Inventory Site Record

On the site of a late C19th house and estate, Hylands was initially developed in the 1920s as a trotting and racing track. The first race meeting was held in 1925 and the course apparently a great attraction on race days, and also used for prestigious athletics meetings. It eventually closed down and was bought by Hornchurch UDC and converted into Hylands Park in the late 1920s, one of the first public parks to be provided in the district. An oval path, cricket and football pitches were laid on the former trotting track and a rose garden was planted in an area previously occupied by a static water tank. The stone gate piers with wrought iron gates at the Osborne Road entrance were from Grey Towers, the C19th castellated mansion built by Colonel Holmes of Langtons.

Site location:

Hyland Way/Globe Road/Osborne Road, Hornchurch

Postcode:

RM11 1BS

What 3 Words:

sound.farm.agent

Type of site:

Public Park

Borough:

Havering

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

locked dusk

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Car park, playground, cricket, football, tennis, outdoor gym

Events:

Various, Summer Fun, Participates in Havering's summer environmental education programme, Wacky About Wildlife

Public transport:

Tube: Hornchurch (District). Rail: Romford. Bus: 193, 294

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Google Map    
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Research updated:

01/02/2007

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

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

On the site of a late C19th house and estate, Hylands was initially developed in the 1920s by the French family, who owned the Oak public house in Victoria Road, Romford and purchased the property in 1920. The land included an orchard and was originally used for grazing and a piggery. In 1925 it was converted into a trotting and racing track with the winning post and finishing enclosure backing onto Osborne Road, the whole area encircled with corrugated iron fencing. It was laid out by Mr Hastings, a developer from Stoke Newington, who built the track, stands, stables and other facilities, and the first race meeting was held on Whit Monday 1925. Hornchurch UDC had tried to prevent the track going ahead but Mr Hastings was allowed to continue, following an appeal to the Minister of Health. The course was apparently a great attraction on race days, creating interest among owners of trotting horses from all over the country. The track was also used for prestigious athletics meetings, including the London Ladies Athletic Association Championship in which many of the athletes of the day took part. However, the popularity of the track waned and it eventually closed down and became derelict, but since 1925, following a public enquiry, Hornchurch UDC had been negotiating with the owners to acquire the site for use as public open space.

It was purchased in 1927 and laid out as Hylands Park by the late 1920s, one of the first public parks to be provided in the district. An oval path, cricket and football pitches were laid on the former trotting track. An avenue of poplars along the entrance from Globe Road was planted as a windbreak, and a rose garden was planted in an area previously occupied by a static water tank funded from monies provided for land reinstatement. The surviving stone gate piers with wrought iron gates at the Osborne Road entrance are probably C20th, but came from Grey Towers, the C19th castellated mansion built by Colonel Holmes who also owned Langtons (q.v.). Grey Towers was demolished in 1931 to make way for residential development.

During WWII the land to the rear of Globe Road was temporarily used for allotments and the park suffered some bomb damage towards the end of the war when the Park Keeper's hut was destroyed. On 12 October 1940 a Spitfire fighter plane narrowly missed crash landing in the park, crowded with people at the time. After the war the allotments were reinstated as grass, the first children's playground was provided, grass tennis courts were converted to hard courts and a cricket square was laid out. Hornchurch Athletic Sports Club, founded in 1936, has long associations with Hylands Park, its Football Club moving here in 1947/8 joined in 1953 by its Cricket Club. A plan of the park in 1961 shows 10 tennis courts, cricket and football pitches, children’s play area, with a pavilion, drinking fountain, kiosk as well as tree planting.

Hylands Park Action Group was established in 2004. The Action Group are involved in fund-raising and improvement projects as well as events such as an annual Summer Fun Day.

Sources consulted:

Brian Evans; F G Gould 'Hylands Park' in Heritage Record 9, 1977, p2; Recreation and Amenities Brochure 1970; Hornchurch UDC: Report on Parks and Recreation Grounds, Sydney Porter, September 1961; 'Management Plan for Hylands Park from 2007 to 2017', LB Havering, 2009.

Grid ref:

TQ522882 (552559,188095)

Size in hectares:

4.6

Site ownership:

LB Havering

Site management:

Parks and Open Spaces

Date(s):

1925; 1927

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:

Yes

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