Path in Gladstone Park

Image: © Marathon Taken: 4 Mar 2015

Dollis Hill House was built in 1824 by Joseph Finch, the last surviving member of the Company of Moneyers and their Apprentices. It replaced a smaller residence, and what is now Gladstone Park was originally the grounds and gardens of this mansion. The park's name came from the time when the Earl of Aberdeen lived here, and when, between 1882 and 1896, the Prime Minister, W.E. Gladstone, was a frequent guest. The house, which still survives, although badly damaged by fire, is surprisingly small for such a large park. In the walled garden here is a sundial with a pedestal formed by an 18th century baluster from old Kew Bridge. In 1898 a movement began to buy the park and open it to the public. However, this met local opposition, partly because of the expense, but also because the area was not built up at the time and it was felt that a public park was unnecessary. A newspaper of the time depicted Dollis Hill Lane as a "delightfully rural approach to the house, winding its way through the greenest of fields, with hedges and blackberry bushes either side". Fortunately there were people of vision around who could see that Dollis Hill would not stay like this, and the park was eventually purchased despite the objections. Gladstone Park was formally opened to the public in 1901 by the Earl of Aberdeen, who had been the host when Gladstone came here to relax in the then rural surroundings. The purchase price paid by Willesden District Council was £50,000. Gladstone Park is Willesden's largest formal park and most of it lies on the south-facing slope of Dollis Hill, giving fine views. This is at the top of the hill alongside Dollis Hill Lane looking towards Cricklewood.

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