstruction. Its Victorian Gothic-style buildings included a lodge and pair of chapels, and it had fine gates and railings. A series of mausolea are found along the Cedar-lined main drive. Further tree planting took place in the 1920s, and some of its fine and unusual trees are the result of the connection that one of the superintendents had with Kew Gardens.
In 1853 St George's Hanover Square Burial Board purchased land in Hanwell for a new cemetery, its existing burial grounds overcrowded. Hanwell Cemetery opened in 1854, and was initially only for use of parishioners of St George's Hanover Square, but later extended to Hanwell parishioners. In 1889 ownership transferred to the Metropolitan Borough of City of Westminster. Its layout was influenced by John Claudius Loudon, who advocated combining the functional with the aesthetic, with a grid pattern of paths for ease, and evergreen trees planted singly to avoid dropping leaves and obstruction. Its Victorian Gothic-style buildings included a lodge and pair of chapels, and it had fine gates and railings. A series of mausolea are found along the Cedar-lined main drive. Further tree planting took place in the 1920s, and some of its fine and unusual trees are the result of the connection that one of the superintendents had with Kew Gardens.
In the mid-C18th much of the area was part of Hanwell Heath, but when the parish land was enclosed in 1816 only c.1.25 acres had been set aside for the poor in compensation for loss of common rights. This was the site that later became King George's Field, then called Poor's Piece and owned by Hobbayne's Charity, whose Trustees were not permitted to sell the land for private use or building. King George's Field was opened as a recreation ground in 1951. Its gate piers on St Mark's Road have the heraldic stone plaques commemorating funding from King George's Fields Foundation. The Foundation, set up as a memorial following the King's death in 1936, provided funding for the creation or improvement of a great many playing fields before it was dissolved in 1965.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
Kensington Hanwell Cemetery was one of first public cemeteries to be opened after the Metropolitan Interment Act of 1850. It was established by the Burial Board of the parish of St Mary Abbots, North Kensington in 1855. Due to the number of burials it was expanded a number of times but was virtually full by 1924 when the Burial Board opened its new Gunnersbury Cemetery. Its layout is little changed, entered via a splendid Gothic-style arch from where a straight walk leads, thickly planted with shrubs. The main part of cemetery is richly planted with Cedars, Holm oaks, Corsican pine, specimen conifers and other trees. One of its two original chapels survives with picturesque remnants of the arcade that formerly linked it to the Nonconformist chapel to the east, demolished c1972. There a number of notable tombs and monuments.
Kensington Hanwell Cemetery was one of first public cemeteries to be opened after the Metropolitan Interment Act of 1850. It was established by the Burial Board of the parish of St Mary Abbots, North Kensington in 1855. Due to the number of burials it was expanded a number of times but was virtually full by 1924 when the Burial Board opened its new Gunnersbury Cemetery. Its layout is little changed, entered via a splendid Gothic-style arch from where a straight walk leads, thickly planted with shrubs. The main part of cemetery is richly planted with Cedars, Holm oaks, Corsican pine, specimen conifers and other trees. One of its two original chapels survives with picturesque remnants of the arcade that formerly linked it to the Nonconformist chapel to the east, demolished c1972. There a number of notable tombs and monuments.