Inventory Site Record

Wormholt Park is situated on land that was once woodland, cleared probably some time after the Norman Conquest, and which became part of the Manor of Fulham. Landowners the Ecclesiastical Commissioners offered Hammersmith Borough Council an area to be used for public recreation in 1903 but the land conveyance only took place in 1909. The park was laid out and opened on 27 June 1911 as part of the borough's celebrations to commemorate the coronation of George V.

Site location:

Sawley Road,/Bryony Road, Shepherd's Bush

Postcode:

W12

What 3 Words:

weds.finds.form

Type of site:

Public Park

Borough:

Hammersmith & Fulham

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

7.30am - dusk

Special conditions:

Facilities:

playground, tennis courts

Events:

Public transport:

Tube: Shepherds Bush (Central; Hammersmith & City). Bus: 283

Citymapper    
Google Map    
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Research updated:

01/11/2011

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.lbhf.gov.uk

The area where Wormholt Park is situated was once woodland but was cleared probably some time after the Norman Conquest; the land in this area became part of the Manor of Fulham owned by the Bishops of London, with Wormholt Woods commonland used for grazing. In the C19th the area was largely farmed and in the 1850s what was to become the site of Wormholt Park appears to have been called Barn Field within the lands of either Wormholt Farm or Old Oak Farm. In 1903 housing development was accelerating and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, who owned the land, offered Hammersmith Borough Council an area to be used for recreational purposes, provided all works were carried out by the Council. The land conveyance eventually took place in 1909 and the park was laid out, the work undertaken by local unemployed people. The LCC contributed £1,000 to the cost of layout providing it was completed to their satisfaction. Wormholt Park was opened on 27 June 1911 as part of the borough's celebrations to commemorate the coronation of George V, officiated by the Mayor Cllr Norman William Shairp and not by a member of the royal family as had originally been hoped.

On 4 August 1923, on adjoining land to the park, White City Lido was opened, designed by the Borough Engineer R Hampton Clucas. Costing £13,149, it took 60 unemployed men 6 months to build the 150 x 75ft pool, which had small lawns at both ends. However, it closed after the 1979 season and was converted into the indoor Janet Adegoke Leisure Centre in 1980. In 2009 planning permission was granted to Building Better Health to redevelop the Leisure Centre site but a revised planning application was then submitted in spring 2011. Plans for the site include new affordable housing, an underground car park, health centre and premises for commercial lets, which it is anticipated will go to a café opening onto Wormholt Park. Through a Section 106 Agreement, a sum of £1m is to be spent on redeveloping the park and surrounding roads, with public consultation taking place in 2011.

Wormholt Park retains its basic path layout, and around the perimeter are shrubs, sycamore and lime trees, with other flowering trees and shrubs within the park, including one or two good C19th oaks, and a notable hybrid black poplar; a railed play area has ornamental conifers. The Friends of Wormholt Park was set up in April 2011, and in September organised a celebration of the park's centenary. This took place on Saturday 9 September preceded by events in local schools, and included a display about the history of the park and surrounding area and numerous activities. The day culminated in a Tea Party with special guests, including the Hammersmith & Fulham Mayor Cllr Frances Stainton, and MP Andy Slaughter, a Pearly King and Pearly Queen, and local centenarian Peggy Aslett who cut the centenary giant cake.

Sources consulted:

LB Hammersmith & Fulham Archives Dept, 'A note on the open spaces of Fulham and Hammersmith', 1974 p24; Website 'Lidos in London no longer open' compiled by Oliver Merrington and Andy Hoines with additional detail and photographs from Ian Gordon, www.lidos.org.uk.

Grid ref:

TQ223805 (522445,180575)

Size in hectares:

3.66

Site ownership:

LB Hammersmith & Fulham

Site management:

Environment Department, Parks Service (ground maintenance by Quadron Services); Friends of Wormholt Park

Date(s):

1911

Designer(s):

Local authority

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:

Yes

Conservation Area name:

Old Oak and Wormholt Estates

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

Yes - Local Importance

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

Local Park; Open Space of Borough-wide Importance