The Highams Park (Waltham Forest)
Brief Description
The Highams Park is on part of the former Highams estate, landscaped in the 1790s by Humphry Repton. Highams House is now Woodford County High School for Girls and the estate lands still exists in part, primarily as two adjacent park areas: Highams Park, owned by the Corporation of the City of London and part of Epping Forest, and The Highams Park, which was purchased by the local Council. It is on a triangle of sloping land on the eastern side of Repton's lake, which is within the Corporation land. In 1947 176 pre-fabs were erected here, removed in 1961 when this section of the park was re-established in the 'V' formed between two suburban streets.
Practical Information
- Previous / Other name:
- Highams Park
- Site location:
- Keynsham Avenue, Woodford Green
- Postcode:
- IG8
- What 3 Words:
- being.fumes.zone
- Type of site:
- Public Park
- Borough:
- Waltham Forest
- Open to public?
- Yes
- Opening times:
- unrestricted
- Special conditions:
- no cycling
- Facilities:
- under 7s play area
- Events:
- Public transport:
- Tube: Woodford (Central) then bus. Rail: Highams Park then bus. Bus: 20, 179, 275, W13
- Research updated:
- 01/08/2010
- Last minor changes:
- 19/07/2023
Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.walthamforest.gov.uk; www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
Full Site Description
Highams was landscaped by Humphry Repton for the then owner John Harman. Highams House is now Woodford County High School for Girls (q.v.) and the estate lands still exists in part, primarily as two adjacent park areas: Highams Park (q.v.) owned by the Corporation of the City of London and part of Epping Forest, and the other being this park owned by LB Waltham Forest. A wire fence separates the two areas, which have been subject to contrasting styles of management. Across the eastern side of the former park a more densely developed band of suburban housing now blocks the sight lines between house and lake. The Highams Park is on a triangle of sloping land on this eastern side of the Repton's lake (which is within the Corporation’s land), which was purchased by the local Council and still maintained by them. It was built over with 176 prefabricated dwellings in 1947, which were then removed in 1961 when this section of the park was re-established in the 'V' formed between two suburban streets. The Highams Park consists of manicured grassland dotted with mature trees, asphalt paths and some new planting. Waltham Forest Council had intended to turn this section into an arboretum, but was hindered by the hidden foundations of the former prefabs. Surviving trees include ancient oaks and some specimen conifers.
Representatives of Waltham Council and the Corporation of London have expressed an interest in working together to recreate elements of the original landscape and to improve the quality of these two adjoining areas of parkland.
Sources consulted:
Victoria County History, Smith, M. M. Highams, The Story of a House, Walthamstow Antiquarian Society, London 1966; Hall, J. M. and Hall, R. 'Suburbanisation in Metropolitan Essex: The Interrupted Development of a Repton Park at Highams,' London Journal 12, (1) 1986; Ben Weinreb & Christopher Hibbert, 'The London Encyclopaedia' (Macmillan, revised ed. 1993).
Further Information (Planning and Conservation)
- Grid ref:
- TQ395921 (539570,192171)
- Size in hectares:
- 8.79
- Site ownership:
- LB Waltham Forest and City of London Corporation/Epping Forest Conservators
- Site management:
- Urbaser Ltd as part of the Street Care and Associated Services contract with LB Waltham Forest
- Date(s):
- 1794; 1960s
- Designer(s):
- Humphry Repton
- 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:
- No
- Other LA designation:
- The Higham's Estate Area of Special Character. Local List of Historic Parks and Gardens
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.