A guide to its Parks & Open Spaces

"real hidden gems awaiting your discovery"

watford.gov.uk

WE ARE WATFORD watfordcouncil WATFORDWATFORD A A GUIDE GUIDE TO TO ITSITS PARKSPARKS & & OPEN OPEN SPACES SPACES

Foreword

HeG One night (me thoughts) walking up one of my Lords line-walks, I heard the grateful Trees Thus Paying the Tribute of their thanks to his Lordship: Like Pyramids our Stately Tops wee’l Raise To Sing our Noble Benefactor’s Praise; Freshly we will to After-ages show What Noble Essex did on us bestow; For we our very Being owe to him, Or else we had long since entombed been In Crop of Bird, or in Beasts Belly Found, Or meet our Death neglected on the ground; By him we cherish’d were with Dung and Spade, For which wee’l recompence him with our Shade; And since his kindness saw us prun’d so well, We will Requite him with our Fragrant smell; In Winter (as in Gratitude is meet) Wee’l strew our humble Leaves beneath his Feet. Nay, in each Tree, Root, Trunck, Branch, all will be Proud to Serve him and his Posterity.

Moses Cook, 1676, landscape designer for the Estate for the 1st Introduction Parks and Open Spaces play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life for local communities in Watford. They improve the appearance of the town, and provide for informal recreation, sport and play. But the beneLits are much wider than this. These include social beneLits and opportunities, such as children’s play, passive recreation, active recreation, providing a community and cultural focus and are often an educational resource. The benefits to health are now well known. Recent and ongoing research has shown that contact with the natural world can benefit mental and physical health. Environmental benefits include reducing noise and harmful pollutants and the role they play in supporting much of our urban wildlife must not be underestimated. In 2013, Watford adopted its Green Spaces Strategy and has since improved many of its parks and open spaces, children’s play areas and allotments. Progress has been excellent and as a result, Watford’s green spaces continue to be much loved. The Green Spaces Strategy sets a challenging target for continued improvement. One of the priorities was a new guide covering a selection of our many parks and open spaces, with historical anecdotes and facilities available. Some of these are real hidden gems and are awaiting your discovery.

“real hidden gems awaiting your discovery” Cheslyn House and Gardens (page 6)

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©1 Alban’s Wood Local Nature being designed and built in 1853 by Sir George Gilbert Scott who is better known as Reserve the architect of St. Pancras Station and the Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens. The Woodside Playing Fields, Horseshoe Church is of flint and has the appearance of Lane, Watford, WD25 7HH simple gothic design so that it is sometimes mistaken for being of a much greater age and includes a Lady Chapel which was furnished in the 1920s as a memorial to the men of the parish who gave their lives in the First World War. Horseshoe Lane took its name from a blacksmith’s forge, which stood opposite the church. This has now been demolished and moved to the Chiltern Open Air Museum.

©3 Berry Avenue Open Space

Berry Avenue, Watford, WD24 6ST A small open space with children’s playground for toddler and junior ages upgraded in 2015, a seating area and green space adjacent. Popular with local children and the adjacent school. Facilities: Children's playground. Alban’s Wood

A delightful ancient semi-natural oak ©4 BuryLield Nature Garden woodland with beech and some planted horse chestnut, sweet chestnut, cherry and HatLield Road, Watford, WD24 4DB sycamore located next to Woodside Playing Buryfield is a nature garden created from a Fields. Found here is a hazel coppice below former old garage site between two roads off and ground cover of mainly bluebells or St. Albans Road. The garden, which covers bramble. Bird species to be spotted include about 1000 square metres, runs between the greater spotted woodpecker, nuthatch, Salisbury Road and Hatfield Road and has treecreeper, as well as thrushes, finches and been transformed beyond all recognition. tits and, in the spring, chiffchaff and blackcap. It is now a haven for wildlife and residents, Butterflies include purple hairstreak and both looking for a peaceful green oasis in speckled wood are also often seen. Also which to relax. Native trees such as hawthorn abundant are grey squirrels, occasional and holly create a hedge all around the site Muntjac deer, and red fox. Bat species include and a woodland copse. Over 30 species of both species of pipistrelle and noctule. wild flowers and grasses have been sown in the garden and the pond has been planted up ©2 All Saints Churchyard with native aquatic plants. The garden is open for visitors during the day and locked each All Saints Crescent, Watford, WD 0LU night. Entry is from Hatfield Road and the site is fully wheelchair and buggy accessible. Now a closed churchyard, it was during the Facilities: Pond. Victorian era that All Saints was founded,

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Callowland Recreation Ground

