Vale Farm Sports Ground (Brent)
Brief Description
Vale Farm was owned by the Lake family in the C18th, later purchased by the Page family and Samuel Palmer of Huntley & Palmer biscuits lived here from 1874. Wembley UDC purchased the land for public open space and sports in October 1928 from the then owners, builders E & F Toley. The park opened in April 1930. Wembley's first open air swimming pool was in the park but later closed. A new complex was built in 1979. The park was the home of Wembley Football Club and it was here that the England World Cup squad trained prior to winning the World Cup in 1966.
Practical Information
- Site location:
- Watford Road/East Lane, Wembley
- Postcode:
- HA0
- What 3 Words:
- crush.pets.lunch
- Type of site:
- Public Park
- Borough:
- Brent
- Open to public?
- Yes
- Opening times:
- unrestricted
- Special conditions:
- Facilities:
- Sports pitches, cricket, tennis courts. Sports Centre has squash, badminton, gym, swimming pools, astro-turf pitch
- Events:
- Public transport:
- Tube: Sudbury Town (Piccadilly). London Overground/Tube (Bakerloo): North Wembley. Rail: Sudbury & Harrow Road. Bus: 18, 92, 182, 204
- Research updated:
- 09/06/2009
- Last minor changes:
- 19/07/2023
Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.brent.gov.uk
Full Site Description
Vale Farm was owned by the Lake family in the C18th, later purchased by the Page family. Samuel Palmer (of Huntley & Palmer biscuits) lived here from 1874. On his death in 1898 he left £1.3million, benefitting the local community, and Wembley UDC purchased the land for public open space/sports ground in October 1928 from the then owners, builders E & F Toley. The park opened in April 1930 and had Wembley's first open air swimming pool, built at a cost of £17,000, which proved a very popular facility. It was located near the site of the farm. The pool later closed and a new complex with 2 indoor pools was built in 1979. The park is the home to a number of clubs, Wembley Football Club, Parkside Lawn Tennis Club, Sudbury Court and Wembley Cricket Club. It was here that the England World Cup squad trained prior to winning the World Cup in 1966. The farmhouse, which had been rebuilt, was later owned by Brent Council. East Lane Theatre is situated within the park.
Sources consulted:
LB Brent 'A Sudbury Stroll'; Adam Spencer, 'Wembley and Kingsbury: Britain in Old Photographs', Sutton Publishing 1995
Further Information (Planning and Conservation)
- Grid ref:
- TQ170860 (517025,185909)
- Size in hectares:
- 30
- Site ownership:
- LB Brent
- Site management:
- Parks Service
- Date(s):
- 1928-30
- Designer(s):
- Listed structures:
- None
- On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens:
No- Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:
No- Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931:
No
Local Authority Data
The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.
- On Local List:
- No
- In Conservation Area:
- No
- Tree Preservation Order:
- Not known
- Nature Conservation Area:
- No
- Green Belt:
- No
- Metropolitan Open Land:
- No
- Special Policy Area:
- No
- Other LA designation:
- None
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.