Description
White Hart Lane Recreation Ground was laid out by 1914 to serve the growing population, and was provided with tennis courts towards the north of the site. By 1935 the park had a number of other facilities including further tennis courts and playing fields with pavilions, two drinking fountains, as well as a fairly substantial boating pond in the south east corner, around which trees were planted and footpaths laid out. This was evidently a popular facility and gave rise to the park's nickname of Pond Park.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Pond Park |
|---|---|
| Site location | White Hart Lane |
| Postcode | N22 |
| What3Words | ///spots.custom.bumps |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Haringey |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | dawn to dusk |
| Facilities | Cricket, football pitches |
| Public Transport | Rail: White Hart Lane. Tube: Wood Green (Piccadilly) then bus. Bus W3, W4. |
| Research Updated | 1 December 2011 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The site had previously been open land, bordered by White Hart Lane, which was an old route. The course of the New River, the artificial river constructed in the early C17th to bring a clean water supply to London, used to run to the west of White Hart Lane until it was realigned. The name of Riversdale Gardens (q.v.) to the south-west of the recreation ground recalls the New River, as does the more recent New River Sports and Recreation Centre to the north. Just beyond the south west corner of the park is White Hart Lane School, which predated the recreation ground, and by 1956 White Hart Lane Day Nursery had been built within the boundary of the recreation ground. The rising land to the north and north-east of the park remained largely undeveloped, and is in use as school playing fields. In 1995 the new Wood Green Cemetery to the north was opened on 16 November by Alan Dobble, Mayor of Haringey.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ312910 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | LB Haringey |
| Site Management | Parks Service |
| Dates | early 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 | Haringey |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Local Importance |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | Yes |
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
The White Hart Lane Estate was one of several early LCC cottage estates and was built on land that was previously largely fields. The southern part of the estate was developed c.1905-15 and its provision of public open space and generous private gardens was made possible through a donation from Sir Samuel Montagu. The northern part was built between 1920-27. The design of the estate was influenced by Arts and Crafts ideals and the Garden City movement, with green verges, street trees, private gardens and public open space.
Riversdale Gardens was laid out as public gardens between 1894 and c.1912, possibly at the same time as the nearby Crescent Gardens to the south-west. The original layout included curving paths with dwarf fencing around areas of turf inset with trees and shrub beds.
Woodside Park was established here when Wood Green Local Board purchased Earlham Grove House with 11 acres of land in 1893. The house, which was converted to Council offices and later enlarged, was used as Wood Green Town Hall until 1958. The park was laid out and by 1914 boasted a bandstand, now gone, bowling green and other features. An early C18th lodge, now called The Mushroom House, and surrounding triangle of land was incorporated into the park and a pavilion was erected by the bowling green before 1935.