©5 Callowland Recreation The recreation ground was certainly there in 1910 with entrances at either end of Ashby Ground Road linked to a perimeter path system Ashby Road, Watford, WD24 5GU bordered by Lime trees. By the 1930s, a lavatory, children’s playground, bowling green The Callowland area in and pavilion, with 2 shelters were present. By was the 1960s a pavilion with tennis courts had developed during the been added. nineteenth century. In Today the recreation ground is popular with 1881 Callowland local residents, families and children and has belonged to the Earl of Essex who purchased many wonderful facilities including a large the land from the Master and Fellows of Multi Use Games Area, play area for all ages, Merton College, Oxford. By 1890 house table tennis tables, outdoor gym, bowling building was underway. In the early twentieth green, changing rooms and football pitches. century Watford Council purchased 130 acres With an investment of over £600,000, the of Callowland Estate with a view to house Callowland Recreation Ground is now one of building. The area had become industrialised our most popular open spaces in the town. with the introduction of two cocoa works, Dr. Tibbles VI-Cocoa and Bolsselier’s Chocolates, Facilities: Playground, multi use games a printing works and the and North area, table tennis, outdoor gym, bowling Western Railway Company. green, football pitches, changing rooms.

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©6 and 25.5 acres, costing £7,000, in 1912, to create a “people’s park and pleasure ground.” More land was purchased in 1923 and 1930, the West Cassiobury Park Avenue, Watford, WD18 Herts Golf Course in 1932 and Whippendell 7HY Wood in 1935. Cassiobury Park is Sadly, by this time the house had been Watford’s premier park, a demolished, 1927 saw its demise. Construction multiple Green of the present day Cassiobury residential estate Award winner and also began soon after, and the old stable block our oldest public park. It converted into Cassiobury Court in Richmond has also been voted in the top 3 most popular Drive. parks in the country and is worthy of this Today Cassiobury has over 2 million visits a accolade. Its history is immense. year to experience the hustle and bustle of the The manor of Cassio, which was owned by the Pools, to the elegance of the Cha Tea Pavilion, Abbey of , was mentioned in the or the wilderness of Whippendell Wood. It is Domesday Book in 1086. In 1546 Henry VIII home to Watford (Cassiobury) Croquet Club, granted Cassio to Richard Morison, who started Watford Bowls Club, with football and cricket to build a house befitting his status, but died facilities available as well as the Pools and play before it was finished. His son Charles oversaw facilities for children of all ages. In 2017, a brand the completion, and the house was passed new park centre was opened with new down the male line until 1628, when Elizabeth revamped Pools, relocated bandstand and a Morison married Arthur, Lord Capel of refurbished Cha Tea Pavilion. With an incredible Hadham. The estate remained in the history to date, the next 150 years are equally ownership of the Capel family until it was sold exciting. in 1922. Facilities: Two children's playgrounds, Elizabeth and Arthur’s son, Arthur, was made paddling pools, miniature railway, bouncy Viscount Malden and Earl of Essex in 1661. He castle (Summer), tea pavilion, bandstand employed the gardener Moses Cook to set out with summer programme, park centre with formal gardens, and the house was extensively education and exhibition space, changing remodelled in the early 1700s by the architect facilities, refreshment kiosk, bird hide, Live . Gardeners Charles Bridgman and football pitches with changing rooms, one Thomas Wright both worked on the estate in cricket pitch with changing rooms, four the eighteenth century, and Humphry Repton grass and two tarmac tennis courts was commissioned to landscape the park in the (no booking required), Lishing (permit later part of the century. As part of this work, a required) and 2 outdoor gyms. number of lodges and other buildings were Car parking is also available. built, some still surviving. Features and attractions: Local Nature The Earls of Essex occupied Cassiobury for Reserve, County Wildlife Site, Site of Special more than 250 years. When the 6th Earl died in ScientiLic Interest (SSSI), , Grand 1892, it was clear that little maintenance had Union Canal, Woodland, Community been carried out on the house in the previous Orchard, Nature Trail. fifty years, consequently many of the family For further information on Cassiobury paintings and other valuables were sold to Park, please contact provide funds. By 1900 the house had ceased [email protected] or visit the to be used as a permanent residence, and in Cassiobury Park Facebook page 1908 parts of the estate were sold off. The Urban District Council paid £24,500 for 65 To join the Friends of Cassiobury Park, acres in 1909, to add to some land which had please refer to their website been purchased in 1908, and added a further http://friendsofcassioburypark.org.uk/ 4 WATFORD A GUIDE TO ITS PARKS & OPEN SPACES

