Clissold Park was originally a private estate that was saved from development and opened to the public in 1889, though it still required work to prepare amenities for visitors. Over the following decades, features were added like walking paths, water access, fencing, a bandstand, miniature railway, boating lake, and playgrounds to create an urban park for recreation and leisure activities among the greenery that was once a rural estate.

1. 130 Years of Clissold Park
Amir Dotan

2. Before it became a public park in 1889, Clissold
Park was a semi-rural private estate.

3. As photos from the 1860s show, the vast estate wasn’t
ready for the public when it was saved in 1888

4. The successful campaign to save Clissold Park from
development was followed by work to turn it into a public

5. Work to get the new park ready for the public included new
footpaths, water supply, fencing etc.

11. Features and attractions, like a bandstand, were introduced
over the years

32. 1952-1960
The miniature railway

37. The New River was a dominant feature of the park
as it ran along Stoke Newington Church St till 1958

38. 1946

46. The boating lake

51. The bowling green

54. 1909 - Opening of a larger and improved bowling green

57. Deer and birds

64. The playarea