Inventory Site Record

Harold Wood was once part of the royal hunting ground, with a small hamlet on the edge of the forest. Housing development in the area began after the Great Eastern Railway opened a small halt here in 1868. Land was initially donated to Hornchurch UDC in 1934 for use as Harold Wood Cricket Ground, which had existed since 1896. It later formed part of Harold Wood Park. The park was gradually provided with recreational facilities including football, lacrosse, cricket and tennis, a paddling pool and putting green. The park was 'well-provided with trees'; the River Ingrebourne runs north / south through the park, with a small bridge connecting the west side, where the majority of sports facilities are, to the east side and its 18-hole miniature golf course and pond.

Site location:

Harold View/ Brinswood Road, Squirrels Heath Road/Recreation Avenue, Harold Wood

Postcode:

RM1 4HB

What 3 Words:

avoid.crash.happen

Type of site:

Public Park

Borough:

Havering

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

closed at dusk

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Car park, playground, cricket, football, miniature golf, tennis

Events:

Various, including Havering's annual Wacky about Wildlife' environmental education programme

Public transport:

Rail: Harold Wood. Bus: 565

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Research updated:

01/09/2018

Last minor changes:

29/03/2026

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

Harold Wood was once part of the royal hunting ground, with a small hamlet on the edge of the forest. Housing development in the area began after the Great Eastern Railway opened a small halt in December 1868 although much of the land remained in agricultural use into the C20th. Until 1926 Harold Wood had come within Romford Rural District, but it then became part of Hornchurch Urban District Council as the area became more built up. Land was initially donated to Hornchurch UDC in 1934 for use by Harold Wood Cricket Ground, which later formed part of Harold Wood Park. The cricket club had been established in 1896 and enjoyed the support of the Matthews family, using various grounds in the village to play until local landowner Edward Bryant donated a field for the club's use on condition that it was used for cricket. Harold Wood Cricket Club has remained here to this day. In 1936 a Park Keeper was appointed and in the same year access to the cricket field was completed, tennis courts and football pitches provided, with derelict cottages used as dressing rooms. There may also have been a children's play area and flower beds planted.

Over the years Harold Wood Park was provided with many recreational facilities including a paddling pool in 1950/51 and a miniature golf course or putting green in 1959/60. In the same year a new cricket pavilion was provided by the Council and Harold Wood Cricket Club went from strength to strength and was one of the first clubs to encourage colts' cricket in the 1960s and is now one of the few clubs in the area to run a ladies side. The park was 'well-provided with trees' (Porter, 1966) and the River Ingrebourne runs north / south through the park. A small bridge across it connects the west side where the majority of sports facilities are, to the east side, which has an 18-hole miniature golf course and pond. The storms in October 1987 caused the loss of many of the park's large trees, which included elms, also ravished by Dutch Elm Disease. Tree planting has taken place since 1988 and includes a Weeping Willow avenue planted between two pitches, partly to assist with drainage as the park suffers from waterlogging. In 2003 a bridge and path were installed to provide access to the adjacent Pages Wood, owned by the Forestry Commission.

By 2005 vandalism and anti-social behaviour had becoming a problem, and the cricket pavilion was burnt down in an arson attack. In November of that year the Friends of Harold Wood Parks was established, encompassing nearby Painesbrook and Guys Field. Since then improvements have taken place in the park, including refurbishment of the tennis courts and a new cricket pavilion to replace the one burnt down in an arson attack in 2005. Other improvements include the children's play area, new teenage area and planting projects such as a riverside wild flower area, as well as bulbs, shrubs and perennials. The paddling pool, by this time disused, was built over in 2006 when the play area was refurbished.

Sources consulted:

Hornchurch UDC: Report on Parks and Recreation Grounds, Sydney Porter, September 1961; 'Management Plan for Harold Wood Park from 2008 to 2018' LB Havering, 2010; 

Grid ref:

TQ550900 (555220,190050)

Size in hectares:

19.4

Site ownership:

LB Havering

Site management:

Parks and Open Spaces

Date(s):

1934

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:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

Yes

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

Yes Thames Chase Community Forest

Other LA designation:

Ingrebourne Valley. Improved Bridleway Access