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A garden oasis in Watford

Cheslyn House and Gardens

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©7 Cheslyn House and Gardens the approach to the house, especially the standard trained Wisteria sinensis, which is Road, Watford, WD17 4SL draped with lilac flowers in the summer; and a Cheslyn House and subtropical planting scheme featuring Gardens is a unique and dahlias, palms and canna lilies creates a riot of valuable resource for colour in front of the house during the Watford. The collection summer. The Acer in the centre of the lawn is of plants, specimen a beautiful sight in the autumn. The full time trees and shrubs cannot be found anywhere resident gardener looks after these gardens else in Watford. The gardens are an oasis of and also lives on site. A common sight are peace and quiet in a forever busy town, and dragonflies and damselflies which come to provide much needed open space in the the pond in the summer, and there are many middle of a residential area. The gardens frogs, newts, fish and water insects. The brick provide an educational opportunity and the arch leading to the woodland area is all that chance for people to enjoy the amazing remains of the original boundary of the diversity of indigenous and exotic species. gardens. The woodland is full of colour in The theme of exotic species is carried on into spring, with the azaleas and rhododendrons the aviary, with such species such as Bourke’s in full bloom; and snowdrops, daffodils, parakeet, diamond dove and finches bluebells and woodland flowers add to the originating from all over the world. spectacle. There are some interesting mature shrubs on It is thanks to Henry Colbeck, an architect of some renown, and his wife Daisy who bought the land piece by piece between 1942 and 1958, at a total cost of £4986 that we now have Cheslyn House and Gardens.Mr Colbeck designed the house, and he and his wife created the original two and a half acre gardens over a period of some twenty years. The Colbecks travelled a lot, and this is reflected in the range of unusual and exotic plants in the gardens. Mr Colbeck even gave guided tours of the gardens to local groups. In 1965, the Watford Corporation purchased Cheslyn (54 Nascot Wood Road) and Nara Lodge (no. 58) and the associated grounds from Mr Colbeck for £5100. A strip of land (approximately one third of an acre) belonging to the owner of “Nara” was also included in the sale, in agreement with its owner, Mr Jefferies, in exchange for a much smaller section of the land adjacent to Nara Cottage. This secured the future of the trees, shrubs and plants on that area of land for those who now enjoy it on a daily basis. It has been awarded Green Flag for many years. Facilities: Toilets (open dawn til dusk), Cheslyn House (available to hire).

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©8 East Drive Recreation Ground woodland walks to the large open space, to a fantastic play area and outdoor gym, this park East Drive, Watford, WD25 0AH has something for all ages. The Courtlands East Drive Recreation Ground is situated in Residents Association are key partners in the North Watford, with new play area and open upkeep of Goodwood Rec and organise an space for ball games. The Rec has a natural annual fun day here each summer which is feel and is popular since the introduction of very popular locally. the new play area in 2015. Facilities: Children's playground, outdoor Facilities: Children's playground. gym.

©9 ©11 Harebreaks Recreation Coates Way, Watford, WD25 9LQ Ground and This is an important community park with a Local Nature Reserve number of facilities including children’s play Leggatts Way, Watford, WD 6NX area, outdoor gym, football pitch and Harebreaks Wood is an area of ancient changing rooms. Within a ‘stones throw’ of woodland, largely unchanged since 1600 and the busy M1, it also has a Local Nature the remaining remnant of a much larger Reserve with woodland that is dominated by nineteenth century area called Longspring oak, ash and sycamore. Other species include: and Leggatts Wood. hazel, English elm, field maple and hawthorn. Up till relatively recent times the woodland The neutral grassland contains a diverse would have been grazed by livestock as wood range of species including ox-eye daisy, pasture giving rise to the open heath-like feel agrimony, black knapweed, bird’s-foot-trefoil that is still evident in parts of the wood today. and meadow buttercup. The wetland areas contain lesser pond sedge, reed canary grass The Recreation Ground has a great play area and common reedmace. Birds include great and adult gym and is home to a local football spotted and green woodpeckers, jay, blackcap club. and garden warbler. Other species include: Facilities: Adventurous and children’s grey squirrel, Muntjac deer, red fox, pipistrelle playground, outdoor gym. bat and slowworm. Butterflies include Features and attractions: Local nature meadow brown and gatekeeper. reserve, county wildlife site, woodland. A diverse and popular open space, it is To join the Friends of Harebreaks Woods, enjoyed by many local people from the please refer to their website Woodside and Garston area of Watford. http://www.harebreakswood.org.uk/ Facilities: Children's playground, outdoor gym, one football pitch with changing ©12 Harwoods Recreation rooms. Ground ©10 Goodwood Recreation , Watford, WD 7RB Ground A small recreation ground in West Watford with children’s play area and adult gym. It has Minerva Drive, Watford, WD 5LD a kickabout area for casual games and an Goodwood Rec is a adult gym. Its imposing Lime avenue is also a lovely park in the north lovely part of this small local park creating a of Watford and serves pleasant walk through. both the Nascot and Facilities: Adventurous and children’s Leggatts wards. From playground, outdoor gym. 8 WATFORD A GUIDE TO ITS PARKS & OPEN SPACES

