Westerly Ware

The name 'Westerly (sometimes spelt Westerley) Ware' comes from netting weirs or wares to catch fish. The small recreation ground and gardens adjacent to Kew Bridge are on former meadowland that was part of Kew Commonable Lands, which were awarded under the 1824 Enclosure Act whereby inhabitants of Kew were granted common rights of pasture here. The administration of these lands was overseen by the Kew Commonable Rights Committee, a group of trustees elected annually by Kew Vestry, while the freehold remained with the Crown. The Commonable Lands included 25 allotments on Short Lots, as well as just over 4 acres at Westerly Ware. In 1914 Kew United Football Club was refused permission by the Trustees to play here 'because they were desirous of doing something to improve the condition of the Meadow' (Minutes of 10/2/1915). A plan of c.1917 shows a rectangular green space surrounded by trees.

The Kew War Memorial Recreation Ground was laid out after WWI and the Minutes of 21/12/1925 record that the Clerk was instructed to ask Messrs. Hill and Smith to submit designs for a memorial scroll to fix over the gates to the Recreation Ground at a cost not to exceed £25, and these were recorded as having been received in August 1926. By March 1939 the Committee could no longer afford to maintain the ground and rather than close it they passed a resolution to apply to Richmond Corporation to take over control and management of the recreation ground, which by that time had '6 en-tout-cas tennis courts, a tarmaced netball court, children's playground, lawns and flower gardens'. A report by Richmond Parks Superintendent on 24 March 1939 remarked on the ornamental gardens that 'it is obvious that owing to lack of labour this section has been shelved somewhat. The gravel paths are not in a state to encourage people to use these gardens which I think is a pity'. In September 1939 the Commissioner of Crown Lands agreed to assignment of the recreation ground to Richmond Corporation. Some changes took place after the Corporation took over management of the park, including conversion of some of the tennis courts for bowling.

The small park is hedged on three sides, with some mature planes on the east and a beech hedge in front of the attractive terrace of Willow Cottages. The War Memorial Garden is at the foot of Kew Bridge, the name over the entrance gates; the garden is laid out with grass, trees and shrubs, surrounded by a hedge, and leads into the adjacent rectangular recreation ground. This area is in a slight dip and has steps leading up to a seat at the same level as the adjacent Thames Path, although there is no access to the riverside path at that point. The park has seating, shrubs and trees planted along the south and rose beds near the gate and tennis courts. The original stone piers remain at the corner of Willow Cottages and halfway along towards War Memorial Garden gates.

Until the early 1990s, an on-site groundskeeper maintained the park but it subsequently became neglected. Restoration works were eventually undertaken with funding from the MPGA by the Westerly Ware Association. The Association was set up in 1997 by a group of local residents, who in partnership with Richmond Council, help raise funds, improve and maintain the park for the benefit of the local community and wildlife. Work has included removal of graffiti, planting of trees, shrubs, wild flowers and bulbs, provision of benches, repairs to stonework, and a gardener was taken on for ongoing maintenance. For the Association's 10th anniversary in 2007 decorative gates were commissioned from Shelley Thomas from the Brentford Forge at the Steam Museum (now the London Museum of Water and Steam). A new playground was installed by Richmond Council in consultation with Westerly Ware Association in 2012. In 2013 beekeeping was introduced to the park, and the hives are attended by local beekeeper Simon Blackwell. The park now has ornamental trees, a well-stocked herbaceous border, terraced beds with roses and lavender, and over 2000 daffodils planted across the beds and grass. Community Remembrance Services take place at the Kew War Memorial Garden on special anniversaries. 

In 2014 Westerly Ware was selected for the Green Flag Award for the highest standards across eight key criteria and it maintained this status in ensuring years. It also received a Gold Richmond in Bloom Merit award in 2018.