Wanstead House
Wanstead Park is located in the London Borough of Redbridge, near to Wanstead. It is surrounded by the Aldersbrook Estate and City of London Cemetery to the south, the River Roding to the east, the Wanstead Golf Club to the north and Blake Hall Road to the west. Its area is about 140 acres. It is part of Epping Forest and owned and managed by the Corporation of London. The Corporation purchased the land in 1881. The park is also Grade II listed.
History
The land was originally the site of Wanstead House, which was one of the key buildings in the development of Palladian architecture in England, and before that Wanstead Manor, which can be traced to 1271. In 1715, Sir Richard Child, 3rd Baronet, commissioned Colen Campbell, the Scottish architect, to design Wanstead House, a grand mansion to replace the older one on his estate. This building was designed to rival such palaces as Blenheim. When built it covered an area of two hundred and sixty feet by seventy feet. The portico on the main front had six Corinthian columns. The grounds were further enhanced with the advice of the celebrated garden designer George London - it would have also rivalled the palace at Versailles. The Child family also owned Osterley Park and Middleton Hall.
On the death in 1750 of Sir Richard Child he was succeeded by his son John the 2nd Earl Tylney. John had no descendants and his estates eventually passed to his sister's infant son, Sir James Tylney Long. Sir James died in 1805 aged 11, and the estate then passed to his sister Catherine Tylney-Long, who married in 1812, William Pole-Tylney-Long-Wellesley, 4th Earl of Mornington. To meet Long-Wellesley's debts of more than £250,000, the contents of the house were auctioned in June 1822 - the auction lasted for 32 days. As no buyer for the house could be found it was demolished and sold for £10,000 to pay creditors. It had reputedly cost around £360,000 to build.
Wanstead Park and the surrounding housing estates were eventually sold off, and was first officially opened by the Corporation in 1882.
Features
The Park has a number of ponds; Shoulder of Mutton, Heronry Pond, Perch Pond and the Ornamental Waters - which is also the largest.
As well as the ponds there are a couple of old buildings still remaining there. The Temple is the most prominent, with the others being the Grotto (located on the ornamental waters) and the refreshment kiosk. The temple and the grotto were both built at the same time in around 1760 . They are now both grade-listed.
In late April the Chalet Wood is awash with flowering bluebells.
Activities and Events
The Temple occasionally has open days when the public can look around or take part in activities that are taking place.
Another event is Music in Wanstead Park, held around the beginning of summer. The event is organised by the Aldersbrook Families Association.
On the Ornamental Waters and the Perch Pond fishing is allowed, but only in season.
Notes
Wanstead Park railway station is a misnomer as it is not located close to Wanstead Park. More accurate names would include either Wanstead Flats or Forest Gate North.
Sources
Epping Forest: Then and Now, by Winston G Ramsey and Reginald L. Fowkes. Published by Battle of Britain Prints International Limited in 1986.
