Ashburton Playing Fields

Hidden within Woodside, London lies Ashburton Playing Fields, a sprawling 49.5-acre park. A vibrant hub of activity today, Ashburton Playing Fields whispers tales of a thrilling past. This wasn’t always a place of leisurely strolls and children’s laughter. Imagine the thunder of hooves and the roar of the crowd. This very ground once hosted a bustling racecourse, established in 1866. The course stretched beyond the current park boundaries, reaching the site of the present-day Woodside Fire Station. Race-goers would arrive by train at Woodside station, where a specially constructed ramp allowed horses to disembark. The station’s high-ceilinged entrance accommodated these equine athletes. Ashburton Playing Fields echoed with the excitement of flat races and steeplechase events. The infamous “Great Water Jump” was a spectacle. It was a challenging obstacle that even caused controversy. The Croydon Chronicle documented a case of alleged cruelty involving a horse named “Voightlander” at this very jump. The races, initially a popular attraction, eventually became a source of local discontent. The influx of visitors from London, while boosting attendance, brought with it an element deemed “undesirable” by some residents. Pickpockets, gamblers, and even riots disrupted the peace. Complaints mounted, with one resident lamenting that the races were “a positive curse.” The pressure from residents and the Mayor of Croydon eventually led to the racecourse’s closure in 1890. The land found a new purpose as a golf course for a time, operated by Beckenham Golf Club. It was eventually acquired by the council in 1942. Today, Ashburton Playing Fields serves the community as a space for recreation and sports. Football and cricket pitches now occupy the land where horses once raced. A children’s playground rings with laughter. The Chaffinch Brook, once a prominent feature of the landscape, now flows unseen beneath the fields. The trees that line its former course are a silent reminder of its presence. Ashburton Playing Fields stands as a testament to the ever-changing landscape of our cities. From the thrill of the races to the peaceful green space we enjoy today, it has witnessed the ebb and flow of history.