Inventory Site Record

A remnant of the Great Forest of Middlesex, this was once called Churchyard Bottom Wood and was reputedly the site of a plague pit. Following a 2-year campaign, it was purchased in 1898 by Hornsey Local Board from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners who were about to sell it for development. Renamed Queen's Wood in commemoration of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897, funds were then raised for drainage, fencing and other works such as a Keeper's Lodge. The wood was opened 'for the free use of the public for ever' on 23 July 1898. A large pond in the centre of the wood was replaced by a concrete paddling pool and refreshment pavilion in 1935, now disused. The Keeper's Lodge was restored in 1998 and used as a Café.

Previous / Other name:

Churchyard Bottom Wood

Site location:

Muswell Hill Road/Queen's Wood Road/Connaught Gardens

Postcode:

N10/N6

What 3 Words:

hints.juror.front

Type of site:

Public Park

Borough:

Haringey

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted. Café open 10-5 daily
Has taken part in Open Garden Squares Weekend 5 times, most recently in 2015.

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Children's play area; Lodge Café, Queen's Wood Lodge Organic Garden, plant sales, workshops

Events:

occasional exhibitions in Lodge Café

Public transport:

Tube: Highgate (Northern). Bus: 43, 134.

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

01/01/2012

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.haringey.gov.uk; www.fqw.org.uk

Queen's Wood is a roughly square site on the east side of Muswell Hill Road with steeply undulating terrain covered with natural woodland. A remnant of the Great Forest of Middlesex, it was formerly known as Churchyard Bottom Wood and reputedly the site of a plague pit. Following a two year fund-raising campaign, it was purchased in 1898 for £25,000 by Hornsey Local Board from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners who were about to sell it for building development. It was renamed Queen's Wood in commemoration of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897. An additional £5,000 was raised to cover drainage, fencing and other works and to build a Keeper's Lodge. £6,000 of the total £30,000 was raised from private donations. It was enclosed in 1898 and opened 'for the free use of the public for ever' on 23 July 1898.

Today it is an attractive area of open woodland, predominantly oak and hornbeam, with a shrub understorey in parts. The trees are of mixed ages, although few appear to be over 150 years. There is evidence of previous hornbeam coppicing, which is documented back to the C16th. The wood is partly enclosed by C19th railings. The Keeper's Lodge (1898/99) is in English Domestic Revival style with picturesque steep roofs, gables, ornamental timber framing, octagonal clock tower and open veranda, was probably designed by Hornsey UDC's then borough engineer J. Lovegrove. It became derelict in the C20th but was restored in 1998 and is now the park café, behind which is an organic garden on the original garden of the Lodge Keeper, now maintained by volunteers. The large pond in the centre of the wood was replaced by a concrete paddling pool and refreshment pavilion in 1935, both of which later fell into disuse. The Friends of Queen's Wood was established to look after the wood, and undertakes regular maintenance and conservation of the landscape. The old disused paddling pool has now been replaced with a large Frogpool to attract a wider range of species and increase diversity. This work was completed in 2011. Through the wood are meandering paths and there are occasional Victorian cast iron marker posts. It is now designated and managed as a nature reserve.

Sources consulted:

Richardson 1983 p 204; Schwitzer and Gay 1995 pp 11-12; Victoria County History; Andrew Crowe, 'The Parks and Woodlands of London' (Fourth Estate, 1987) pp157-9; Ham & High, Jan 7 1994; Hornsey UDC Review of 1896-1900; English Heritage Primary Research File HAR 54. History on Friends of Queen's Wood website: www.fqw.org.uk

Grid ref:

TQ287886 (528765,188565)

Size in hectares:

21.1

Site ownership:

LB Haringey

Site management:

Parks Service / Friends of Queen's Wood.

Date(s):

ancient woodland; 1898; 1930s

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

Keeper's Lodge unsuccessful candidate for listing by EH in 1993/4, but is locally listed

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:

Yes

In Conservation Area:

No

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

Yes - Metropolitan Importance

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

Yes

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

Local Nature Reserve; part of Better Haringey Walking Trail

Queen's Wood - Keeper's Lodge - Photo: Colin Wing
Date taken: 21/09/21 15:27

Click a photo to enlarge.

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