Bishop's Park (Fulham)
Encyclopedia
Bishops Park is a park in Fulham
, south-west London. The park was opened by the London County Council
in 1893, on land given by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners
. It is listed Grade II on the register of parks and gardens of special historic interest maintained by English Heritage
.
The park runs north of the River Thames
from All Saints church
by a broad tree-lined avenue, and an embankment path along the river, and ends at Bishop’s Park Road. It contains tennis courts and bowling greens, with another small park area fronting Fulham Palace Road. It is adjacent to Fulham Palace
, and Fulham Football club
.
A memorial to members of the International Brigade who volunteered to fight in the Spanish Civil War
is located within the park's grounds.
, chairman of the LCC, in 1893. The park included land known as Bishop's Walk, Bishop's Meadow and West Meadow, formerly owned by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, as Lords of the Manor of Fulham. It was given to the Fulham District Board of Works on condition that the land was laid out and maintained for public recreation. The meadows had already been protected from flooding by the creation of an embankment
. The river wall was built between 1889 and 1893 by Joseph Mears, the father of Chelsea F.C.
founders, Joseph
and Gus Mears
.
The park was extended in 1894 prior to opening in 1900, by the inclusion of Pryors Bank and its gardens. Although the house (then called Vine Cottage) was demolished in 1897, the old gardens were preserved. The gardens contain stone figures depicting 'Adoration', 'Protection', 'Grief' and 'Leda', presented by the sculptor J. Wedgwood. A further sculpture, 'Affection', a mother and child by Herman Cawthorn was added in 1963.
After a successful lottery funding bid in February 2011 the park is facing a major restoration project with almost the entire site being altered and modernized. The works are due to finish later in the year.
Fulham
Fulham is an area of southwest London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, SW6 located south west of Charing Cross. It lies on the left bank of the Thames, between Putney and Chelsea. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, south-west London. The park was opened by the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
in 1893, on land given by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners
Ecclesiastical Commissioners
Ecclesiastical Commissioners were, in England and Wales, a body corporate, whose full title is Ecclesiastical and Church Estates Commissioners for England. The commissioners were authorized to determine the distribution of revenues of the Church of England, and they made extensive changes in how...
. It is listed Grade II on the register of parks and gardens of special historic interest maintained by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
.
The park runs north of the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
from All Saints church
All Saints Church, Fulham
All Saints Church, Fulham is an Anglican Church in Fulham, London sited close to the river Thames, beside the northern approach to Putney Bridge.-History:...
by a broad tree-lined avenue, and an embankment path along the river, and ends at Bishop’s Park Road. It contains tennis courts and bowling greens, with another small park area fronting Fulham Palace Road. It is adjacent to Fulham Palace
Fulham Palace
Fulham Palace in Fulham, London , England, at one time the main residence of the Bishop of London, is of medieval origin. It was the country home of the Bishops of London from at least 11th century until 1975, when it was vacated...
, and Fulham Football club
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
.
A memorial to members of the International Brigade who volunteered to fight in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
is located within the park's grounds.
History
The park was formally opened by Sir John HuttonJohn Hutton
John Hutton is the name of:*John Hutton , British Member of Parliament for Richmond, 1701–1702*John Hutton , famous for glass engravings at the Shakespeare Centre at Stratford upon Avon or at Coventry cathedral...
, chairman of the LCC, in 1893. The park included land known as Bishop's Walk, Bishop's Meadow and West Meadow, formerly owned by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, as Lords of the Manor of Fulham. It was given to the Fulham District Board of Works on condition that the land was laid out and maintained for public recreation. The meadows had already been protected from flooding by the creation of an embankment
Levee
A levee, levée, dike , embankment, floodbank or stopbank is an elongated naturally occurring ridge or artificially constructed fill or wall, which regulates water levels...
. The river wall was built between 1889 and 1893 by Joseph Mears, the father of Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
founders, Joseph
Joseph Mears
Joseph Theophilus "JT" Mears , was an English businessman, most notable for co-founding Chelsea Football Club.Joseph Mears was born in 1871 in Hammersmith, London, the elder son of Joseph Mears, a builder....
and Gus Mears
Gus Mears
Henry Augustus "Gus" Mears was an English businessman, most notable for founding Chelsea Football Club.He was born in 1873, the son of Joseph and Charlotte Mears....
.
The park was extended in 1894 prior to opening in 1900, by the inclusion of Pryors Bank and its gardens. Although the house (then called Vine Cottage) was demolished in 1897, the old gardens were preserved. The gardens contain stone figures depicting 'Adoration', 'Protection', 'Grief' and 'Leda', presented by the sculptor J. Wedgwood. A further sculpture, 'Affection', a mother and child by Herman Cawthorn was added in 1963.
After a successful lottery funding bid in February 2011 the park is facing a major restoration project with almost the entire site being altered and modernized. The works are due to finish later in the year.
External links
- Bishops Park Proposed Plans
- Affection statue by Herman Cawthorn