The bandstand in Coronation Gardens

Image: © Marathon Taken: 7 Jan 2015

Coronation Gardens was created during 1902. Leyton Council obtained a grant of £1,000 from the Local Government Board and took on 50-60 unemployed men. Construction was completed in four months. The Leytonstone Express and Independent of 16th May 1903 recorded that "The recreation ground in the Leyton High Road is no longer a disagreeable eyesore. In the space of four months it has been rescued from its former miserable appearance and converted into a decidedly pretty and inviting looking pleasure ground to be publicly opened next Saturday by Councillor H.V. Chew, the chairman of the Open Spaces Committee of the Council, under the imposing title of Leyton Coronation Gardens." The bandstand was added at the same time. It is a cast iron, prefabricated structure made by Walter Macfarlanes & Co. Ltd of Glasgow. A full restoration was undertaken by Waltham Forest Council during 1999 using a Glasgow based contractor with access to Walter Macfarlane's original designs. Most components were repairable, although the roof sheeting and cast iron balustrade had to be completely replaced.

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