Description
South Park opened to the public in 1904, created on land purchased by the LCC in 1901. Considerable investment was made, including erection of fine gates at the principal entrance; lodges, one with a refreshment room attached; extensive lengths of boundary wall and railings. An impressive balustraded terrace overlooked the playing fields, bandstand and lake, and the park later acquired an aviary and palm house. Much of the layout remains, although the bandstand and latter buildings have been demolished, and the lake filled in. Among the features that remain are an Edwardian wooden shelter, 1950s cricket pavilion, shrub borders and rose garden, as well as lime and plane trees.
Practical Information
| Site location | Clancarty Road/Peterborough Road/Hugon Road, Fulham |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SW6 |
| What3Words | ///help.formed.bench |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Hammersmith & Fulham |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 7.30am - dusk |
| Facilities | tennis court/basket ball court; football pitch, play equipment |
| Public Transport | Tube: Fulham Broadway (District) then bus. Bus: 28, 295, C4 |
| Research Updated | 1 September 2008 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
South Park (its earlier proposed name was Peterborough Park) was on land formerly that of Southfields Farm, which was nursery gardens owned by the Rench family from 1711, passing to the Fitch family by inheritance, and then in 1865, by sale, to Veitch and Sons. The site was purchased with a grant from the London County Council in 1901 and opened to the public in 1904. Considerable investment was made when it was laid out, including erection of fine gates at the principal entrance from Clancarty Road; lodges, one having a refreshment room attached, extensive lengths of boundary wall such as along Peterborough Road; and railings on Hugon and Clancarty Roads. An impressive balustraded terrace overlooked the playing fields, bandstand and lake and the park later acquired an aviary and palm house.
Much of the layout remains, although the bandstand and latter buildings have been demolished, and the lake filled in. A rose garden now occupies the site of the palm house, which was closed in 1981 and demolished soon after. The pond is not shown on a street map of 1925 that shows ponds in other parts of the borough, so it had probably disappeared by then. Among the features that remain are an Edwardian wooden shelter, 1950s cricket pavilion, shrub borders, and rose garden. Lime and plane trees line the walks and there are lime trees around the perimeter. A Friends of South Park group was set up in 2008.
Much of the layout remains, although the bandstand and latter buildings have been demolished, and the lake filled in. A rose garden now occupies the site of the palm house, which was closed in 1981 and demolished soon after. The pond is not shown on a street map of 1925 that shows ponds in other parts of the borough, so it had probably disappeared by then. Among the features that remain are an Edwardian wooden shelter, 1950s cricket pavilion, shrub borders, and rose garden. Lime and plane trees line the walks and there are lime trees around the perimeter. A Friends of South Park group was set up in 2008.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ255760 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 8.49 |
| Site Ownership | LB Hammersmith & Fulham |
| Site Management | Environment Department, Parks Service (ground maintenance by Quadron Services); Friends of South Park |
| Dates | 1904 |
| Designers | J J Sexby |
| Listed Structures | Local list: gates on Clancarty Road; terracotta walls within park; boundary walls, gates and gate piers on Hugon Road |
| 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 | Hammersmith & Fulham |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Hurlingham CA4 1971 |
| 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 Park; Open Space of Borough-wide Importance |
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
Sulivan Court Estate is post-war housing built in 1949-56 for Fulham Borough Council on the site of the Hurlingham Club's No. 2 Polo Field. It is named for the Sulivan family, who were C19th local benefactors living at Broom House. Between the L-shaped blocks are many trees of a variety of species planted in extensive areas of grass. A road runs across the estate and the perimeter wall is of older bricks that may be the much reduced original wall. Sulivan School, to the north, also has a number of trees, and a nature garden.
The Hurlingham Club Grounds are on land that was part of the manor of the Bishops of London, from whom in 1760 Dr William Cadogan leased 9 acres and built Hurlingham House. The riverside house and estate were enlarged over the years and had a number of private owners. In 1867 it was first used for pigeon shooting displays and in 1869 the Hurlingham Club was founded here. From 1874 until WWII the Club was famous for polo. After the war the polo grounds were compulsorily purchased for a public park. The Club continues as a private members' club with sports and leisure facilities set in fine landscaped grounds, that retain features of the earlier landscape.
Hurlingham Park was formerly land that was owned by the Bishop of London, later part of the Hurlingham estate with a fine riverside mansion and grounds. From 1869 it was leased then purchased by the Hurlingham Club, becoming famous for polo. The site of the park was the former No.1 Polo Ground between 1874 - 1937 with a concrete grandstand built in 1935 provided seating. During WWII part of the polo grounds were leased for use as allotments from 1942, and in 1951 the Polo Grounds were compulsorily purchased by the LCC for housing development and a public park. The site of former stables became a series of enclosed gardens with ornamental planting, bowling green, paddling pool and play area, and the polo ground became a running track and tennis courts. The park has numerous large plane trees in the western part dating from the period before the land was bought by Hurlingham Club from the Mulgrave House estate in 1879.