Inventory Site Record

St James Park is on part of the former lands of Low Hall Manor, which was sold to Walthamstow Council by the Lord of the Manor in 1877. It was opened as a public park in 1910 and consists of a rectangle of grass with a children’s playground. The mature lime trees around the perimeter and forming a central avenue were planted in c.1920. The park is adjacent to a number of other facilities to the south-west that were also part of Low Hall Manor: Cheshire Fields allotments, Low Hall Sports Ground, formerly marshlands used for pasture by the Manor, and Low Hall Wood Nature Conservation Area (0.65ha), which has been developed into a woodland nature area by local volunteers.

Site location:

Essex Road, South Walthamstow

Postcode:

E17

What 3 Words:

smile.outer.prone

Type of site:

Public Park

Borough:

Waltham Forest

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

9am - half hour before sunset

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Under 5s, Under 7s and Under 12s play areas

Events:

Public transport:

London Overground: St James Street. Tube (Victoria): Blackhorse Road. Bus: 58, 158

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

01/11/2021

Last minor changes:

14/07/2022

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

Wooden 'boulders' found along the paths in St James Park lead visitors towards Low Hall Wood Nature Conservation Area, just outside the gates to Low Hall Sports Ground. Paths run through the woodland, leading to an area called The Clearing. This was created in 2018/2019 as part of Waltham Forest Council's Making Places project and was a collaboration between sculptor Owen Bullett and Smith & Newton Architects Ltd; the installation consists of a series of carved totem poles around a circular arrangement of wood boulders.It was officially opened on 20 January 2019.

The Friends of St James Park has been set up to look after the park, and runs various activities, including tree planting, clean-up projects as well as community and other events.

Beyond the park gates on Essex Road, and running under the railway line, is a small area of landscaping, Essex Road Pocket Park.

Sources consulted:

Grid ref:

TQ360882 (536050,188250)

Size in hectares:

3.63

Site ownership:

LB Waltham Forest

Site management:

Urbaser Ltd as part of the Street Care & Associated Services contract with LB Waltham Forest; St James Residents Association; Friends of St James Park

Date(s):

1910

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:

None

St James Park, November 2021. Photograph Sally Williams

Click a photo to enlarge.