Park of the week

148. Barnard Park

 
This park, in Barnsbury in the west of Islington, is one of the Borough’s biggest green spaces. 

Its history as a recreational space goes back to the 18th century, when it was a cricket ground in open fields, known as Copenhagen Street Open Space. The park can claim to be the birthplace of cricket, because the White Conduit Club (WCC) was established here, moving in 1794 via Marylebone (MCC) to Lords.

Housing was eventually built on the site, but much of it was destroyed by bombing during the Second World War.
It was developed from a bomb site to a park in the late nineteen sixties and early nineteen seventies and renamed in appreciation of Councillor George Barnard’s dedication to sport in Islington.

There are a children’s playground, an adventure playground, a football pitch, community garden, perennial meadow, plenty of grass, trees and plants – the park's volunteer gardeners have won prizes in the Islington in Bloom contest. On the western edge of the park is a cobbed path, all that remains of one of the original streets that ran where the park is now. Views from the park reach over King’s Cross to the West End. It is due for further in 2025. There are toilets but no cafe. There’s  no car park, but we found room to park on one of the surrounding streets.

Judith Field

Barnard Park, Copenhagen St, London N1 0ER