Grovelands Park

Green Flag Winner 2008

Grovelands Lake
Photo by Anne Bryan

History
Grovelands Park was originally a heavily wooded area, close to the southern border of Enfield Chase (a hunting forest formed in the 12th and 13th centuries) up until 1777. In the 1700’s Southgate became a fashionable place for the wealthy London merchants to build their mansions.

The earliest known owner of the Grovelands Estate was Mr. Walker Gray (related to the Walkers who owned the Arnos Grove Estate). Mr. Walker Gray purchased 230 acres of land in 1796 and in 1798 built the existing house to the design of the eminent architect, John Nash. The grounds, including the lake, were designed by Humphry Repton a leading landscape gardener of that era.

House, north front, lake + parkland c.1880

Following the death of Mr. Walker Gray the house and grounds were purchased by Mr. John Donnithorne Taylor, a relative of Mr. Walker Gray who was connected to the Taylor Walker Brewery. He added 100 acres to the estate and renamed it Grovelands.

Mr. Taylor enjoyed hunting and had a small herd of deer on his estate. To prevent the deer getting near to the house or damaging flower and vegetable gardens, he arranged for a ha-ha (sunken fence) to be constructed, most of which is still visible today. At the time of Mr. Taylor’s death in 1885, the Grovelands Estate had increased to 600 acres.

Deer c. 1888

In 1916 the house was temporarily used as a hospital for wounded troops returning from France in the 1914-1918 Great War. The house remained in use by the NHS until 1977.The house reopened some years later as a private hospital and continues to be so today. Southgate Urban District Council purchased 64 acres of land from the Taylor Family in 1911 for the sum of £22,893 and Grovelands Park was officially opened in April 1913.

North and east fronts, parkland c.1880

Grovelands Park still features many trees found in the original wooded area, for example, oak, beech, birch and hornbeam.An outlet stream flows under Church Hill towards Houndsden Road, where it joins Houndsden Gutter. This eventually joins with Salmons Brook at The Chine. Church Hill was originally named “Gallows or Gallis Hill”, after the gallows which were erected there. The main gate is named after Lord Inverforth who owned Arnos Grove Estate in 1903.The house is a Grade II listed building and Grovelands Park is on the register of Historic Parks and Gardens.

More information on Repton and Nash

Facilities
Grovelands Park provides a children’s playground, suitable for wheelchair use or children with disabilities, a cafeteria, public toilets and a lake. The Park is suitable for walking, jogging, dog walking and other casual recreation.

Dog walkers are reminded that the Council operates a voluntary You & Your Dog scheme and provides special red bins for the disposal of dog poop! Co-operation with this scheme is greatly appreciated and helps to keep our parks clean and safe for all to use.

Grovelands Park has 2 football pitches, 2 tennis courts and 1 basketball court.

Grovelands Park also hosts a variety of activities throughout the year, for example Bowls, guided walks, fishing and pitch and putt.

For further information or pitch lettings and/or events, please contact the Parks Business Support Unit.

Grovelands Park Map - (2.8mb PDF)

Improvements to the Park
Grovelands Park won the prestigious Green Flag Award in 2007. A management plan is available on the website together with an Action plan detailing how and when the works will be carried out.

• There are a number of improvements designed to assist in making Grovelands Park a more welcoming place during 2007/08.
• The Inverforth Gates at the main entrance have been completely renovated during 2007.
• Repainting of the Gates to ensure that as visitors enter the Park, the entrance looks cared-for and well-managed.
• During 2008, new signage for the main entrance which informs the public about the Facilities and the location of those facilities within the Park will be installed.
• The planting outside the Broad Walk entrance will be replaced.
• The avenue leading from Broad Walk will be restored to its former glory with new Rhododendrons and Azaleas.
• Capital provision for Grovelands Park was approved as part of a £3.5Million program of investment. The existing toilets have been completely refurbished with new cubicles and sanitary fixtures including hand dryers and baby changing facilities.
• An extension to the rear of the café houses a new ambulant disabled toilet facility has been installed in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act.
• As part of the works a new access ramp to the café together with raising the front elevation of the café formed part of the extensive works completed during 2007.
• The landscape outside the Cafe is being redesigned.

