Park of the week

179. Stonegrove Park

This park is in Edgware, close to Edgware and District Reform Synagogue (sometimes referred to as “Stonegrove”). Stonegrove (the road) is a continuation of the A5 Burnt Oak Broadway/Edgware High Street and was originally known as Watling Street. I remember the A5 as part of the London to Liverpool route before the M1 was opened and brought further into London. There were very few places to stop and eat, and even some of those kept you waiting for ages.

By the early nineteenth century houses had been built along Stonegrove and larger scale development in the area started during the 1920s. and the park was opened in May 1934. At that time, new houses in the adjacent road were selling for £1150. Today’s average is about £700,000.

The park is small and irregularly shaped, between the main road and residential streets. It has a circular boating pond, now drained and weed-filled, in the middle of a grassy area with various deciduous trees. On the southern side are small formal beds, tennis courts, a  basketball court, a skateboard area and two playgrounds. There is a perimeter path with benches, these have cast-iron supports and armrests in the shape of lion heads, dating from the time the park was first opened. Next to the park is the rear of the gothic-style Day’s Alms-houses (built in 1828), with a grass terrace and evergreen planting. They were founded by Charles Day, who had made a fortune from manufacturing boot polish and felt he wanted to give thanks for his success. 

An underground waterway, part of the Silkstream, runs under the park. Thames 21, a volunteer group working with communities to improve rivers and canals had plans to expose it, but these were shelved owing to lack of funding.

Judith Field

Stonegrove Park, Stonegrove, Edgware HA8 7UB