Emslie Horniman Pleasance
Address: Bosworth Road W10
The park boasts an innovative children’s play area, an
all-weather floodlit sports area, changing rooms and several works
of contemporary art. The formal Voysey Garden has been completely
restored to its original design. There is a kiosk during the summer
months.
Garden Practicalities:
Staffed park. Open from 7.30am until dusk. Public Toilet
facilities. Sports Booking Line: 020 7602 2226.
History
During a meeting of the London County Council on the 14th March
1911, the chairman read out a letter containing an offer from
politician and ex-council member Emslie J. Horniman:
‘’Recently I have been able to secure nearly one acre of land,
which I consider suitable to lay out as a public garden, with
sand-pit, etc., and, having now completed the purchase, I have much
pleasure in offering the same to your council, and am ready to make
over the freehold, the only condition being that the land be
dedicated in perpetuity to the people of London as a
recreation-ground. I propose to clear the land and lay out
same at my own expense."
Emslie Horniman lived in Chelsea but was inspired to create the
park which today bears his name in North Kensington by Sister Ruth,
a local nun who worked with the poor of Kensal Town. Emslie
Horniman was interested in the arts and gave the commission to
design the park to the architect Charles Voysey hence the name
‘Voysey Garden’.
Nowadays the park hosts 20,000 people over the August bank
holiday when it becomes the official launch pad of the Notting Hill
Carnival.