Harwoods Adventurous Playground

©13 King George V Playing Fields pitches, children’s playground and a main pavilion with smaller pavilions with Tolpits Lane, Watford, WD 9QD associated toilets. The total cost was £54,000 King George’s Fields are public open spaces and was paid for by County dedicated to the memory of King George V. Council, the King George V Memorial Fund The administrative council of the time and the National Playing Fields Association. decreed that the fields had to be named “King Today, the playing fields are still very popular George’s Field” and distinguished by a although do not have anywhere near the commemorative plaque dedicated to His Late same number of facilities. On site, the Majesty. When the King George’s Fields Holywell Community Centre is popular with Foundation was dissolved in 1965, there were local people as are the remaining football and 471 King George Playing Fields, all over the cricket pitches. country. These are now owned by Fields in Trust and managed on their behalf by the A small nature reserve is present as is an local council or a board of trustees. excellent play area and large Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) and 1km fitness trail. Car parking In 1937 the Mayor Alderman H.E. Coates is also ample. reported to the local press regarding estimated costs for laying out the King Facilities: Children's playground, multi-use George V plating fields at Tolpits Lane. The sports court (with basketball nets and proposed facilities included 16 grass and 4 football goals), outdoor Litness trail, Live hard tennis courts, 3 bowling greens, 3 cricket football pitches with changing rooms, pitches, a running track, football and hockey three cricket pitches with changing rooms.

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©14 Knutsford Playing Fields ©16 Lea Farm Recreation Ground Road, Watford, WD24 4JL First Avenue, Watford, WD25 9PS The playing fields are significant as they are the A small recreation ground providing a home to Watford Rugby Club. The Club was valuable open space in the heart of Garston. formed in 1973 following the demise of West It is the home Garston Bowls Club, and has Herts RFC and Sun Postal Rugby Club. The Club not only a new outdoor gym, but play area gained the Seal of Approval and Club Mark and tennis courts. accreditations in 2007 and continue to hold Facilities: Children's playground, outdoor these accreditations. The Club has an extensive gym, two tarmac tennis courts (no booking range of youth teams ranging from under 7s to required). under 17s and senior sides for those over 17. Recently improved, alongside the two existing ©17 Leavesden Green Recreation rugby pitches is a large play area and outdoor Ground gym, popular with young and old alike. Facilities: Children's playground, outdoor Clarke Way, Watford, WD24 0BW gym. Features and attractions: River Colne A small recreation ground adjacent to with viewing deck. Leavesden Green Community Centre, the To join the Green Gym, please refer to their Multi Use Games Area, play area and outdoor website gym are all popular features here. http://www.tcv.org.uk/london/green-gym- Facilities: Children's playground, multi-use london/watford-green-gym sports court (with basketball nets and football goals), outdoor gym. ©15 The Lairage Land Local Nature Reserve ©18 Meriden Park Jellicoe Road, Watford, WD18 6QE Meriden Way, Watford, WD25 9ET The Lairage Land is one of 5 Local Nature Meriden Park is perhaps one of our least well Reserves in Watford and comprises a group of known parks and open spaces yet has much meadows by the River Colne and is about 6 to offer. Recently improved, it is home to an acres in size. The land itself has a rather incredible new facility which has been unusual pastlife, once being adjacent to an designed with input from Olympic medallists abattoir, now occupied by housing. The land Roger Black MBE and Steve Backley OBE. The was used for grazing, presumably by animals Sports Legacy Zone is a place for people of all on route to the abattoir. It closed in 1985 and ages to play, train and get fit. It features a the grazing ceased at this time too. The land whole range of equipment, from toddlers’ was then acquired by the Council and has play facilities, to climbing frames for older since been managed as a Local Nature children, and even an outdoor gym for adults. Reserve. Now primarily rough grassland, it is a With a large open space, conservation area home for a range of flora and fauna and with and the community centre at the heart of the the River Colne running along its southern park, the park has much to offer the local boundary, you can find stream water people of Meriden. crowfoot and yellow water lily growing in the Facilities: Children's playground, outdoor stream. There are birds such as whitethroats Litness zone. and green woodpeckers, gatekeeper and small tortoiseshell butterflies, and Roesel's bush-crickets.

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©19 North Watford Cemetery killed in Sandringham Road by a bomb in 1944. The bomb devastated 50 houses and North Western Avenue, Watford, WD25 damaged 500 other houses. A communal 0AW funeral was held for the victims and the memorial erected in August 1950. Today, it is an active and popular cemetery, with landscaping, woodland and a Garden of Rest and Garden of Remembrance. Facilities: Toilets (open dawn til dusk).

©20 North Watford Playing Fields Gammons Lane, Watford, WD24 5JW A deceiving open space, even from its name. There are no formal playing fields here, yet wander in and you will find tennis courts, play area, woodland dell and picnic tables, all surrounding a “village green” used by local children for informal and formal games. It is one of Watford’s hidden gems, awaiting discovery. Facilities: Children's playground, three tarmac tennis courts (no booking required).

