The children's playground in Ravenor Park

Image: © Marathon Taken: 25 Apr 2018

Ravenor Park was formerly agricultural land forming part of Ravenor Farm and Costons Farm. Both farms were named after local families. In the 20th century, Greenford gradually transformed from a rural village to a large suburb, including a number of factories. A wave of speculative building followed in the 1920s and 1930s. To preserve some open space, in 1927 Greenford Urban District Council (now Ealing Council) bought a parcel of farmland and turned part of it into a council depot and the rest into a public park. The park opened in October 1928 and was originally known as Costons Farm Recreation Ground, but later changed its name to Ravenor Park. The old farmhouse for Ravenor Farm remained on site until the early 1970s when it became too costly to maintain and was demolished. For more information about the park, including an expanded history, see https://www.ealing.gov.uk/info/201136/parks_in_the_borough/663/greenford_parks/3 In this photograph Harrow-on-the Hill with its church spire is on the horizon.

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