Ravenscourt Park

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ravenscourt Park is a 32 acre public park and garden located in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

1 History
- 1.1 Ravenscourt estate
- 1.2 The public park
2 The park today
3 See also
4 References

[edit] History

The origins of Ravenscourt Park lie in the medieval manor and estate of Palingswick (or Paddenswick) Manor, located on the site and first recorded in the 12th century. ^[1] The historic name still exists today in the name of Paddenswick Road, which runs along the northeast boundary of the park.

[edit] Ravenscourt estate

By the 13th century the manor house was a mansion surrounded by a moat fed by the Stamford Brook, and the lake in the centre of the park today is a remnant of the original moat.

King Edward III’s mistress Alice Perrers lived in the manor during the 14th century. ^[2]

The manor house was rebuilt in 1650 and in 1747 it was sold to Thomas Corbett who named it Ravenscourt, probably derived from the raven in his coat of arms, which was itself a pun on his name as corbeau is French for raven.

In 1812 the Ravenscourt House and estate were bought by its final private owner, George Scott, a builder and philanthropist who developed nearby St Peter’s Square. Scott employed leading landscaper Humphry Repton to lay out the gardens of the estate, and encouraged the building of houses along its edges. According to a park plan from 1830, there were 78 houses within the park, and by 1845 this number had risen to 330. ^[3]

Ravenscourt House was severely damaged by incendiary bombs in 1941 during the Second World War, and only the stable block remains today, now housing the park’s café.

[edit] The public park

In 1887, the Scott family sold the estate to the Metropolitan Board of Works (later the London County Council or LCC) who established a public park (laid out by J.J. Sexby) in the 32 acres of land surrounding the House. The park was opened on 19 May 1888. ^[4]

The park was transferred from the control of the Greater London Council to the London Borough of Hammersmith in April 1971.

[edit] The park today

The park is part of the Conservation Area of Ravenscourt and Starch Green, and its north-eastern corner has been designated an Archaeological Priority Area. Today there is still much evidence of historic planting throughout the park, including plane trees and cedars.