2017

TQ5093 : Wellingtonia Avenue in Havering Country Park

taken 7 years ago, near to Havering-Atte-Bower, Havering, England

Wellingtonia Avenue in Havering Country Park
Wellingtonia Avenue in Havering Country Park
Havering Country Park was formerly part of Havering Park, which was itself part of the estate of the medieval Royal Palace of Havering. Havering Palace was in the village of Havering-atte-Bower, just to the north-west of the parish church which was built on the site of one of the Palace's chapels. Its long royal history commenced in 1066 when William the Conqueror decided to keep the manor of Havering for himself. James I was the last monarch to stay there regularly and in 1638 Charles I was the very last monarch to stay at Havering. After the Restoration, the house then known as Havering House was occupied by the Earl of Lindsey, but, despite much money being spent on it, it became vacant between 1686 and 1719 when it was reported to be in ruins. By 1816 there was no trace of it.

In 1828 the McIntosh family bought the manor and built a house, laying out a park, gardens and pleasure grounds. Leading up to the house was an avenue of Wellingtonia (giant redwood) trees, planted in the mid-19th century, which remains as the second largest plantation in the country. The estate was broken up after Mrs Charlotte McIntosh's death and the house was demolished in 1925.

Part was sold off in long, narrow one-acre plots, known as the Plotlands, which were popular from the 1920s-1940s, many bought by Eastenders, and some building bungalows and moving in. In 1972 the Greater London Council made a Compulsory Purchase Order to clear the Plotlands for a regional public park but it was not until 1975 that the area was opened as Havering Country Park. The parkland surrounding the house was much more extensive than the current country park which covers the part of the former park adjacent to the site of the Palace.

The London LOOP passes through the middle of the avenue of giant redwoods. They are also known as Wellingtonia and therefore this track through the woods is called Wellingtonia Avenue.

Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Marathon and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Historic sites and artefacts Paths Park and Public Gardens other tags: London Loop Giant Redwoods Click a tag, to view other nearby images.
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Grid Square
TQ5093, 13 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Marathon   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Wednesday, 16 August, 2017   (more nearby)
Submitted
Thursday, 17 August, 2017
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! TQ 5050 9301 [10m precision]
WGS84: 51:36.9482N 0:10.3417E
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! TQ 5054 9302
View Direction
West-southwest (about 247 degrees)
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Image Type (about): geograph  (Fourth Visitor for TQ5093)
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