Site details:
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Bedfords Park comprises land formerly belonging to the manors of Bedfords and Earls (or Nerles); the name may derive from a C14th landowner. In 1452 one-time Lord Mayor of London Sir Thomas Cooke bought and amalgamated both manors for farming, the land remaining in his family for c200 years. Subsequent owners expanded the estate and in 1865-7 the C18th manor house was enlarged and surrounding hilltop planted as gardens with exotic trees, some of which remain, as does a horse chestnut avenue and part of the walled garden. The last owner sold part of the estate in 1920 and in 1933 his widow sold Bedfords to Romford UDC, who initially opened the house as a museum and café. Used during WWII by the National Fire Service and as a base for home defence, the 1950s saw rapid decay and vandalism and it was demolished in 1959, now the site of the visitors centre. Remnants of the original steps from the house can still be seen. To the south the deer park remains; a red deer herd was first established here in 1934. |
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| Previous / Other name: |
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| Site location: |
Broxhill Road/Lower Bedfords Road, Havering Atte Bower |
| Postcode: |
RM1 & RM4 |
| Type of site: |
Public Park |
| Date(s): |
(C14th); C18th/C19th/C20th |
| Designer(s): |
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| Listed structures: |
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| Borough: |
Havering |
| Site ownership: |
LB Havering |
| Site management: |
Parks Service; Friends of Bedfords Park |
| Open to public? |
Yes |
| Opening times: |
open daily, closes at dusk |
| Special conditions: |
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| Facilities: |
Car park; Visitor Centre Good Friday to 31 October? check if still open; toilets. Cricket, deer pen, fishing, football, nature trail |
| Events: |
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| Public transport: |
Rail: Romford then bus/walk. Bus: 103, 256, 500, 502 |
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The information shown above was correct at the time of the last update 01/09/2009
Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.havering.gov.uk
