Park of the week

102. Springfield Park

Springfield Park is in Upper Clapton in the London Borough of Hackney. Before our visit, I was last there 40 years ago, when I lived in the area. Unlike the usual situation when you revisit after a long time, the park seemed much bigger than I remembered it. Sainsbury’s of Stamford Hill is still there, too. I wonder if they have enough trolleys now?

Springfield Park officially opened as a public park in 1905 and was formed from the grounds of three private houses, of which only Springfield House remains. Roman sarcophagi were found during building and landscaping work in the nineteenth century at the park, along with pottery and other burials. The Hackney Boat, the remains of a late Saxon logboat (made from a single tree trunk) were found close by in 1987. The original boat and a reproduction of what it might have looked like, are on display in Hackney Museum.

The park has a variety of habitats with a lake, grassland, many veteran trees, and the springs which give the park its name. There are formal gardens, conservation areas, a community garden, and extensive views across Walthamstow Marshes. The park is a local nature reserve, holds a Green Flag Award and the capital ring walk runs through it. 

There’s an athletic track, cricket pitch, pond, outdoor chessboards, tennis courts and a table tennis table. There’s a bandstand, where exercise classes take place. The small community orchard contains varieties of local apple trees, a medlar tree and an olive tree.

In 2017 the Council, using money from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, undertook a £4.1 million restoration project at Springfield Park. This included refurbishment of Springfield House and may be the reason the park seemed different to me. It has a new play area and a bookable venue known as The Glass House. 

The park slopes from high ground on the edge of Stamford Hill to the towpath of the River Lee Navigation on the River Lea, at the end of Spring Hill. I believe that’s what Tel Aviv translates as. I think this is appropriate. On the eastern edge of the park is Springfield Marina, a large basin for narrowboats. I spotted one all the way from Liverpool, like  me, one called Trotsky, and another Cushty.

There are a café and toilets in Springfield House. We found space to park on a nearby street.

Judith Field

Springfield Park, Upper Clapton Road, London E5 9EF