©21 Grange Playing Fields Watford Heath, Watford, WD19 4EU Another “out of the way” open space with tennis courts and home to the oldest bowls North Watford Cemetery club in Watford – Oxhey Bowls Club, which North Watford Cemetery was founded in 1910. was opened in 1931 and Facilities: Two tarmac tennis courts. occupies 35 acres of land, part of which was ©22 Oxhey Village Green previously part of Gullet Wood. Its shape was very different to that of Lower Paddock Road, Watford, WD19 Vicarage Road Cemetery and shaped like a 4DS tear drop, divided by a network of paths A village green in its truest sense? Almost. In radiating from a central route leading to the the heart of Oxhey Village, the Green has a mortuary chapel. popular play area overlooking nearby Attenborough Fields and has a countryside The entrance was also marked by a lodge. feel to it. Popular with locals, there are a Sections of the cemetery were later laid out number of events held here every year too. for the principal religious denominations and there are special sections for children and for Facilities: Children's playground, one mini people of the Muslim faith. One of the most football pitch. interesting memorials relates to 37 people

11 Maps showing location of Parks and Open Spaces ©31 ©2 9 ©1 ©

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1 Alban’s Wood Local Nature Reserve 16 Lea Farm Recreation Ground Facilities: Children's playground, outdoor gym, 2 All Saints Churchyard two tarmac tennis courts (no booking required). 3 Berry Avenue Open Space 17 Leavesden Green Recreation Ground Facilities: Children's playground. Facilities: Children's playground, Multi-use sports 4 BuryLield Nature Garden court (with basketball nets and football goals), Facilities: Pond. outdoor gym. 5 Callowland Recreation Ground 18 Meriden Park Facilities: Playground, multi use games area, table Facilities: Children's playground, outdoor 1itness tennis, outdoor gym, bowling green, football zone. pitches, changing rooms. 19 North Watford Cemetery 6 Cassiobury Park and Whippendell Wood Facilities: Toilets (open dawn til dusk). Facilities: Two children's playgrounds, paddling 20 North Watford Playing Fields pools, miniature railway, bouncy castle (Summer), Facilities: Children's playground, three tarmac tea pavilion, bandstand with summer programme, tennis courts (no booking required). park centre with education and exhibition space, changing facilities, refreshment kiosk, bird hide, 21 Oxhey Grange Playing Fields 1ive football pitches with changing rooms, one Facilities: Two tarmac tennis courts. cricket pitch with changing rooms, four grass and Oxhey Village Green two tarmac tennis courts (no booking required), 22 Facilities: Children's playground, one mini football 1ishing (permit required) and 2 outdoor gyms. pitch. Car parking is also available. Features and attractions: Local Nature Reserve, 23 Oxhey Park County Wildlife Site, Site of Special Scienti1ic Interest Facilities: Children's playground, outdoor gym, (SSSI), River Gade, , Woodland, one mini football pitch (no booking required), Community orchard, Nature trail. 1ishing (permit required). Features and attractions: County wildlife site, 7 Cheslyn House and Gardens River Colne, public art, woodland. Facilities: Toilets (open dawn til dusk), Cheslyn House (available to hire). 24 Radlett Road Playing Fields Facilities: Multi-use sports court (with basketball 8 East Drive Recreation Ground nets and football goals), outdoor 1itness trail. Facilities: Children's playground. Features and attractions: River Colne, public art. 9 Garston Park Riverside Recreation Ground Facilities: Children's playground, outdoor gym, 25 Facilities: Children's playground, multi-use sports one football pitch with changing rooms. court (with basketball nets and football goals), 10 Goodwood Recreation Ground outdoor gym. Facilities: Children's playground, outdoor gym. Features and attractions: River Colne. 11 Harebreaks Recreation Ground and 26 St. Mary’s Churchyard Harebreaks Wood Local Nature Reserve Facilities: Historical tombs. Facilities: Adventurous and children’s playground, Vicarage Road Cemetery outdoor gym. 27 Features and attractions: Local nature reserve, WaterLields Recreation Ground 28 county wildlife site, woodland. Facilities: Children's playground, outdoor 1itness trail. 12 Harwoods Recreation Ground Features and attractions: River Colne, public art, Facilities: Adventurous and children’s playground, historic coal post. outdoor gym. Watford Field 13 King George V Playing Fields 29 Facilities: Children's playground. Facilities: Children's playground, multi-use sports court (with basketball nets and football goals), 30 Watford Heath outdoor 1itness trail, 1ive football pitches with Facilities: War memorial. changing rooms, three cricket pitches with changing rooms. 31 Woodside Playing Fields Facilities: Children's playground, toilets (open 14 Knutsford Playing Fields dawn til dusk), outdoor gym, ice cream van Facilities: Children's playground, outdoor gym. (Summer), six football pitches with changing Features and attractions: River Colne with rooms. viewing deck. Features and attractions: Local nature reserve, 15 The Lairage Land Local Nature Reserve county wildlife site, woodland. 13 WATFORD A GUIDE TO ITS PARKS & OPEN SPACES

Oxhey Park is one of Watford’s most popular parks

Oxhey Park WATFORD A GUIDE TO ITS PARKS & OPEN SPACES

©23 Oxhey Park large plank swing! Residents of Coppice and Deacon’s Hill complained about the noise and Eastbury Road, Watford, WD18 0HS the playground was relocated.

