Inventory Site Record

King George's Park, originally called Southfields Park, was laid out in 1921-23 by Percy Cane and was opened in 1923 by King George V. In 1938 a swimming pool was added on the edge of the park, known as Wandsworth Open Air Pool, but this closed in 1993. Further works were carried out in the park post WWII. The northern section has ornamental planting with winding paths among lawns and scattered trees with flowering cherries lining the main north-south path, to the east of which is the lake, now restored, with a footbridge over the southern end. Adjacent to the lake are a heather garden and rockery with poplars to the east, and to the south of the lake are formal beds, a lime avenue, bowling green and enclosed formal rose garden with pergola. A small menagerie is to the west of the lake, with tennis courts to the south-west. In December 2021, a collaboration with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Women’s Association of London Region and the Sakura Cherry Tree Project has resulted in the planting of a new avenue of cherry trees. The double row of cherry trees runs from Burr Road across the park to the river Wandle near the Henry Prince estate. 

Previous / Other name:

Southfields Park

Site location:

Merton Road/Buckhold Road/Kimber Road/Burr Road/Neville Gill Close/Bodmin Street

Postcode:

SW18

What 3 Words:

design.ruby.bumpy

Type of site:

Public Park

Borough:

Wandsworth

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

8am - dusk

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Sports pitches, tennis courts, bowling green, Trim Trail, children's play area, adventure playground; One O'Clock Club

Events:

Various events

Public transport:

Rail: Wandsworth Town. Bus: 39, 44, 156, 270

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

01/05/2005

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.wandsworth.gov.uk/homepage/41/parks_and_open_spaces

Wandsworth Open Air Pool was opened on 6 May 1938 and designed by Wandsworth Borough Architect Ernest J Elford, with the cost of £22,386 split between the Borough Council and the LCC. It was privatised in 1985 and initially became a complex called Water Scenes, run by Kunick Leisure Services with 200ft water slides from a 65ft tower. It was purchased by another private company, Quidsworth, who transformed it into The Big Splash, launched with great aplomb in 1987, but it returned to Wandsworth Council in 1988 and eventually closed in 1993. The site was later redeveloped as an indoor tennis and bowls centre.

The ornamental gardens and the north part of the park are divided by a footpath running east west from open grass and sports areas that extend to the south. The River Wandle forms part of the eastern boundary of the park with a riverside walk, alongside which are ecological areas, and there is a small wildlife area within the park. A number of newer sports facilities in this area include Wandle Recreation Centre and Cannon Health Club.

The park has ornamental gates at the northern end as well as more recent entrances further south. Foster's Way crosses the park towards the southern end, named after Corporal Edward Foster of the 13th Battalion (Wandsworth) of the East Surrey Regiment, who was awarded the VC in 1917.

King George's Park was formerly on the EH Register, but has since been downgraded.

The cherry tree saplings for the avenue, were gifted to the borough by the Sakura Cherry Tree Project – an initiative promoting friendship between Japan and the UK as part of a legacy project celebrating the Japan-UK Season of Culture 2019-2020. The trees are three varieties known as Beni-Yutaka, Tai-Haku, and Somei-yedoensis, which have been chosen for their variation in colour, timing, and historical significance. The Tai-Haku cherry tree is a large, single white blossom variety, which became extinct in Japan but thrives there now thanks to its reintroduction by Britain’s Collingwood 'Cherry' Ingram in 1932.

Sources consulted:

Percy Cane, 'The Earth is My Canvas', 1956; Website: 'Lidos in London no longer open' compiled by Oliver Merrington and Andy Hoines, with additional details and photographs from Ian Gordon, www.lidos.org.uk

Press Release, 15 December 2021 from Enable Leisure about new Cherry Tree Avenue.

Grid ref:

TQ255741 (525488,174238)

Size in hectares:

23

Site ownership:

LB Wandsworth

Site management:

Enable Management and Leisure

Date(s):

1921-23; 1938; post WWII

Designer(s):

Percy Cane

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:

Yes - Borough Importance II

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

Yes

Special Policy Area:

Yes - Archaeological Priority Area

Other LA designation:

District Park

King George's Park - Photo: Colin Wing
Date taken: 01/03/21 15:06

Click a photo to enlarge.