Walking for Health
The Park Outreach Team in partnership with Age Concern currently undertakes walks around Grovelands Park as part of the Walk in the Park and Get Walking, Get Talking programme. These walks take place on Saturdays mornings and Monday afternoons.

For further information please contact the Parks Outreach Team on 020 8379 1000.

Friends of Grovelands Park
Grovelands Park has an active Friends of Park Group that meet regularly to discus issues relevant to the park and its future development. Anyone with an interest in the park can attend.

For further information please contact the Parks Outreach Team on 020 8379 1000.

Opening & Closing Times
The park is open every day of the year from 8:00am Monday to Saturday and 8:30am on Sundays. Closing times vary according to the seasons.

For further information please view the Park Opening & Closing Timetable - (20Kb PDF)

Location
Grovelands Park
The Bourne
Southgate
London
N14 6RA
Map

Transport Links
Grovelands Park is situated in Winchmore Hill, with the main entrance to the park in The Bourne. There is good public transport access from Southgate Circus and you can get there by buses 298, 121, 299, 611 and W6. The nearest train stations are Southgate Underground or Winchmore Hill (British Rail) Stations.

For journey times use the TFL Journey Planner.

Useful Information
Green Flag Award
Grovelands Park Management Plan - (1.9mb PDF)
Grovelands Park Map - (2.8mb PDF)
Repton and Nash

Useful Links
Grovelands Pitch and Putt

Contact Us

Address:
Parks Business Unit
PO Box 52
Civic Centre
Silver Street
Enfield
EN1 3XD
Map

Email:
parksbusinessunit@enfield.gov.uk

Telephone:
020 8379 1000

Fax:
020 8379 3785

This document was last updated on 2008-07-18 11:51:39 published by the Parks team. Document Reference:LBE_132663

