Little Wormwood Scrubs

Little Wormwood Scrubs consists of a large open area with amenity grassland, semi-improved neutral grassland, scrub, scattered trees and woodland. It is a popular park with residents.

Address

• Dalgarno Gardens, W10

Map

What3words: goad.coast.held (Dalgarno Gardens entrance)

Accessible entrances

Level access to the park can be found at the Dalgarno Gardens entrance.

Park rules

Our park rules include:

• barbecues are not permitted in the park
• events and professional photography need permission
• no cycling in the park

Find further information about our Park rules.  

Facilities

• public toilets; including disabled toilet and Changing Places
• outdoor gym

History of Little Wormwood Scrubs

Pre-1900

Little Wormwood Scrubs was once part of the ancient forest of Middlesex standing on 38 million-year-old, agriculturally inhospitable London marl. For a long time it was considered “waste” ground of the Manor of Fulham, used for “depasturing cattle and swine of copyhold tenants”.

The Scrubs was first recorded in 1189, when the land is being cleared of natural undergrowth for agricultural purposes and it is referred to as ‘Wormholt’.

In 1840, gun maker Charles Lancaster leased a strip of land as a rifle range; this can be seen on the 1865 OS map.

The ancient track of Turvens Lane passed along the east side of the Scrubs going north to the Harrow Road. In 1844, following the road, an embankment was built for the Bristol, Birmingham and Thames Junction railway. Later known as the West London Railway, it dissected Wormwood Scrubs and brought Little Wormwood Scrubs into existence.

Counters Creek, one of London’s lost rivers, is central to the story of Little Wormwood Scrubs. It rose to the north in Kensal Green Cemetery and emptied into the Thames at Chelsea Creek. It marked the parish boundary between Kensington and Hammersmith and formed the basis for the ornamental ponds.

After a petition on behalf of the residents of North Kensington in 1892, plans were made to transform Little Wormwood Scrubs into a park.

1900-2000

At the start of the 20th century, plans to turn Little Wormwood Scrubs into a park were beginning to materialise. Counters Creek, the river that passed through the site, had been excavated and improved, new fencing had been erected and a path was created around the park.

Once the initial improvements had been carried out shrubbery was planted along the north perimeter to screen the adjoining Great Western Rail depot. In 1904 London County Council, to encourage live music in its open spaces, authorised the construction of a bandstand in Little Wormwood Scrubs. The bandstand was positioned in the centre of the park, circled by trees, and was made of oak with window panes in sliding sashes. In 1919, due to public demand, public toilets were constructed in the north west corner.

It is unclear exactly when the ponds and weirs were removed. The 1935 Ordnance Survey map shows them intact but the 1955 Ordnance Survey map shows the shape of the park, with children’s playground and toilets, and shelters but no ponds.

In 1971 the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham took over the management of Little Wormwood Scrubs. In 1977 the play area, which had been situated in the north west corner, was moved to the south east corner and a “One O Clock Club” was built alongside changing rooms and storage. These constitute the buildings there now.

Contact us

• telephone: 020 7361 3000
• email: [email protected]

The Stable Yard
Holland Park
Ilchester Place
London
W8 6LU

• Report a problem at Little Wormwood Scrubs