Oxhey Park is one of Tree cover is increased following the removal Watford’s most popular of the walled garden with an entrance to the parks having had an park from Eastbury Road and avenues of investment of nearly £1 trees connected to the main flight of steps million in 2014. leading down to the riverside path which runs Historically, it is also one of our most from Wiggen Hall to The Dell. The Dell important parks with its connections to the consists of a complex arrangement of steep Wiggen Hall Estate. banks within a densely wooded area and continues under the arches of the LMS In 1920 purchased Railway Viaduct or Bushey Curve, 85 acres of the Wiggen Hall estate for £14,000 built in 1912. The bridge was built by Robert (with the assistance of a government grant), Stephenson (1803-1859), a nationally in order to provide recreational space and a renowned bridge builder and son of George housing development. The reason for naming Stephenson (1781-1848), railway and colliery Oxhey Park is not known as there was also an engineer. By 1933 a project was set underway earlier Oxhey Park. The park fence and gates as relief for the unemployed and this resulted were erected in 1923 and although some were in a rock garden, terracing and shrub planting removed during World War II, a few stretches in the east of The Dell. In 1943, the boathouse do remain. Sheep were also grazed in the park was closed and demolished. By the 1960s a to save the expense of mowing. A park keeper sports ground is in place to the north of the was employed in 1924 and was provided with park. accommodation in a park lodge. The riverside walk was also one of the main attractions of Today, the park has been much improved with the park and in 1924 the path was widened new play area, adult gym, the main steps and the wall boundary to the walk was restored and new formal entrances created. improved. A new bridge spans the river connecting both sides and many of the walks have been By the 1930s, sweets and drinks were sold restored. The park now has an active group from a boathouse to the north of the river and called the Friends of Oxhey Park who are boating was allowed on the river as well as regular volunteers with litter picks, river swimming. Fishing was also encouraged with works and involved in the management competitions with prizes for children, planning for the park. Awarded a Green Flag organised by LMS Railway and Watford in 2014, Oxhey Park remains one of our Piscators, a coarse fishing club dating back to loveliest and most picturesque parks. 1886. Facilities: Children's playground, outdoor In 1929 a children’s paddling pool was gym, one mini football pitch (no booking proposed to be located north of the river, with required), Lishing (permit required). access provided by a footbridge. The plans Features and attractions: County wildlife were abandoned owing to difficulties with site, River Colne, public art, woodland. raising the ground sufficiently. In 1930 children’s play facilities were provided behind To join the Friends of Oxhey Park, please the caretaker’s cottage and these included a refer to their website http://oxheypark.com see-saw, swings, a horizontal ladder and a

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©24 Radlett Road Playing Fields ©26 St. Mary’s Churchyard Radlett Road, Watford, WD24 4LH Church Street, Watford, WD18 0EG Radlett Road Playing Fields have recently St Mary’s Church is a undergone a significant improvement Grade 1 listed building programme with the arrival of Glen Rovers and is the oldest GAA Football Club. The pitch now is one of the building in Watford, best in Watford with re-levelling and new making it the primary drainage. As well as providing excellent focus of the town’s ecclesiastical history. sports facilities, the riverside walk links There is evidence that there was a church Waterfield Rec and Knutsford Playing Fields. here in the 12th century. Situated prominently Facilities: Multi-use sports court (with within the graveyard are thirteen memorials. basketball nets and football goals), Nine of these are nationally listed chest tombs outdoor Litness trail. Features and and one is locally listed. Of the rest, two attractions: River Colne, public art. tombs have been reconstructed from piles of stones, and one is a nationally listed headstone. Of these tombs it has been ©25 Riverside Recreation Ground possible to identify from their inscriptions the names of most of the families. The social Riverside Road, Watford, WD19 4HU history associated with the memorials is Another recreation ground that has important because they relate to a number of undergone regeneration with a new Multi Use significant residents of the Parish of Watford Games Area, play area and outdoor gym and who were influential in the development of provides links to the as well as the town as an industrial centre. These riverside walk, linked to adjacent Oxhey Park. include the Dyson family, founders of the Facilities: Children's playground, multi-use brewery that evolved into the Benskin’s sports court (with basketball nets and brewery; the Clutterbuck family, one of whom football goals), outdoor gym. wrote the “”, and the Features and attractions: River Colne. Finch family who were associated with Frogmore House. The most notable one though is that of

