Park of the week

181. Clayhall Park

I’ve decided to explore the open spaces of Redbridge, starting with Clayhall Park, in Ilford. If you don’t mind driving along the Benighted North Circular, it takes no longer to get to many of them from Mill Hill than it does to Watford or Islington, and you don’t have to put up with the traffic lights every 20 feet that you get along the Holloway Road.

Clayhall Park is one of Ilford's largest open spaces and has a bowling green, children's play area, outdoor gym, tennis courts, café and toilets. It was opened in 1934, on the Manor of Clay Hall. The Manor was first mentioned in 1203. The manor house, which must have once been a substantial building, was demolished in the mid-eighteenth century and replaced by a farmhouse. The park opened to the public in 1934 and the farmhouse, outbuildings and chapel were demolished in 1935. 

The park is flat and is interspersed with sycamore, ash, oak, lime and horse chestnut trees. The grass is mostly short mown but, where it has been allowed to grow, wild plants grow including yarrow, cat's-ear and smooth hawk's-beard. 
It has kept its Green Flag Award for 2024-25. There is car parking on a road leading into the park, but you’re meant to pay using an app I didn’t have, and I didn’t fancy standing there trying to sort it out with Jack striding away into the distance. I’m hoping there’s no charge on a Sunday and will be anxiously looking at the post for the next couple of weeks.

As we waited by the “big lying down swing” for four sweet little kids to get off, their father turned and said hello to me with a smile, and soon persuaded the children to finish their turn. I thanked him, told them they were kind, that their kids were lovely, and wished them a good day. I spend so much time on the lookout for nastiness, so this different sort of encounter made my afternoon. 

Jack spotted another nearby park on the way back and I plan to visit it in the next few weeks. A406/A1400, here we come.

Judith Field

Clayhall Park, Longwood Gardens, Ilford, IG5 0EB