Curious about a green space steeped in history? This is The Highams Park. Historically a part of Essex, The Highams Park now resides in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It stands as a testament to community and recreation.
The whole of The Highams Park area was once known as Hale End. Hale End’s legacy lives on in the Hale End Library. The area’s identity is interwoven with the E4 and IG8 postcode districts.
But what makes The Highams Park so special? The park is officially named “The Highams Park”. Locals affectionately call it “Highams Park Field”, “The Field”, “The Park”, or “The lake”.
The park slopes gently upwards toward its north end. This makes it popular with dog walkers and families. A café and playground add to its appeal.
Highams Park Lake lies to the west of the park. The City of London Corporation owns it. The London Borough of Waltham Forest maintains the rest of the park.
Landscape gardener Humphry Repton created the lake. He achieved this by damming the River Ching. The lake, park, and Manor House formed Highams Bensted. Sir Thomas Courtenay Warner, the last owner, built the Warner Estate.
The lake stretches about 450 meters long. It is 80 meters wide at its widest point. At the south end of the lake, you’ll find a boathouse. Kenneth Robert John Ford built it. Waltham Forest South Scouts now own it. The north end becomes narrow and shallow. It often dries into mud in the summer.
An island sits within the lake. Swans nest there. Near the top of the lake are large rocks. Humphry Repton likely placed these rocks to enhance its appearance.
Let’s step back in time. The history of Highams Park closely links to Epping Forest and Walthamstow. The new urban village emerged on the Greenwich Meridian. Initially, it was known as Hale End in Walthamstow, Essex. It became part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest in 1965.
Hale End began as a small Saxon settlement. Cows and pigs were kept in a forest clearing. This was above the Ching Brook in the Great Forest of Waltham. Vikings sailed up the River Lea. After the Norman Invasion, Haldane forfeited his lands.
The Manor of Higham Bensted was divided in the 14th century. The smaller manor of Salisbury Hall included Chapel End and Hale End. The first manor house was near the River Lea. A new manor house was built in 1786. It was named ‘Highams’. Its pleasure gardens included the lake designed by Humphry Repton. This was added to Epping Forest in 1891.
From the Tudor period to the Victorian era, the surroundings appealed to wealthy people. When the railway arrived in 1873, the first station was called ‘Hale End’. In 1894, the name changed to ‘Highams Park (Hale End)’. This encouraged visitors to explore Highams Park Lake and Epping Forest.
The British Xylonite Co. built a plastics factory in 1897. They supplied all the ‘ping-pong’ balls in the world. Affordable houses, shops, and schools were built. A lively community emerged.
Today, The Highams Park offers a blend of history and natural beauty. It serves as a valuable green space. A place where the community gathers and connects with nature.