Work is well underway on the work to upgrade Clissold Park and Mansion and considerable progress has been made since work began in January this year.
The £8.9m project is due for completion by summer 2011 and is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Big Lottery and Hackney Council.
The origins of this bid go back to the mid 1990s when local residents campaigned to get the decaying Clissold Mansion
refurbished with money from English Heritage. This initiative, over time, turned into the wider campaign to win money for both house
and park from the then newly established Heritage Lottery Fund 'Urban Parks Programme'.
During 2008/9 consultants were employed by Hackney Council to develop proposals in consultation with users and the public. The aim of this work was to meet 21st century needs and interests while at the same time respecting the wonderful heritage of the house and park.
Not everybody is happy with every aspect of the scheme. However there is no doubt that such changes as:
- seeing the house refurbished and being used to full capacity again;
- great improvements to play provision, tennis and other sports facilities;
- and use of the former bowling green for educational and 'quiet' space,
are felt to be timely and an investment in the next generation of park users.
View some photos of Clissold House as it was before the work began
View a slideshow of work underway in Clissold House [new window will open] Stakeholder Forum
User Group representatives were closely involved in the various stages of the bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund.
In the autumn of 2009 the Council set up a Stakeholder Forum on which the User Group is represented along with other groups including the One O’clock Club, Growing Communities, Stoke Newington School, Hackney City Tennis Club, St Mary’s Church.
The Forum’s purpose is to ensure effective engagement and communication with key stakeholders throughout the delivery stage of the project. It meets monthly.
Minutes available on the Council website [new window will open]
These meetings will be reported on to park users at our regular User Group meetings.
Timetable of works
Below is the current timetable for works over the next year and beyond.
For more information go directly to the Council's own restoration project page [new window will open]
Email the Project Manager, Simon Biss and ask to be put on the news mailing list
If you feel very strongly about any aspect of the proposed changes, contact your local councillor - their details are listed on the right.
| Work Phase |
Duration |
Description |
| Contractor site setup |
Feb. 2010 |
Setting up of site compounds and hoarding; protection of trees
in work areas; and construction of haul routes. New temporary
contractor site access from Church St. |
| Lakes and Northern Boundary |
Feb. -
June 2010 |
Draining, wildlife relocation, de-silting of lakes, repair of lake edges
and new planting. |
| Closure of redgra sport pitch |
Feb. 2010 - Feb. 2011 |
Construction of drainage and barriers to contain silt from lakes
which will be used for landscaping. |
| Animal Enclosures |
March -
Aug. 2010 |
Animal Enclosures Feb – July 2010 Construction of new aviary, butterfly dome, pathways and animal
shelters. |
| Bowling green and pavilion |
March -
Aug. 2010 |
Refurbishment of bowling pavilion including new public toilets and
landscaping of surrounding areas. |
| New River and Central Lawns |
May -
Nov 2010 |
Draining, de-silting, excavation New River extension and
construction of new bridge and pond dipping platform. Installation
of new pumping and water circulation equipment. |
| Sport and Play |
Oct. 2010 - Feb.
2011 |
Construction of new Multi Use Games Area and Wheels Park;
landscaping and extension of play area. |
| Park wide work |
Feb. 2010 - Jan. 2011 |
Other site wide works including repairs to foot paths, restoration of
the old pump house, tree works and landscaping. |
|