The website you are currently viewing has been replaced by a new site. Therefore, the information contained within this page cannot be guaranteed as accurate, and you may find some links do not work. To view our current website, please go to www.enfield.gov.uk
Directory: Home Contact us: Ask us a question Civic Centre Silver Street Enfield EN1 3XY Telephone: 020 8379 1000 Fax: 020 8379 4453 Textphone: 020 8379 4419 Note: Calls may be recorded. How to find us	A to Z of Services: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z .Translation. Grovelands Park Green Flag Winner 2008 Photo by Anne Bryan History Grovelands Park was originally a heavily wooded area, close to the southern border of Enfield Chase (a hunting forest formed in the 12th and 13th centuries) up until 1777. In the 1700’s Southgate became a fashionable place for the wealthy London merchants to build their mansions. The earliest known owner of the Grovelands Estate was Mr. Walker Gray (related to the Walkers who owned the Arnos Grove Estate). Mr. Walker Gray purchased 230 acres of land in 1796 and in 1798 built the existing house to the design of the eminent architect, John Nash. The grounds, including the lake, were designed by Humphry Repton a leading landscape gardener of that era. House, north front, lake + parkland c.1880 Following the death of Mr. Walker Gray the house and grounds were purchased by Mr. John Donnithorne Taylor, a relative of Mr. Walker Gray who was connected to the Taylor Walker Brewery. He added 100 acres to the estate and renamed it Grovelands. Mr. Taylor enjoyed hunting and had a small herd of deer on his estate. To prevent the deer getting near to the house or damaging flower and vegetable gardens, he arranged for a ha-ha (sunken fence) to be constructed, most of which is still visible today. At the time of Mr. Taylor’s death in 1885, the Grovelands Estate had increased to 600 acres. Deer c. 1888 In 1916 the house was temporarily used as a hospital for wounded troops returning from France in the 1914-1918 Great War. The house remained in use by the NHS until 1977.The house reopened some years later as a private hospital and continues to be so today. Southgate Urban District Council purchased 64 acres of land from the Taylor Family in 1911 for the sum of £22,893 and Grovelands Park was officially opened in April 1913. North and east fronts, parkland c.1880 Grovelands Park still features many trees found in the original wooded area, for example, oak, beech, birch and hornbeam.An outlet stream flows under Church Hill towards Houndsden Road, where it joins Houndsden Gutter. This eventually joins with Salmons Brook at The Chine. Church Hill was originally named “Gallows or Gallis Hill”, after the gallows which were erected there. The main gate is named after Lord Inverforth who owned Arnos Grove Estate in 1903.The house is a Grade II listed building and Grovelands Park is on the register of Historic Parks and Gardens. More information on Repton and Nash Facilities Grovelands Park provides a children’s playground, suitable for wheelchair use or children with disabilities, a cafeteria, public toilets and a lake. The Park is suitable for walking, jogging, dog walking and other casual recreation. Dog walkers are reminded that the Council operates a voluntary You & Your Dog scheme and provides special red bins for the disposal of dog poop! Co-operation with this scheme is greatly appreciated and helps to keep our parks clean and safe for all to use. Grovelands Park has 2 football pitches, 2 tennis courts and 1 basketball court. Grovelands Park also hosts a variety of activities throughout the year, for example Bowls, guided walks, fishing and pitch and putt. For further information or pitch lettings and/or events, please contact the Parks Business Support Unit. Grovelands Park Map - (2.8mb PDF) Improvements to the Park Grovelands Park won the prestigious Green Flag Award in 2007. A management plan is available on the website together with an Action plan detailing how and when the works will be carried out. • There are a number of improvements designed to assist in making Grovelands Park a more welcoming place during 2007/08. • The Inverforth Gates at the main entrance have been completely renovated during 2007. • Repainting of the Gates to ensure that as visitors enter the Park, the entrance looks cared-for and well-managed. • During 2008, new signage for the main entrance which informs the public about the Facilities and the location of those facilities within the Park will be installed. • The planting outside the Broad Walk entrance will be replaced. • The avenue leading from Broad Walk will be restored to its former glory with new Rhododendrons and Azaleas. • Capital provision for Grovelands Park was approved as part of a £3.5Million program of investment. The existing toilets have been completely refurbished with new cubicles and sanitary fixtures including hand dryers and baby changing facilities. • An extension to the rear of the café houses a new ambulant disabled toilet facility has been installed in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act. • As part of the works a new access ramp to the café together with raising the front elevation of the café formed part of the extensive works completed during 2007. • The landscape outside the Cafe is being redesigned. Walking for Health The Park Outreach Team in partnership with Age Concern currently undertakes walks around Grovelands Park as part of the Walk in the Park and Get Walking, Get Talking programme. These walks take place on Saturdays mornings and Monday afternoons. For further information please contact the Parks Outreach Team on 020 8379 1000. Friends of Grovelands Park Grovelands Park has an active Friends of Park Group that meet regularly to discus issues relevant to the park and its future development. Anyone with an interest in the park can attend. For further information please contact the Parks Outreach Team on 020 8379 1000. Opening & Closing Times The park is open every day of the year from 8:00am Monday to Saturday and 8:30am on Sundays. Closing times vary according to the seasons. For further information please view the Park Opening & Closing Timetable - (20Kb PDF) Location Grovelands Park The Bourne Southgate London N14 6RA Map Transport Links Grovelands Park is situated in Winchmore Hill, with the main entrance to the park in The Bourne. There is good public transport access from Southgate Circus and you can get there by buses 298, 121, 299, 611 and W6. The nearest train stations are Southgate Underground or Winchmore Hill (British Rail) Stations. For journey times use the TFL Journey Planner. Useful Information Green Flag Award Grovelands Park Management Plan - (1.9mb PDF) Grovelands Park Map - (2.8mb PDF) Repton and Nash Useful Links Grovelands Pitch and Putt Contact Us Address: Parks Business Unit PO Box 52 Civic Centre Silver Street Enfield EN1 3XD Map Email: parksbusinessunit@enfield.gov.uk Telephone: 020 8379 1000 Fax: 020 8379 3785 This document was last updated on 2008-07-18 11:51:39 published by the Parks team. Document Reference:LBE_132663
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