ᕢ

ᕡ ᕡ Dyson Tomb

St. Mary’s Churchyard ᕢ Clutterbuck Tomb

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George Edward Doney – a loyal servant to the present. Vicarage Road Cemetery was typical Earl of Essex who lived at of a burial board cemetery, with the grounds in Watford. He was born in Gambia and sold divided into sections linked by paths which into slavery. He later earned his freedom and led to central circular junctions. These circular came to Watford as a free man. areas were occupied by mortuary chapels for Today the churchyard is an important oasis of Nonconformist believers and the Church of greenery in the busy town centre. Whilst . A Receiving House was also present important for its heritage, it offers a quick and along with a lodge at the main entrance. By accessible escape from the hustle and bustle the 1880s the cemetery was extended of the nearby High Street and refuge from following purchase of land from the Earl of those out to shop. It is certainly worthy of its Essex’s estates in 1884. By 1920 the cemetery Green Flag status, awarded in 2015. was at near capacity and a new cemetery was developed at North Watford. Facilities: Historical tombs Today, the cemetery is one of the oldest open spaces in Watford and central to West ©27 Vicarage Road Cemetery Watford. It has many features of local interest from buildings to memorials. Large scale Vicarage Road, Watford, WD18 0EJ memorials include local figures such as the Vicarage Road cemetery was opened in 1858 Earls of Clarendon, local developers such as and covers 14 acres of land. The first burial Edwin Clifford, William Gough and William was a child, Mary Ann Howarth, who sadly Judge. There are also a number of graves of was only 3 months old and as she was not servicemen killed during both World Wars. christened, no member of the clergy was

Vicarage Road Cemetery

17 WATFORD A GUIDE TO ITS PARKS & OPEN SPACES

©28 WaterLields Recreation Marker which is Grade II listed. It is one of almost 300 that was set up by the City of Ground London to mark points on coal transport Shaftesbury Road, Watford, WD17 2RG routes into London where tax was due. Initially the taxes were used to pay for The land appropriated rebuilding London after the Great Fire. for Waterfields The legislation was renewed in 1861 and the Recreation Ground is Marker in Waterfields dates from this time. shown on the Watford The London Coat of Arms is marked on the Plan of 1842 as pasture south east face and it now forms an and intersected by the River Colne. impressive feature in this lovely park. The bridge is shown in preparation for the Today, the recreation ground has been North Western Railway on the north eastern significantly improved and is now very boundary of the site. popular with local people and those who By 1871 the railway is present and the bridge is enjoy the River Colne corridor. With a present but so are outdoor swimming baths dramatic play area, conservation areas and adjacent to it which were very popular. By the the stunning sculptures, including the “diving 1890s, terraced housing is in place along man”, Waterfields Recreation Ground is a Shaftesbury Road. The recreation ground was hidden gem in Watford. eventually laid out by 1910 and was formed of Facilities: Children's playground, outdoor two triangular shaped plots. Trees are shown Litness trail. planted around the boundaries of the Features and attractions: River Colne, public sections of the park as well as an avenue that art, historic coal post. lines up with Shaftesbury Road. By the 1930s there are public toilets, a children’s To join the Green Gym, please refer to their playground and a drinking fountain. website http://www.tcv.org.uk/london/green-gym- One of the most interesting aspects of london/watford-green-gym Waterfields Recreation Ground is the Coal

WaterLields Recreation Ground

18 WATFORD A GUIDE TO ITS PARKS & OPEN SPACES

Dramatic play area, conservation areas and the stunning sculptures

WaterLields Recreation Ground

19 WATFORD A GUIDE TO ITS PARKS & OPEN SPACES

©29 Watford Field separate entity, with the heath appearing on maps as a discrete area of development at the Watford Field Road, Watford, WD18 0AZ southern end of Pinner Road. By this point, the Watford in 1857 was described as a “most quiet Load of Hay public house and adjoining little country town” if not rather “dull”. At this cottages and a range of other buildings were time, on the outskirts of the town, surrounded clustered around the heath. By the early by a pleasant garden, orchard and meadows, twentieth century houses had been stood a white, slate-roofed house – “Watford constructed along most of Oxhey Avenue and Field House”. It was so named from a large parts of Pinner Road and Heath Road. With the piece of open ground known as Watford Field, steady expansion of residential development, which is what was termed Lammas Land, being Watford Heath ceased to be a discrete under cultivation in summer, and common land settlement, having been consumed by the after the harvest had been brought in. wider development of Oxhey. The Heath itself Watford Field is the oldest open space in is apparently a survivor of the common pasture, Watford, having been a “Recreation Ground”, a feature of the open field system of agriculture certainly in 1886 and is derived from the (Saunders, 1931). Until 1880, the heath was enclosure of the common field in the 1850s. The owned by the Lord of the Manor of Wiggenhall, Watford Local Board of Health’s Annual Report also known as ‘Oxhey Walrond’. After this date, in 1890 describe it as being 54 acres and was it is not possible to trace the ownership of the ‘becoming more known and more appreciated’. heath until the area of land was purchased by By 1894, the now Watford Urban District Council the Council in 1932 under the Open Spaces Act refers to a bandstand in place and the removal 1906. The heath was later registered as of its wooden floor owing to children playing common land on 31 July 1973 under the there. Commons Registration Act 1965. According to Today, the Field is still a very genteel place, with letters exchanged during this registration children’s play facilities, mature trees and a process, the heath once had two ponds. In large field for casual sports to be played. terms of the use and amenity value of the The bandstand has long since gone and space, it is a valuable resource for casual leisure Watford Field offers peace and quiet just off the and outlook. busy town centre. The Heath also contains a Memorial Cross, Facilities: Children's playground. situated between 27 and 28 Watford Heath. This cross is dedicated to those local residents who 30 © Watford Heath died in the First World War. After the original Watford Heath, Watford, WD19 4EU cross collapsed in 1951, a new cross was dedicated in 1994. In terms of other features Watford Heath predates much of the town of and street furniture on the Heath, there was a Watford’s development, with evidence of a fountain which was formerly positioned in front settlement around a turn in the road to the of the buildings at 1 – 4 Watford Heath. The town in 1749, a time when Watford was a linear polished granite drinking fountain, erected in settlement based on the High Street or ‘Watford memory of W.T. Eley of Oxhey Grange by his Street’. From the seventeenth century to the sisters in 1883,was removed from the site in the nineteenth century, settlement around the 1950s and was never replaced. Heath consisted largely of cottages related to Today, Watford Heath is a peaceful and tranquil the farms, brickworks and limekilns in the area. open space with the character of a “village With the arrival of the railway in Watford in 1837 green” and is used by local people for casual and the growth of Watford as an industrial area, games, sitting as well as forming a charming the town of Watford expanded significantly entrance into Watford from the south of the during the Victorian era. However, during the Borough. nineteenth century Watford Heath remained a Facilities: War memorial. 20 WATFORD A GUIDE TO ITS PARKS & OPEN SPACES

