Park of the week

210. Springfield Gardens

This is the third open space called Springfield Something, that I’ve written about, the other two being Springfield Park in Upper Clapton and Springfield Community Park in Bounds Green. There seems to be a certain lack of imagination, and not just here. The creators of The Simpsons chose the name Springfield for the town in which it’s set because it’s one of the most common city names in the United States. It seems to be a name that springs to mind; when I was in primary school we had to create a fictional village and write about the inhabitants and goings on. Guess what my friends and I called ours? 

Anyway, these Springfield Gardens are in Acton and occupy land originally part of the estate of Springfield House, called after the spring in nearby Rosemont Road, which flows into Stamford Brook and eventually the River Thames at Hammersmith. The estate was sold in 1877 and part of the land built over. Acton UDC purchased this site in 1920 when carrying out a large sewage scheme and used it to deposit excavated material from 1920-33. The decision was then taken to turn the 'disgraceful patch of land' into ornamental public gardens, which were laid out and opened in 1935.

At the opening event, the new gardens had 'trim lawns, flowerbeds, rockeries, meandering gravel paths and summer houses' and the entrance on Horn Lane was 'pergola-decorated'. The intention was for the gardens to serve a double purpose and to be of benefit to both young and old visitors, with gardens for rest as well as facilities for active sports. Tennis courts, putting greens and bowling greens and a children's playground were provided and the park had a path 'in the form of a loop for gentle exercise'. An open-air theatre was provided on the site but subsequently pulled down.

The gardens have no large trees, and planting consists of lawns, shrubs, trees and rose beds. There’s still a playground but no café or toilets. There isn’t a car park but we found space to park on a nearby street. There are entrances on Horn Lane, Creswick Road and Rosemont Road.

Judith Field

Springfield Gardens, Creswick Road, Acton, London W3 9EZ