Entrance to the Woodland Walk, Queen's Park

Image: © Marathon Taken: 22 Jan 2014

The area that is now Queen's Park was part of the site of the 1879 Royal Kilburn Agricultural Show which had been attended by Queen Victoria. In 1885, the land on which Queen’s Park is now located was offered, along with Highgate Wood, to the Corporation of the City of London as a gift by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners “for preservation as open spaces for ever”. The Corporation was happy to accept Highgate Wood, but not so keen on Queen’s Park because of the anticipated maintenance costs. The Commissioners, however, insisted it was both or nothing. At that time the Corporation’s income for the preservation of open spaces was limited, but fortunately the generous bequest of a William Ward came to the rescue. He provided a sum of money “for the creation of some fund for the benefit of the poorer classes”. Some £3,000 of this was used by the Corporation to lay out Queen’s Park. It was originally called Kilburn Recreation Ground, but an application was made to Queen Victoria to change the name to Queen's Park in honour of her Golden Jubilee of that year. The park was formally opened on 5th November 1887 by the Lord Mayor of London. On the opening day “the great majority of the vast crowd was composed evidently of the respectable classes”. A very detailed and interesting history of Queen's Park can be seen at https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/queens-park/Pages/default.aspx This is the Woodland Walk in Queen's Park which is next to Chevening Road. The Woodland Walk was created in 1999 when the figure-of-eight footpaths were reinstated.

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