IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Pettits Lane, ROMFORD, RM1 4ET

The Dolphin, an unwanted & unloved leisure centre has been demolished - work in progress on building new flats and shops.

Part of the Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospital Trust - now mainly a cancer clinic.

This is the north end of the serpentine lake in Raphael Park

View taken looking north-northeast from the main path leading from Main Road.

Raphael Park was formed from the western section of the landscaped grounds of the former Gidea Hall Estate. The lake was formed in the late 18th century above what is now known as Black's Bridge on Main Road. The bridge was required to span the widened Black's Canal. The canal was initially formed by damming and redirecting a tributary stream that fed the various water features of the earlier formal gardens of Gidea Hall. Where the canal passed through the estate of Gidea Hall it was widened to form a large serpentine lake. Black's Bridge is now Grade II Listed. Sir Herbert Raphael purchased Gidea Hall and the Estate in 1897, and after that it was gradually divided and redeveloped. Around 1901 Sir Herbert offered some of the land from the Estate to Romford Urban District Council and this marked the beginnings of Raphael Park. It included the entrance of the old Estate, two entrance lodges, 15 acres of gardens and an ornamental canal and bridge. It was given for use as a public park for recreation and leisure "for the benefit of the townspeople". Around 1902 a design competition was held for the park in keeping with the fashion of the age as 'the modern arcadia' The winning entry was produced by a Mr Ridge who was an assistant surveyor working for the Council. Raphael Park was officially opened on 2nd June 1904 by Sir Herbert and Lady Raphael with 5,000 people attending the event. There is a wide path along the eastern side of the lake but on the western side the gardens of the houses in Lake Rise come down to the water as seen here. This no doubt increases the house prices substantially. There is a Friends of Raphael Park & Lodge Farm Park – see http://friendsofraphaelpark.org.uk/

Raphael Park was formed from the western section of the landscaped grounds of the former Gidea Hall Estate. The lake was formed in the late 18th century above what is now known as Black's Bridge on Main Road. The bridge was required to span the widened Black's Canal. The canal was initially formed by damming and redirecting a tributary stream that fed the various water features of the earlier formal gardens of Gidea Hall. Where the canal passed through the estate of Gidea Hall it was widened to form a large serpentine lake. Black's Bridge is now Grade II Listed. Sir Herbert Raphael purchased Gidea Hall and the Estate in 1897, and after that it was gradually divided and redeveloped. Around 1901 Sir Herbert offered some of the land from the Estate to Romford Urban District Council and this marked the beginnings of Raphael Park. It included the entrance of the old Estate, two entrance lodges, 15 acres of gardens and an ornamental canal and bridge. It was given for use as a public park for recreation and leisure "for the benefit of the townspeople". Around 1902 a design competition was held for the park in keeping with the fashion of the age as 'the modern arcadia' The winning entry was produced by a Mr Ridge who was an assistant surveyor working for the Council. Raphael Park was officially opened on 2nd June 1904 by Sir Herbert and Lady Raphael with 5,000 people attending the event. There is a Friends of Raphael Park & Lodge Farm Park – see http://friendsofraphaelpark.org.uk/

Raphael Park was formed from the western section of the landscaped grounds of the former Gidea Hall Estate. The lake was formed in the late 18th century when what is now known as Black's Bridge on Main Road. The bridge was required to span the widened Black's Canal. The canal was initially formed by damming and redirecting a tributary stream that fed the various water features of the earlier formal gardens of Gidea Hall. Where the canal passed through the estate of Gidea Hall it was widened to form a large serpentine lake. Black's Bridge is now Grade II Listed. Sir Herbert Raphael purchased Gidea Hall and the Estate in 1897, and after that it was gradually divided and redeveloped. Around 1901 Sir Herbert offered some of the land from the Estate to Romford Urban District Council and this marked the beginnings of Raphael Park. It included the entrance of the old Estate, two entrance lodges, 15 acres of gardens and an ornamental canal and bridge. It was given for use as a public park for recreation and leisure "for the benefit of the townspeople". Around 1902 a design competition was held for the park in keeping with the fashion of the age as 'the modern arcadia' The winning entry was produced by a Mr Ridge who was an assistant surveyor working for the Council. Raphael Park was officially opened on 2nd June 1904 by Sir Herbert and Lady Raphael with 5,000 people attending the event. This is the Woodland Walk in the northern part of the park beyond the lake. There is a Friends of Raphael Park & Lodge Farm Park – see http://friendsofraphaelpark.org.uk/

Raphael Park was formed from the western section of the landscaped grounds of the former Gidea Hall Estate. The lake was formed in the late 18th century when what is now known as Black's Bridge on Main Road. The bridge was required to span the widened Black's Canal. The canal was initially formed by damming and redirecting a tributary stream that fed the various water features of the earlier formal gardens of Gidea Hall. Where the canal passed through the estate of Gidea Hall it was widened to form a large serpentine lake. Black's Bridge is now Grade II Listed. Sir Herbert Raphael purchased Gidea Hall and the Estate in 1897, and after that it was gradually divided and redeveloped. Around 1901 Sir Herbert offered some of the land from the Estate to Romford Urban District Council and this marked the beginnings of Raphael Park. It included the entrance of the old Estate, two entrance lodges, 15 acres of gardens and an ornamental canal and bridge. It was given for use as a public park for recreation and leisure "for the benefit of the townspeople". Around 1902 a design competition was held for the park in keeping with the fashion of the age as 'the modern arcadia' The winning entry was produced by a Mr Ridge who was an assistant surveyor working for the Council. Raphael Park was officially opened on 2nd June 1904 by Sir Herbert and Lady Raphael with 5,000 people attending the event. This is in the more wooded northern part of the park beyond the lake. There is a Friends of Raphael Park & Lodge Farm Park – see http://friendsofraphaelpark.org.uk/

Raphael Park was formed from the western section of the landscaped grounds of the former Gidea Hall Estate. The lake was formed in the late 18th century above what is now known as Black's Bridge on Main Road. The bridge was required to span the widened Black's Canal. The canal was initially formed by damming and redirecting a tributary stream that fed the various water features of the earlier formal gardens of Gidea Hall. Where the canal passed through the estate of Gidea Hall it was widened to form a large serpentine lake. Black's Bridge is now Grade II Listed. Sir Herbert Raphael purchased Gidea Hall and the Estate in 1897, and after that it was gradually divided and redeveloped. Around 1901 Sir Herbert offered some of the land from the Estate to Romford Urban District Council and this marked the beginnings of Raphael Park. It included the entrance of the old Estate, two entrance lodges, 15 acres of gardens and an ornamental canal and bridge. It was given for use as a public park for recreation and leisure "for the benefit of the townspeople". Around 1902 a design competition was held for the park in keeping with the fashion of the age as 'the modern arcadia' The winning entry was produced by a Mr Ridge who was an assistant surveyor working for the Council. Raphael Park was officially opened on 2nd June 1904 by Sir Herbert and Lady Raphael with 5,000 people attending the event. There is a wide path along the eastern side of the lake but on the western side the gardens of the houses in Lake Rise come down to the water. This no doubt increases the house prices substantially. There is a Friends of Raphael Park & Lodge Farm Park – see http://friendsofraphaelpark.org.uk/