Extracts from
"A View of Gladstone Park & Dollis Hill House"
by Juliette Soester & Cliff Wadsworth; Willesden Local History Society; 2002.
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TOWARDS A PUBLIC PARK It was chiefly the loss of sports grounds at Neasden by the arrival of the Great Central Railway towards the end of the 19th century that motivated local public backing for a new park at Dollis Hill. Hence, there was very strong support at Neasden for the idea that the District Council should buy from the Finch family the part of their estate that lay south of Dollis Hill Lane, for £50,000. However, considerable opposition to the proposal, mainly on cost grounds, arose from other parts of Willesden, largely driven by the editor of the Willesden Chronicle from his office in South Kilburn. In the end the issue was resolved at an inquiry held by an inspector from the Local Government Board. He recommended acquisition of the land. Middlesex County Council agreed conditionally to put up £12,500 towards the cost (see Appendix 2); London County Council, £3,000; Hampstead £1,000; and Hendon £500, while the Ecclesiastical Commissioners made a £5,000 loan available on easy terms. Willesden Council was left to find the rest of the money from their ratepayers and from donations. It would eventually cost nearly £52000.
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APPENDIX 2 - CONDITIONS OF M.C.C. CONTRIBUTION 1899.
Your Committee beg to submit the following resolutions which have been passed by the Middlesex County Council, in connection with the proposed acquisition of the Dollis Hill Estate as a Public Park and Recreation Ground:
That an intimation be given to the Willesden Urban District Council, that the County Council will be prepared to contribute a sum equal to one-fourth (not exceeding £12,500) of the cost of the purchase of Dollis Hill House and about 98 acres of land attached thereto, for the purpose of a recreation ground, subject -
(1) To the whole of the 98 acres being dedicated and maintained as an open space for ever.
(2) To no buildings being erected on any part of the land except with the consent of the County Council which consent shall only be granted on condition that such buildings be used for purposes ancillary to the use of the land for the above purpose.
(3) To the conveyance containing covenants to the satisfaction of the County Solicitor, for the due maintenance of the house and ornamental grounds, and the trees during the occupancy of the present tenant, and until the property comes into the possession of the Willesden Urban District Council.
(4) To the Willesden Urban District Council entering into a covenant to repay to the County Council the entire contribution (less any sums raised from time to time by County rate in the Parish of Willesden towards the contribution) made by the County Council, in the event of Willesden becoming a County Borough, or otherwise altering the financial relations between the County Council and the Willesden Urban District Council.
(5) To any necessary deed, in a form approved of by the County Solicitor, being entered into between the two Councils, embodying the above conditions. [WDC Minutes]
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Reproduction of a poor copy of the map accompanying the sale of the parkland by the Finch's to Willesden District Council. Note the uneven boundry line. |
The contract to purchase the house, garden, and estate from "Robert Augustus Finch and others" was signed by the Council on 9th August 1899, and soon afterwards, notices to terminate existing tenancies (except that for the house and gardens) were sent out. Despite some reservations by local Conservatives, on 12th December 1899 it was formally agreed to name the park after W.E. Gladstone who had spent so many happy hours there. Purchase was completed early in 1900.
The Earl of Rosebery, recently twice Prime Minister, had promised to perform the opening ceremony on Saturday 25th May 1901, but was prevented from attending by the death of his mother, the Duchess of Cleveland. In his absence the park was declared open by the Earl of Aberdeen, who was accompanied by Lady Aberdeen, their son, Lord Haddo, and their daughter, Lady Marjorie Gordon. Stanley Ball (Clerk to Willesden District Council), who was present at the grand event, recorded some of the other notable people seen that day:- Miss Helen Gladstone, Sir Henry and Lady Campbell-Bannerman, Sir Ralph Littler (Chairman of the Middlesex County Council), Sir Hugh Gilzean-Reid, Lord Glenesk, The Earl of Meath, Sir Alexander Binnie, The Countess of Warwick, Sir Andrew Clark, Mr. Torrance (Chairman of the London County Council), Judge Rentoul, Alderman Piobbam (the Chairman), Dr. J.Crone, J.P. (WDC Chairman), Councillor W. R. Dunn (Chairman of the Parks Committee), Councillor Fripp, Councillor Cockburn, and County Councillor W. B. Luke, J.P.