Description
Inwood Park opened as Hounslow Recreation Ground in 1902, the first recreation ground in the area. A meeting of Heston & Isleworth UDC in March 1897 had agreed to provide a recreation ground in celebration of the Queen's Jubilee and the site of the new park was one of two suggested. Problems with purchasing the land delayed the park, and although it opened in 1902 it was only completed in 1905. There was ornamental beds and formal planting in the front half of the park and facilities for sports behind.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Hounslow Recreation Ground |
|---|---|
| Site location | Inwood Road/Inwood Avenue/Livingstone Road/Stanley Road, Hounslow |
| Postcode | TW3 |
| What3Words | ///marble.shells.locker |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Hounslow |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 8am - dusk |
| Facilities | playground, football and sports pitches |
| Public Transport | Tube: Hounslow East (Piccadilly) then bus. Rail: Hounslow then bus. Bus: 111 |
| Research Updated | 1 November 2005 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The site was formerly meadowland abutting Inwood Road. The opening of the park was delayed due to some problems over the acquisition of the land, which comprised 5 acres from Mr J F Pownall and 5 acres from Isleworth Brewery Company. It was only partly completed at the inauguration, which took place to coincide with a children's fete on 26 June 1902, as a celebration of the coronation of Edward VII, the Jubilee now forgotten. It was planned to call the new park Coronation Park but this was then decided against when the King became ill and was instead named Hounslow Recreation Ground. The land purchase was not completed until September 1903; by July 1905 it was 'practically completed' by which time the c.5.5 hectares were divided into two roughly equal portions, laid out by Mr Abrams, the Parks Superintendent, using unskilled labour.
The front portion of the park had 'lawns, flower beds and ornamental walks', presenting 'a blaze of colour' from the large entrance gates on Inwood Road with the park superintendent's house surrounded by flowering beds and borders. Beyond were 'large beds laid out with double carnations, Shirley poppies, nasturtiums, sweet peas and mignonette, with borders of godetia and carki elegans - some of which present a very striking appearance. In front along the railings, the plants are mostly herbaceous and half hardy annuals. . . Under the trees are rustic shelters where old gentlemen read their papers secure from the heat of the sun and nursemaids and tired mothers do their knitting while they keep one eye on the romping children'.
The back portion of the park had a central line of elms under which it was proposed to lay a pathway, with a football ground on the left and cricket pitches on the right, as well as tennis courts. At that time a piece of ground to the left of the entrance was intended for a children's playground if funds allowed. In the summer of 1905 the park was well used with 400-500 daily visitors and the first band concert by Hounslow Town Band attracted some 1,000 people. However in 1907, problems with 'vagabonds and loafers' were reported in the local newspaper. By 1933 the park was described as having floral displays, a children's playground, rustic shelters, 6 grass tennis courts and a football pitch.
The park still has some of its original railings along the right side of the main entrance and some mature trees. The lodge appears to be a private residence and the park was later modernised and provided with a pond and tennis courts. There are plans for a nature area and for the disused tennis courts to be used fro a new theme garden.
The front portion of the park had 'lawns, flower beds and ornamental walks', presenting 'a blaze of colour' from the large entrance gates on Inwood Road with the park superintendent's house surrounded by flowering beds and borders. Beyond were 'large beds laid out with double carnations, Shirley poppies, nasturtiums, sweet peas and mignonette, with borders of godetia and carki elegans - some of which present a very striking appearance. In front along the railings, the plants are mostly herbaceous and half hardy annuals. . . Under the trees are rustic shelters where old gentlemen read their papers secure from the heat of the sun and nursemaids and tired mothers do their knitting while they keep one eye on the romping children'.
The back portion of the park had a central line of elms under which it was proposed to lay a pathway, with a football ground on the left and cricket pitches on the right, as well as tennis courts. At that time a piece of ground to the left of the entrance was intended for a children's playground if funds allowed. In the summer of 1905 the park was well used with 400-500 daily visitors and the first band concert by Hounslow Town Band attracted some 1,000 people. However in 1907, problems with 'vagabonds and loafers' were reported in the local newspaper. By 1933 the park was described as having floral displays, a children's playground, rustic shelters, 6 grass tennis courts and a football pitch.
The park still has some of its original railings along the right side of the main entrance and some mature trees. The lodge appears to be a private residence and the park was later modernised and provided with a pond and tennis courts. There are plans for a nature area and for the disused tennis courts to be used fro a new theme garden.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ142755 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 5.5 |
| Site Ownership | LB Hounslow |
| Site Management | John Laing Integrated Services; Friends Group |
| Dates | 1902-5 |
| 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 | Hounslow |
| 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 | Borough Park. Local 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
Originally part of the Whitton Park estate in Middlesex that at one time comprised 200 acres, Murray Park is named after Colonel Gostling Murray, whose family owned the estate from 1766-1892. Archibald Campbell, Lord Islay and later 3rd Duke of Argyll, first began acquiring the land from 1722 in the creation of his country seat in England. Known as ‘the treemonger of Whitton' his famed garden featured rare and exotic trees, many of which were cultivated here. In 1738, Campbell created a separate estate on the site of today's Murray Park for his mistress, Mrs Elizabeth Ann Williams. On his death in 1761 the entire estate at Whitton went to Mrs Williams and then to their illegitimate son, William, who divided and sold it in 1766. In 1796/7 the estate was re-united by George Gostling, who invited Humphry Repton to advise on the landscape design. What had by then become known as the Whitton Park Estate survived until 1894 when it was eventually sold for housing. Following efforts to save some open space, Twickenham UDC purchased 10 acres of Mrs Williams' former estate in the creation of Murray Park, which opened on 1 May 1914.
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