Canons Park Historical Restoration

 

The restoration, financed thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, was completed back in 2007, so the park has had time to settle back down. The work done improved pathways, re-opened views that had become overgrown, restored some historic buildings, and generally made the park look tidier and more spacious. Everyone agrees that since then there has been a big increase in the number of people using the park.

 

The George V Memorial Garden was greatly restored, with new entrance gates, re-laid paving, planted flower-beds and stylish topiary. The old walls and the shelter were restored and there is a new ramp to the shelter, making access better for prams and wheelchairs.  
 

Smart new black benches and bins were installed and new paths laid, with a softer looking chipped-stone effect. All the entrances to the Park were upgraded in some way and the Whitchurch Lane entrance was remodelled and vegetation cleared away, to make the most of the historic vista to the Canons mansion and to advertise the existence of the Park to passing traffic and pedestrians.

 

The Temple pavilion north of the Memorial Garden was comprehensively restored and repainted.  This building was constructed in the early 1800’s and included a glass palm house on the south front.  This has been re-paved as a terrace.  Walls were repaired and the roof replaced using traditional materials, whilst areas of encroaching vegetation to the north of the Temple were removed to encourage views through to the building. A special type of historically correct paint was used for the repainting.

 

The Bothy brick building adjacent to the walled works compound is actually the oldest structure in the Park, dating back to the 18th century.  This was repaired and sensitively adapted using traditional and innovative construction methods to provide a staff room, a flexible kiosk/store for the Friends, and a public toilet. The Bothy is also now home to a café during the summer months.

 

Other additions to the park included new explanatory signage at entrances and points of interest within the park.  

 

 

 

 
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