Description
The Highams Park is on part of the former Highams estate, landscaped in the 1790s by Humphry Repton. Highams House is now Woodford County High School for Girls and the estate lands still exists in part, primarily as two adjacent park areas: Highams Park, owned by the Corporation of the City of London and part of Epping Forest, and The Highams Park, which was purchased by the local Council. It is on a triangle of sloping land on the eastern side of Repton's lake, which is within the Corporation land. In 1947 176 pre-fabs were erected here, removed in 1961 when this section of the park was re-established in the 'V' formed between two suburban streets.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Highams Park |
|---|---|
| Site location | Keynsham Avenue, Woodford Green |
| Postcode | IG8 |
| What3Words | ///being.fumes.zone |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Waltham Forest |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Special Conditions | no cycling |
| Facilities | under 7s play area |
| Public Transport | Tube: Woodford (Central) then bus. Rail: Highams Park then bus. Bus: 20, 179, 275, W13 |
| Research Updated | 1 August 2010 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Highams was landscaped by Humphry Repton for the then owner John Harman. Highams House is now Woodford County High School for Girls (q.v.) and the estate lands still exists in part, primarily as two adjacent park areas: Highams Park (q.v.) owned by the Corporation of the City of London and part of Epping Forest, and the other being this park owned by LB Waltham Forest. A wire fence separates the two areas, which have been subject to contrasting styles of management. Across the eastern side of the former park a more densely developed band of suburban housing now blocks the sight lines between house and lake. The Highams Park is on a triangle of sloping land on this eastern side of the Repton's lake (which is within the Corporation’s land), which was purchased by the local Council and still maintained by them. It was built over with 176 prefabricated dwellings in 1947, which were then removed in 1961 when this section of the park was re-established in the 'V' formed between two suburban streets. The Highams Park consists of manicured grassland dotted with mature trees, asphalt paths and some new planting. Waltham Forest Council had intended to turn this section into an arboretum, but was hindered by the hidden foundations of the former prefabs. Surviving trees include ancient oaks and some specimen conifers.
Representatives of Waltham Council and the Corporation of London have expressed an interest in working together to recreate elements of the original landscape and to improve the quality of these two adjoining areas of parkland.
Representatives of Waltham Council and the Corporation of London have expressed an interest in working together to recreate elements of the original landscape and to improve the quality of these two adjoining areas of parkland.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ395921 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 8.79 |
| Site Ownership | LB Waltham Forest and City of London Corporation/Epping Forest Conservators |
| Site Management | Urbaser Ltd as part of the Street Care and Associated Services contract with LB Waltham Forest |
| Dates | 1794; 1960s |
| Designers | Humphry Repton |
| 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 | Waltham Forest |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | Yes |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | The Higham's Estate Area of Special Character. Local List of Historic Parks and Gardens |
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
Highams Park in Epping Forest is the surviving portion of about 55 acres of the landscape park of Highams laid out in the 1790s by Humphry Repton for the mansion at Highams, now Woodford County High School for Girls. His landscaping included a lake to the west in an area of forest known as The Sale, created with permission of the forest authorities to provide water for the deer in the woods and for recreation, and formed by a dammed section of the River Ching. In 1890 the lower part of Highams Park encompassing the River Ching and its boating lake was purchased by the Corporation of London, added to Epping Forest and opened to the public in 1891.
Highams mansion was built in 1764, the estate then purchased by John Harman in 1790, for whom Humphry Repton designed the landscape park in 1794, including a lake created by damming the River Ching, now within Epping Forest. In 1848 the estate was sold to Edward Warner who extended the house. From the 1890s land began to be sold off for building and the house was let in 1902. From 1904-14 it became home to the Bishop of St Albans, whose sister created a rose garden. It was a military hospital during WWI and in 1919 it was leased to Essex County Council and opened as Woodford County High School. The original house and circular grassed area remain, now surrounded by school buildings, with Repton's terrace on the west also extant. Tennis courts and a sports hall were built on the kitchen garden although a portion of the wall survives.
Woodford Green is in two distinct sections, with a third and smaller green on the west side of High Road at High Elms. The southern section has perimeter horse chestnuts on its west side, with a poplar alley running through it. Settled since Saxon times, in the C17th Woodford attracted the rich, professional classes as a pleasant place to live at a convenient distance from London. The village character persisted until the arrival of the railway in the 1850s encouraged new housing development, bringing an influx of people and a more suburban aspect. The main village pond remains and cricket has been played on the Green for centuries. A statue of Sir Winston Churchill, who was MP for Wanstead and Woodford from 1924-1964 was unveiled on 31 October 1959.