Watford now has eleven Green Flag Awards

21 WATFORD A GUIDE TO ITS PARKS & OPEN SPACES

Woodside Playing Fields

Woodside Playing Fields

22 WATFORD A GUIDE TO ITS PARKS & OPEN SPACES ©31 Woodside Playing Fields Horseshoe Lane (in the area of Cart Path), which were knocked down to build the current Horseshoe Lane, Watford, WD25 7HH award winning Leisure Centre. The Woodside Estate includes the wood, called Today, Woodside Playing Fields covers ‘Albans’ after the Roman soldier who embraced approximately 59 acres of playing fields, sports Christianity, was martyred, and from whom our facilities and woodland, and is the premier site neighbouring city of St Albans took its name. in Watford’s parks for organised sports. It is also We know little of its early history, but it is the second largest open space in Watford and is obvious from the grandeur of its trees and the the home of a superb range of sports facilities; it way they have been grouped together that it has one of the top athletics stadiums in the must have been a delightful country home country, with an eight lane synthetic track, when owned by Mrs H Wood during the closing which is the home of Watford Harriers. years of the nineteenth century. Watford Town Cricket Club has an enclosed The area progressed from country home to ground which is the envy of many local cricket sheep farming under owner Mr Burgess, and clubs, and a good standard bowls green is the how many must have roamed across the rich home of OWLS Bowls Club. pasture in search of sustenance. Then Mr Cobb There are 2 additional cricket squares, 5 senior purchased the estate and established a high football pitches, 1 junior football pitch and 3 mini reputation as a breeder of pedigree cattle. football pitches available for local clubs to play Sport also came to Woodside, as he specialised on. There is also a children’s play area for all the in the breeding and training of polo ponies, and community to enjoy that was refurbished in it is said that as many as a hundred were often March 2011. in the establishment at the same time. Polo The playing fields are surrounded by wide, was played on one of the lawns, with open grassland, ornamental areas and mature distinguished players coming up from London trees, with daffodils, crocus and bluebells to take part. providing colour in the spring. Woodside Playing Fields had a part to play in Local Nature Reserve (LNR), a semi-natural the war effort too: it became a depot for the woodland notable for its mature beech and ATS, whose personnel must have been bluebells, is located on the western edge of the delighted with the lovely surroundings playing fields. compared to some of the bleak camps and In the ornamental area there are also some fine barracks elsewhere. specimen trees, especially Sequoiadendron After the war the Watford Corporation, as the and Cedar. In recent years planting has been Council was then known, purchased Woodside undertaken to start a collection of more Estate from the Cobb family for housing and unusual and lesser seen trees to provide more playing fields. The house which was built in interest for the park users. These include: 1860/1861, existed until it was demolished in Parrotia persica, Paulownia tomentosa, Davidia 1959. Some of the outbuildings, known as the involucrata, Nothofagus obliqua, Ginkgo stables, can still be seen; they are now used as biboba, and Zelkova Serrata. There is so much changing rooms and the Parks Department to see for the walkers, dog walkers and joggers depot. On the top of these buildings are the as they go around the playing fields. It is letters ‘GAC’ and a date: 1910, which refer to worthy of its continued Green Flag Award one of the owners of the house, George Aley status. Cobb. His family owned the house from 1905 Facilities: Children's playground, toilets until 1948, when the owner at the time, Mr G (open dawn til dusk), outdoor gym, ice Cobb of the Poplars, Leavesden, sold Woodside cream van (Summer), six football pitches by compulsory purchase to Watford Borough with changing rooms. Council. Farm workers were housed on site, Features and attractions: Local nature and there were tied cottages at Poor Dell, reserve, county wildlife site, woodland. 23 24 Feedback Form

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