Place   

Clissold Park and House

Built as Paradise House, or Newington Park House, in the late 1700s for Jonathan Hoare. William Crawshay (1764 – 1834) bought it in 1811. He objected to his daughter's choice of a husband so it was not until his death, that Eliza (or Elizabeth, depending on source) married the Reverend Augustus Clissold, in 1835, at which the house and estate became his property and so were renamed after him. Eliza died in 1877 and Augustus in 1882. They had no children so the estate reverted to the Crawshay family. 

Eliza had a brother George and he may be the George Crawshay who in 1886 tried to develop the estate but public opposition prevented this. The story of the 4-year long campaign by the Clissold Park Preservation Committee, led by Joseph Beck with John Runtz, is told at Saving Clissold Park.

The Metropolitan Board of Works purchased the estate in 1888 and it was opened to the public on 24 July 1889 by the Earl of Rosebery, Chairman of the new London County Council, the MBW's successor. The two lakes are called respectively Beckmere and Runtzmere.

In 1893 Eliza's nephew's wealthy widow, Rose Mary, erected on Clissold Park house, a water fountain in memory of her three dead baby sisters.

Information from: Wikipedia, London Gardens Online, Clissold Park User Group, Saving Clissold Park.

Beck preserved the paperwork of the campaign and this is now available to see at Saving Clissold Park.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Clissold Park and House

Commemorated ati

Beck and Runtz fountain

MDFCTA confirms that this fountain is of a unique design but we can find no r...

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Joseph Beck at Barton House

Joseph Beck, 1828 - 1891, Chairman of the Clissold Park Preservation Committe...

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Other Subjects

William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire

William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire

The "Bachelor Duke" after whom the Cavendish banana was named. Born Paris, son of the 5th Duke, who died in 1811. Had a strong interest in gardening and agriculture and gave his estates a lot of a...

Person, Gardens / Agriculture, Politics & Administration

2 memorials
Friends of Burgess Park

Friends of Burgess Park

The Friends of Burgess Park are an association of people and other interested groups who are concerned to protect, promote and enhance an important, inner-city London park.

Group, Community / Clubs, Gardens / Agriculture

3 memorials
Octavia Hill

Octavia Hill

Housing reformer and co-founder of The National Trust.  Born at Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, her father's eighth daughter (yes, really).  She believed that social housing should be small houses (rather...

Person, Gardens / Agriculture, History, Property, Social Welfare

9 memorials
Market Gardens at Burgess Park

Market Gardens at Burgess Park

Our image is an extract from Stanfords 1862-71 map of London. Albany Road is the main road about a third of the way down; St George's Church is at the lower left; the present-day Chumleigh Gardens ...

Place, Food & Drink, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial