£8m Project for Bishop's Park and Fulham Palace

Hammersmith & Fulham council has announced an £8million project to renovate Bishop's Park and the adjoining grounds of Fulham Palace. The centrepiece of the scheme is a beach next to Bishop's Park ornamental lakes.

A beach opened at the site in 1903, and visitors could relax on sand transported from Margate and other beaches in Kent. During the Second World War the venue fell into disrepair and by 1949 it was considered such a safety hazard it was closed.

Sixty years on, H&F Council chiefs hope to revive it. The council is applying to the Heritage Lottery Fund for £3.65million to help pay for the project.

As well as the urban beach, the council plans to restore the ornamental lake and picturesque bridge that leads to the enchanting little island. Three major play areas will also be created and the café will be upgraded.

The project also plans to restore the famous Fulham Palace grounds, including the walled garden, and will see the vinery restored and the stables turned into an education centre. The Fulham Palace moat, thought to be the longest medieval moat England, will be partially excavated at the Gothic Lodge – which will also be repaired.

Life is a beach at Bishops Park

Exciting plans to restore an urban beach in one of the most beautiful and historic parks in London have been announced by Hammersmith & Fulham Council.

In Edwardian times, families from across London descended on 'Margate Sands' in Bishops Park, Fulham, every summer. Hammersmith & Fulham Council now hopes to recreate that special seaside atmosphere.

The beach concept forms part of the council’s plans to rejuvenate both Bishops Park and the neighbouring Fulham Palace Walled Garden. And residents were able to have their say on the ambitious proposals at a special event at Bishops Park on Sunday June 21.

Once the council has finalised its designs for the both open spaces, it will apply to the Heritage Lottery Fund for up to £3.5m of funding.

As well as recreating the beach and restoring the ornamental lake, proposals on the agenda include:

• Refurbishing the famous Fulham Palace walled garden – This would see the vinery and bothy restored to support a working walled garden.
• Restoration of the picturesque historic stone bridge across the pond in the park.
• Restoration of the cafe building and its surrounds
• The extension of the stableblock in the Palace grounds to support a purpose-built education facility.

Cllr Paul Bristow, cabinet member for residents’ services, said: “Both Bishops Park and Fulham Palace grounds are of huge historic importance to the borough and these plans will see them reaffirmed as jewels in the Hammersmith & Fulham crown. Make sure that you attend the event on June 21 so that you can see our plans and comment on this hugely exciting project.”

The plans form part of the council’s ParkLife campaign – which sees the council improving the quality of life for all people who live, work and play in Hammersmith and Fulham by providing award winning parks and open spaces that are clean, green, safe and sustainable.

For more information and to view development proposals and comment online visit http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/ or www.citizenspace.com/local/lbhf/.

Happy Ending for Ruskin Park Bandstand

The bandstand in 2006

The Lambeth Wind Orchestra performs on the restored bandstand.

When an article on Ruskin Park appeared in London Landscapes in 2006, the park was in a poor state of repair. The bandstand had suffered the same fate as the rest of the park and was blocked off by metal fencing panels.

But change was afoot. In autumn 2005 the Friends of Ruskin Park had commissioned the Parks Agency to develop a Management plan for the future of the park. Among other things, this led to the restoration of the bandstand.

Ruskin Park joins a growing list of London parks that have had their bandstands restored.  Among these are the one on Clapham Common, where the Friends of Clapham Common and the Clapham Society persuaded the owners, Lambeth Council, to participate in a major fundraising and restoration project.

Further information:

• The 2006 article on Ruskin Park
• The Clapham Common bandstand

New Lease of Life for Dollis Hill House

Hazelle Jackson writes:

In North London the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has given a Stage 1 pass award for a grant of £1.2million for the important London landmark, Dollis Hill House in the London Borough of Brent, to help save it from demolition and return the Regency manor to the community.

Dollis Hill House

Dollis Hill House was originally built in 1825 on top of a hill in what is now Gladstone Park. It was Prime Minister William Gladstone's former residence and Mark Twain's favoured retreat in the 19th century. The Regency villa, still largely intact, is surrounded by what the famous American writer Mark Twain described as "noble trees" with panoramic vistas over London.

Enjoying stunning and uninterrupted views as far as St Paul's Cathedral and Wembley Stadium, the mansion was an important part of community life between the wars. Until 1974 it was used as a tea room and restaurant and then as a catering college. Sadly, it has lain empty and disused since closure in 1989, and has even been the victim of several arson attacks in recent years.

The HLF funds will enable Training for Life, the award-winning social enterprise charity, to work closely with the Dollis Hill House Trust and Brent Council to develop plans to save the building and return it to its former glory.

The Grade II listed house can now look forward to being faithfully restored and extended, removed from the English Heritage 'at risk' register, and returned to its former use as a tearoom and restaurant.

'Absolutely Thrilled'

Gill Close, Chair of the Dollis Hill House Trust, said: "After local people have worked for almost 20 years to save Dollis Hill House, we are absolutely thrilled that our partnership with Training For Life is finally going to bring the house back to being the vibrant heart of Gladstone Park and the local community for all to enjoy."

Commenting on the award Cllr Paul Lorber, Leader of Brent Council said: "The council is delighted on behalf of Training for Life that their bid has found favour with the Heritage Lottery Fund. This brings them a step closer to restoring Dollis Hill House for local people."

The restoration of Dollis Hill House will see this area of London fully regenerated following a recent £722,000 HLF grant for the restoration of Gladstone Park in 2002. The Dollis Hill House Trust was set up by members of the local community to restore the house for the benefit of the community.

For further info see the websites

• www.brent-heritage.co.uk/dollis_hill_ house.htm
• www.dollishillhouse.org.uk