Forum Topic

Hole in Lammas Park

Does anyone know what the big muddy hole is for in Lammas Park? We watched a man in a JCB digging it earlier this week but now he's gone and my toddler is pestering me every day as to what it's for.

Martin Williams-Neale ● 4243d36 Comments

I meant the house building, although the pampas sounds great!

Jim McCauley ● 4230d

Do you mean the Pampas Grass scheme or the extra house building scheme?

Neil F. Weber ● 4230d

Keep us up to date with any developments on this scheme Anthony, I really hope it comes to nothing. I love Lammas park and would hate to lose any of it!

Jim McCauley ● 4230d

Hmmm... good point.

Tony Colliver ● 4230d

Do not forget the attempt to turn about a fifth of Gunnersbury Park into a luxury gated community few years ago.

Neil F. Weber ● 4231d

But then I don't suppose very many people ever thought that they would close our hospitals down either...

Tony Colliver ● 4231d

"Its inconceivable that Ealing Council would think of selling portions of valuable parkland to building and property developers. Its amazing how 'urban myths' start and are spread. What real evidence is there of such irresponsible Council plans other than 'I heard it said that...'? Residents would riot if such plans were true."The actions taken by the Labour group / Ealing with regard to the Warren Farm sportsfields would seem to be more than enough evidence - giving public land to a private company on a 200 year "free" rent that results in less public access whilst the new tenant makes a profit:http://www.wfig.org.uk/

Chris Martin ● 4232d

Nothing is ever simple. The advantage that the pampas grasses would have as a Heritage Lottery bid is that they really did have the Pampas Grasses. The Pitzhanger Manor bid was for a building that NEVER was called Pitzhanger as the real Pitts Hanger Manor or Pitts Hanger House was about a mile away to the North-East. PitZhanger Manor is a Council marketing idea.

Neil F. Weber ● 4232d

That was my thought too Gerry, surely not possible!

Jim McCauley ● 4232d

Its inconceivable that Ealing Council would think of selling portions of valuable parkland to building and property developers. Its amazing how 'urban myths' start and are spread. What real evidence is there of such irresponsible Council plans other than 'I heard it said that...'? Residents would riot if such plans were true.

Gerry Tan ● 4232d

I can't imagine a council getting away with flogging off 50% of such a prestigious local park as Lammas in this day and age.The uproar from the citizenry would be truly stellar.It just would never happen.(Surely...)

Tony Colliver ● 4232d

My grandparents fought the original plans and my parents fought the 1960s and 70s plans.Very few residents still there now who were there then.The Lammas Residents association was originally founded to stave off the last overtures for housing on the South Western side of the park. that was around 1972.Love the idea of a Pampas Grass avenue with differing varieties. But one wonders weather it would fall short given the rather underwhelming and inaccurate representations in Walpole park of past park splendour.

Anthony Waller ● 4232d

Yes, definitely. Great idea.

Penny Crocker ● 4233d

The thought of a famous collection of pampas grasses appeals to me. If you have ever been to see the grasses (graminae) section of Kew Gardens you will know how beautiful they can be. And they are not difficult to look after.Perhaps we could have the National Collection of Pampus Grasses in Lammas Park (free for all to see, and without a festival banner in sight) as part of a giant graminae garden. I bet we could get a Heritage Lottery Grant to "restore it"!Any takers?

Neil F. Weber ● 4233d

Anthony, that's a worrying prospect. I have a memorial tree planted in LP for my Mum (it was our picnic place when I was a child) and I'd hate the park to be downgraded further. I can see why a property consortium would want that land....a lovely spot. How did you hear the rumours? Do you think they're credible?

Penny Crocker ● 4233d

Thanks for that, if I've got a URL for the image what code do I need to embed it in my post?

Jim McCauley ● 4233d

Interesting old faded picture postcard illustration of the Victorian bandstand in lovely Lammas Park.  Anyone remember when it was demolished please?

