Inventory Site Record

Although Larkhall Park opened in 1974, plans for a public open space here dated from around 1943 and it formed part of the County of London Plan to provide improved housing, transport and open spaces for Londoners. The LCC began purchasing land in 1952, and the park's completion was planned in three phases. In 1971 c.5.25 hectares were cleared and responsibility for laying out the park transferred to Lambeth Council, who worked with local tenants to grass over the area. Temporary facilities for recreation were provided by 1973 and development of the new park began in 1974. In 2006 the park underwent major improvement works.

Previous / Other name:

Wandsworth Road Open Space

Site location:

Priory Grove/Courland Grove

Postcode:

SW8 2PX

What 3 Words:

images.next.pure

Type of site:

Public Park

Borough:

Lambeth

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Children's play area, One O'Clock Club, sports pitches, café, tennis, athletics

Events:

Public transport:

Tube: Stockwell (Northern, Victoria). Rail: Wandsworth Road. Bus: 77, 77a, 196

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

08/06/2023

Last minor changes:

07/08/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/parks/larkhall-park; www.larkhallparkfriends.org.uk

Although construction of Larkhall Park began in 1974, plans for a public open space here dated from around 1943 and it formed part of the County of London Plan to provide improved housing, transport and open space for Londoners. The 1951 County of London Development Plan had proposed that a new park of 27 acres should be created to serve 'an area due for redevelopment on the borders of Lambeth and Wandsworth and to be sited between Wandsworth Road, Larkhall Lane, Lansdowne Way and Union Grove'.  The LCC began purchasing land in 1952, and the park's completion was planned in three phases. Plans drawn up in 1965 show that the intention was to build the park on 27 acres of land although due to budget constraints it eventually occupied half of the initially proposed area. It was known as Wandsworth Road Open Space until 1967 when it was renamed Larkhall Park by the GLC. There may have been a mansion called Lark Hall, which was later a tavern and tea gardens on the site of the present Larkhall Tavern.

In 1971 c.5.25 hectares were cleared and responsibility for laying out the park transferred to Lambeth Council, who worked with local tenants to grass over the area. Temporary facilities for recreation were provided by 1973 and development of the new park began in 1974. However, work was slow, as a result of which Larkhall Park Action Group was set up by local residents to urge the council to remove the corrugated iron fencing then surrounding the site and get on with the creation of the park. A group of young architects who had joined the Action Group put forward an alternative park plan, including a number of features that were incorporated, such as a walled rose garden and extra entrances, but their proposals for a bamboo grove, wild life area, meadow and pond were not. They successfully raised £500k through Government Innercity Partnership funding, which the council subsequently used to build a cafe and changing rooms. The Friends of Larkhall Park were formed in 1996. 

Larkhall Park underwent a major transformation in 2006 to improve its physical and natural environment and raise its public profile in the borough. The Friends of Larkhall Park, Stockwell Partnership and Metropolitan Police were all consulted, ensuring that Larkhall Park had facilities that met the needs of the local community. Projects to improve the park have included redevelopment of Wandsworth Road entrance, new football and basketball facilities, and children's playground (2007); outdoor gym (2011), new tennis courts and a trial seeded meadow area by Priory Grove 92012), and re-design of the Priory Grove entrance (2013).

Larkhall Park is one of Lambeth's Green Flag Award-winning parks, and a holder of a ‘Park of the Year’ award from London in Bloom.

Sources consulted:

Marie Draper 'Lambeth's Open Spaces, An historical account', LB Lambeth 1979. See also https://londongardenstrust.org/features/larkhall2006.htm: 'Larkhall Park Regeneration', London Landscapes, No.12, Spring 2006; Friends of Larkhall Park: https://www.friendsoflarkhallpark.org.uk/creating-the-park

Grid ref:

TQ299765 (529950,176550)

Size in hectares:

5.47

Site ownership:

LB Lambeth

Site management:

Environment Directorate, Parks and Greenspaces Unit (Team Lambeth). Friends of Larkhall Park

Date(s):

1973 onwards

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:

No

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

Parks Regeneration Area. Open Space

Larkhall Park, April 2021. Photograph Sally Williams

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