Inventory Site Record

Acton Green Common is a simple area of open land, laid out with perimeter planting, cross-walks and some mature trees. It is bounded to the south by the railway and at its eastern end it faces the church of St Michael and All Angels and the Tabard Inn, which are among the buildings designed by Norman Shaw for the Bedford Park Garden Suburb. The common was part of the site of the Battle of Brentford during the Civil War when on 12 November 1642 the Royalists under Prince Rupert surprised and overcame the Parliamentarian army under Lord Essex.

Site location:

The Avenue/South Parade/Acton Lane/Hardwicke Road, Bedford Park

Postcode:

W4

What 3 Words:

acted.claim.drape

Type of site:

Public Park

Borough:

Ealing

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Play area, picnic area, toilet.

Events:

Various events

Public transport:

Tube: Turnham Green, Chiswick Park (District). Bus: 94, E3.

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Research updated:

01/10/2010

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.ealing.gov.uk/services/environment/parks_and_open_spaces

Acton Green Common is a simple area of open land, laid out with perimeter planting and cross-walks and some mature trees. The central path used to be part of a Roman route used by Legionnaires. The Battle of Brentford during the Civil War took place on this site, and on 12 November 1642 the Royalists under Prince Rupert surprised and overcame the Parliamentarian army under Lord Essex. The battle took place on part of Acton Green Common, Turnham Green (q.v.) and to the south over what was once called Chiswick Common Field. The common is bounded to the south by the railway and overlooked by "a few demure early C19th villas" (Pevsner). On the north side is St Alban's Church, 'large, raw and red' according to Pevsner, built in 1887/8 with a hall and parish club. At its eastern end, the common faces the church of St Michael and All Angels and the Tabard Inn, which are among the buildings designed by Norman Shaw for the Bedford Park Garden Suburb (q.v.), which was built here between 1875-1886.

Sources consulted:

Bridget Cherry and Nikolaus Pevsner, 'The Buildings of England London 3: North West' (Penguin, 1999 ed); Ben Weinreb & Christopher Hibbert, 'The London Encyclopaedia' (Macmillan, revised ed. 1993).

Grid ref:

TQ206788 (520564,178839)

Size in hectares:

5.9

Site ownership:

LB Ealing

Site management:

Leisure & Parks Service

Date(s):

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:

Yes: Common (CL118)

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:

Yes

Conservation Area name:

Acton Green

Tree Preservation Order:

Not known

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

None