History

Canons Park is the remnant of the grounds of a stately home belonging to the 1st Duke of Chandos, James Brydges. He lived from 1673 to 1744, and had his title bestowed in 1719. He acquired the house and grounds through marriage and proceeded to create a magnificent ducal palace and hired some of the best builders, landscape gardeners and other craftsmen. The grounds were particularly fine, and contained fountains, canals, pools, lakes, avenues, formal gardens and a kitchen garden.  Today we can see the avenue that led from the palace to the church (St Lawrence's) in the form of a raised causeway along which the Duke and his family would proceed to church every Sunday. The basin on what is now Canons Drive was one of the Duke's pools. The Brydges family mausoleum can be seen adjoining the church (open to visitors on Sunday afternoons).  St. Lawrence is also notable for the fact that famous composer George Friedrich Handel was hired by the Duke to take charge of the music at the church from 1717 to 1720, and the original keyboard from Handel's time can be viewed in the church, where you can also see the Brydges family balcony and some fine interior decoration.

James Brydges lost some of his vast fortune in the South Sea Bubble, and the second Duke was unable to maintain the house and had to abandon Canons. The house fell into ruin, and was rebuilt on a smaller scale in about 1754 by William Hallett, a prominent cabinet maker of the time. Much of this building still exists as part of the North London Collegiate School which now occupies the site.  

That part of the grounds remaining undeveloped was acquired by Harrow Council in 1936 for the present public park, and the George V Memorial Garden was created at this time.

Have a look at the A-Z page for some interesting facts about Canons Park and the area around.