Valentines Park
Encyclopedia
Valentines Park is, at 125 acres (50.6 ha), the largest green space
in the London Borough of Redbridge
, between Ilford
and Gants Hill
. It was acquired in various purchases and gifts of land, starting in 1898 and culminating in the 1920s. The Valentines Estate had been in private hands since long before the 1690s, when the present Valentines Mansion
was built.
In 1899 the Cranbrook Estate, to the west of Valentines, was about to be sold for housing. The Municipal Borough of Ilford
had acquired its first section of parkland a year previously and was keen to enlarge its size as land became available. Local officials realised that, unless an area of "relaxation and pleasure" was retained for the growing urban population, all traces of an undeveloped rural Ilford would be lost.
County Cricket was first played at Valentine's Park in Ilford in 1922 and a
pavilion was completed a year later. The first ever county match with Sunday
play was played here, this proved to be a success with 6000 spectators
attending.
Valentines Park has undergone an extensive renovation during 2007–2008 financed by the Heritage Lottery Fund
and by the owners, the London Borough of Redbridge. There are a number of Grade II and Grade II* features within the park and part of the formal garden layout of the early 18th century park itself is included in the English Heritage
Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England
at Grade II. Brief (English Heritage
) listing details for these can be found at Images of England
.
Open space reserve
Open space reserve, open space preserve, and open space reservation, are planning and conservation ethics terms used to describe areas of protected or conserved land or water on which development is indefinitely set aside...
in the London Borough of Redbridge
London Borough of Redbridge
The London Borough of Redbridge is a London borough in outer north-east London. Its administrative headquarters is at Redbridge Town Hall in Ilford. The local authority is Redbridge London Borough Council.-Etymology:...
, between Ilford
Ilford
Ilford is a large cosmopolitan town in East London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Redbridge. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It forms a significant commercial and retail...
and Gants Hill
Gants Hill
Gants Hill is a district of Ilford in the London Borough of Redbridge in northeast London, England. It is a suburban development situated north east of Charing Cross....
. It was acquired in various purchases and gifts of land, starting in 1898 and culminating in the 1920s. The Valentines Estate had been in private hands since long before the 1690s, when the present Valentines Mansion
Valentines Mansion
Valentines Mansion is situated in Valentines Park in Ilford, London Borough of Redbridge. Built in 1696 for Lady Tillotson, the widow of the Archbishop of Canterbury, it was a family house until Sarah Ingleby, its last inhabitant, died on 3 January 1906. It became the property of Ilford...
was built.
In 1899 the Cranbrook Estate, to the west of Valentines, was about to be sold for housing. The Municipal Borough of Ilford
Municipal Borough of Ilford
Ilford was a civil parish and local government district in south west Essex, England from 1888 to 1965, covering the town Ilford. The district saw a considerable rise in population throughout its life, caused by the expansion of the built-up area of London, and became one of the most populous...
had acquired its first section of parkland a year previously and was keen to enlarge its size as land became available. Local officials realised that, unless an area of "relaxation and pleasure" was retained for the growing urban population, all traces of an undeveloped rural Ilford would be lost.
County Cricket was first played at Valentine's Park in Ilford in 1922 and a
pavilion was completed a year later. The first ever county match with Sunday
play was played here, this proved to be a success with 6000 spectators
attending.
Valentines Park has undergone an extensive renovation during 2007–2008 financed by the Heritage Lottery Fund
Heritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
and by the owners, the London Borough of Redbridge. There are a number of Grade II and Grade II* features within the park and part of the formal garden layout of the early 18th century park itself is included in the English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England
National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens
In England, the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England provides a listing and classification system for historic parks and gardens similar to that used for listed buildings. The register is managed by English Heritage under the provisions of the National...
at Grade II. Brief (English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
) listing details for these can be found at Images of England
Images of England
rightImages of England is an online photographic record of all the listed buildings in England at the date of February 2001. The archive gives access to over 323,000 colour images, each of which is matched with the item’s listed designation architectural description.This ‘snapshot’ is not an...
.