Inventory Site Record

This large area of open space is named after King George V whose jubilee in 1935 was commemorated in Jubilee Way. King George's Fields Foundation was set up to commemorate the King's death in 1936 and provided funding for the creation or improvement of a great many playing fields, Surbiton Borough Council receiving a grant of £5,500 to lay out the 28.64 site. The park is largely grassed with scattered mature trees including oak. Near the bowling green are a number of rose beds, and some new planting of trees in the southern field. The park is bounded to Jubilee Way by fencing.

Previous / Other name:

King George's Playing Fields

Site location:

Jubilee Way, Tolworth/Hook Rise South, Chessington

Postcode:

KT6 7NA

What 3 Words:

waters.racks.walks

Type of site:

Public Park

Borough:

Kingston

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted

Special conditions:

Facilities:

bowling green, cricket and football pitches, tennis courts

Events:

Public transport:

Rail: Tolworth. Bus: K2

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Research updated:

01/04/2012

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.kingston.gov.uk/browse/environment/parks/recreation_sites

The King George’s Fields Foundation was established on 3 November 1936 in order to promote the establishment of playing fields in memory of the late King George. It was considered that the King would have approved of such a living memorial, which would benefit the 'individual well-being and the general welfare of the nation', and young people in particular, by providing them with the environment and opportunity for open air exercise. The Trust Deed of the Foundation defined a playing field as 'any open space used for the purpose of outdoor games, sports and pastimes.' Local authorities were able to apply to the Foundation, whose trustee was the National Playing Fields Association, for a grant to provide these new facilities for public recreation. Each new playing field was to be known as King George's Field and was generally provided with heraldic panels that would distinguish it as such. It was a condition of the grant that the tenure of the site was sufficiently secure so that it would provide a meaningful legacy to the king's memory; the land must have been acquired only for the purpose of public recreation. The design of the entrance and the ground's layout had to be approved by the Foundation, which was to receive an annual report for the first five years from the acceptance of the offer. 471 playing fields across the UK were funded and following the demise of the scheme in 1965, their protection has been undertaken by the Fields in Trust. The largest King George's Field is Enfield Playing Fields (q.v.), some 128 acres, and the smallest is in the City of London, King George's Field in Portsoken Street (q.v.).

King George's Recreation Ground is used by various clubs, including King George's Indoor Bowls Club, the Kingston and Elmbridge Sub-Aqua Club and Corinthians Casuals FC, which is one of the oldest football clubs in the country. In the north is the Kingston Motorcycle Project, set up with the support of the police in order to provide a safe and supervised environment for older children to ride motorbikes.

Sources consulted:

'History of the King George's Fields Foundation' and other information on www.fieldsintrust.org

Grid ref:

TQ193651 (519510,165120)

Size in hectares:

14.009

Site ownership:

RB Kingston

Site management:

Grounds maintenance contractor: Quadron Services Ltd

Date(s):

1930s

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:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

Yes

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

None