What if I told you that this green space almost became an aeroplane factory? Kilburn Grange Park is a testament to community spirit. It is a slice of nature rescued from urban development.
Kilburn Grange Park is a 7.9-acre green space. It sits in north-west London. The park borders Kilburn High Road. Camden Council maintains it. You will find a playground. There are also basketball courts, gym equipment and tennis courts.
The park opened in 1913. It was once part of the Grange estate. The Grange was a mansion built in 1831. Thomas Peters was a wealthy coach builder. He made coaches for Queen Victoria. The Peters family lived there from 1843. Ada Peters was the last occupant. She was the widow of John Winpenny Peters. Ada died in the house in 1910.
Kilburn lacked public open space. Warwick Edwards visited the Grange as a boy in 1911. He recalled exploring the untamed grounds with excitement. The hustle of the High Road felt far away.
In 1901, Mrs. Peters considered a park. She didn’t want a school built there. Residents believed they could buy the grounds. But, the London School Board bought the land in 1892. They rented it to the Peters family. Ada couldn’t sell the land. She only had lifetime tenancy.
Locals formed a Grange Open Space Committee in 1901. They wanted to resist the grounds’ mutilation. The campaign failed because Mrs. Peters couldn’t deliver. The School Board took her to court in 1902. They wanted the site.
The Peters family regained the Grange after Ada died. Locals saw a last chance for a green space. They planned and met again. The Peters family’s intentions were a problem.
The estate was for sale soon after Ada’s death. The agents contacted Hampstead Council. They asked if they wanted to buy it. Councillors wanted a three-month option.
The house contents were auctioned. The auction lasted three days. Over 300 furniture items went under the hammer. There were 600 paintings and clocks. Also, there were 1,000 pieces of china. Outdoor items included carriages and a fire engine. Richard Pincham bought the billiard room door. He installed it in his Railway Hotel.
The Peters family refused an option to purchase. They wanted a public auction. They hoped for a better price. Hampstead Council passed the matter to the LCC. The LCC thought the High Road frontage was too valuable. They suggested other boroughs contribute.
A deputation attended the LCC. They said Kilburn would lose its chance for open space. The Grange sale showed the Peters wanted to maximize profit.
The auctioneer suggested uses. These included a skating rink, cinema, or aeroplane factory. He asked for £40,000. The opening bid was just £10,000. Bidding reached £30,000. The auctioneer withdrew the property. The reserve price was £35,000.
The family’s fortunes shifted. Plans for open space revived. A councillor asked about children occupying the Grange. There was no reply. Residents campaigned against building.
The Council offered to buy land. The Peters family agreed conditionally. They wanted to sell the High Road plots at the same time. Hampstead Council approached the agents again.
The Grange estate was sold privately. The new owner was Oswald Stoll. He was an entertainment magnate. Plans hinted the back land was still available.
Fundraising was slow. Kilburn residents had little to spare. The Middlesex County Council pledged £1,000. The Corporation of London declined.
Stoll’s agents contacted Hampstead Council. They offered land for £12,500. The Council agreed if the price was reduced. Stoll wanted to build a Coliseum on Kilburn High Road.
Hampstead Council opposed Stoll’s license. The agents threatened to sell the land for building. The Council caved. They agreed to Stoll’s terms. Residents disliked the idea of a music hall.
The LCC bought the Grange estate for £19,500. Hampstead Council contributed £5,500. The park covered seven acres. The LCC suggested ‘Kilburn Gardens’. Hampstead wanted to perpetuate the house name. It became ‘Kilburn Grange.’
The grounds opened informally in 1911. Plans included an ornamental garden and playground. There would be a model yachting pond and bandstand.
The landscaping took time. The park opened on May 1, 1913. There was no opening ceremony.
The High Road land became shops and the Grange Cinema. Postcards of the park and cinema were produced. One card sent during World War I mentioned the new Grange pictures.
The park was important for Kilburn. Concerts were played in summer. Dick Weindling played football there. He used the path around the pond as a running track.
A 1972 proposal suggested extending the park. Houses would be demolished. Kingsgate School would expand. Today, Kilburn Grange Park provides needed green space. It offers recreation and relaxation for all. It reminds us how communities can shape their environment.