Gerry Tan ● 4233d

[IMG]http://www.ealingcivicsociety.org/popups/lammaspark.html[/IMG]  Jim's code activated.. hopefully!

Jim Lawes ● 4233d

Lammas Park was famed for it's selection of rare giant pampas grasses.Most of the Park was downgraded in the late 1950s when there were plans to extend Clovelly road to Northfield ave with houses and gardens reducing the park by about 50%. The proposal was rejected twice in 1958 and 1968 but there are rumours locally of a new approach being put together by a large property consortium.

Anthony Waller ● 4233d

Yes, Lammas Park used to be a lovely late Victorian suburban park when we first moved into the neighbourhood in the late 1950s - so well maintained, planted and care for open space.  Recently, some vandals broke into our croquet club pavilion and lawns, like theives in the night and messed around and left a bit of a mess. Incidentally, have you tried croquet anyone? Its a pleasant club, great for quiet croquet and friendly rivalry. New members welcomed.

Gerry Tan ● 4233d

Definitely well gone by the 60s. Was probably being used by drug dealers.

Penny Crocker ● 4233d

[IMG]http://www.ealingcivicsociety.org/popups/lammaspark.html[/IMG]

Jim McCauley ● 4233d

Once upon a time there was a bandstand in the middle

Jim McCauley ● 4233d

Not at all, I agree. But who knows what dark dealings were going on? Maybe the hash was hidden in the hollowed out stilts and the ox may have been stuffed with grass :)))

Penny Crocker ● 4233d

I think my wording my have been somewhat brutal. I am sorry. I was thinking of the various festivals that we have now with their security details, police in attendance, and ticketed attendance behind mesh fencing. It was all so much nicer then.

Neil F. Weber ● 4233d

Not that I recall, no :)

Penny Crocker ● 4234d

Ahhhh. Better times. I bet they didn't need a Heras fence around the hog roast and police to keep the drug dealers out?

Neil F. Weber ● 4234d

I remember the tea chalet. We occasionally went there when I was a child. I also remember in the middle of the park, there was a place where you could rent out stilts (dangerous but no-one worried then).Also, in the early 1970s, there was a 'Lammas' fair there in the evening - I remember it because a whole ox was roasted on a giant spit. I was about 10 and I thought it was very exciting.

Penny Crocker ● 4234d

Interesting suburban Ealing histoty - thanks.

Gerry Tan ● 4237d

The park is named after the original use of the land as lammas land where tenants of the manor could graze their cattle following harvest. In 1881 c.23 acres were purchased by Ealing Local Board when it was feared that it might be lost as open space; compensation was paid to those who lost their rights. Lammas Park opened in 1883 and was subsequently extended west to Northfield Lane by arrangement with the Elers Estate, and a lodge was built at the new entrance. By 1907 there were 2 bowling greens, shelters for the bowling club and cricketers, and a 'tea chalet' for those playing tennis and croquet, with 19 lawn tennis courts and 4 croquet lawns by 1911. The park once had a bandstand and over 50 flower beds, mostly removed by 1958. In January 1949 a small War Memorial was erected by the Boy Scouts near the South Lodge entrance.

John Bodman ● 4237d

As we're talking about Lammas Park, does anyone know why it was called Lammas? I expect this has been asked before - I'm curious.

Gerry Tan ● 4238d

I think there are some signs up on the railings in Elers road explaining what they're doing

Jim McCauley ● 4242d

Yes, it's the corner near Walpole Park. I thought it was a bit too shallow for a pond, so maybe a bog garden.

Martin Williams-Neale ● 4243d

I know that dip in the ground near Walpole Close entrance - it gets very 'boggy' when it rains. I understand that many years ago, there used to be a pond there.

Gerry Tan ● 4243d

I recall reading a while ago that there is an area near the Walpole Close entrance that is naturally boggy and the Council have decided to resist fighting in and go with nature and make it a feature.

Philip Coe ● 4243d

Where abouts in Lammas Park is this muddy hole?

Gerry Tan ● 4243d