Description
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.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Homerton Recreation Ground |
|---|---|
| Site location | Homerton Road/Mabley Street |
| Postcode | E9 |
| What3Words | ///dusty.corn.fleet |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Hackney |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Facilities | Climbing rock, outdoor gym, Astroturf football pitch |
| Public Transport | London Overground: Homerton. Bus: W15, 236, 276. |
| Research Updated | 1 June 2011 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
During WWI, between 1915 and 1922, 37.5 acres 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, which remains a large open playing field surrounded by notable planes on the north and east sides. In 2008 a huge solid granite stone over 4m high was placed in the exact centre of the park, weighing 60 tonnes. It is part of 'Boulder', a sculpture project by artist John Frankland in two Hackney parks, the other stone located in Shoreditch Park (q.v.). The project was coordinated by Peer, an independent art gallery based in Hackney. The two blocks had been created as a result of a controlled explosion at a quarry in Cornwall, but were too large to be crushed down for aggregate. They were later selected by the artist for this project, which aimed 'to make a powerful and permanent sculptural work by the simplest possible means'. Visitors are invited to climb on these huge stones, the artist himself being a keen climber or boulderer. Mabley Green User Group is creating a wildflower meadow, and three new benches carved by sculptor Gary March are to be placed on Mabley Green. Other improvements to facilities will take place as part of Big Lottery Funding for the Hackney Wick area.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ365852 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | LB Hackney |
| Site Management | Hackney Parks Service; Mabley Green User Group |
| Dates | Mid C20th |
| 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 | Yes |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Area of Special Landscape Character |
| Other LA Designation | Open Space; Green Link |
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
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.
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.
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.