The walled garden at Ravenscourt Park
The walled garden at Ravenscourt Park
Ravenscourt Park, in Puddenswick Road, W6, covers 14 hectares. It was part of the estate of the old mansion of Ravenscourt House, which was destroyed during World War II.
The park contains numerous facilities and attractions for a park of its size. It has been strongly compartmentalised into different zones for differing uses, many marked with fences and other boundaries.Probably the most noticeable features of Ravenscourt Park are the elevated sections of the District and Piccadilly line railways that pass east-west over the south of the park, and the long avenue that goes north from King Street, to the original site of Ravenscourt House.
The trees in the avenue are a bit patchy now. A few mature flowering cherries mark the eastern side of the avenue to the south, and there is a recently planted line of Sweet Bay (Magnolia grandiflora) further north. Most prominent however is a close-planted group of seven mature tall London planes a little way off on the western side.Remnants of the house remain, forming part of a cafe. It is also thought that some of the present lakes may have been original features.
There are some poorly maintained areas, such as the large patch of Japanese knotweed by one of the ponds.There is a walled garden to the north of the park, full of roses and other scented plants. It has a number of arbours and shelters. This garden is part managed by volunteers.
There are many other garden displays in other parts of the park. Note especially the bedding displays, in the central part, by the central lake.There are many interesting trees scattered through the park, including old and young specimens, and some curiosities, such as the plane tree with a swollen and misshapen trunk.
A wildlife refuge has been created on the northern boundary of the park. This includes a small pond.There is a walled garden to the north of the park, full of roses and other scented plants. It has a number of arbours and shelters. This garden is part managed by volunteers.
There are many other garden displays in other parts of the park. Note especially the bedding displays, in the central part, by the central lake.There are many interesting trees scattered through the park, including old and young specimens, and some curiosities, such as the plane tree with a swollen and misshapen trunk.
A wildlife refuge has been created on the northern boundary of the park. This includes a small pond.Formerly the Palingswick or Paddenswick Manor estate, it had been a historic estate since the late middle ages. It was named Ravenscourt by Thomas Corbett in the mid 18th century. This is another estate that Humphrey Repton is supposed to have worked on.
The house and park were brought by a developer and builder in the later 18th century. Following a campaign against building on it, and for purchasing it as a park, funds were obtained. The Metropolitan Board of Works acquired the land, and laid out the park on the land surrounding Ravenscourt House.Ravenscourt Park was opened on 19 May 1888 by the MBW. It then passed through the hands of its successor bodies, the London County Council, the Greater London Council, and to the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in April 1971.
The park is managed by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Unfortunately they provide no information at all on it on their website except that the park exists and that they are responsible. Contact 020 8748 3020.