Coleção LCC/PK/GEN - PARKS DEPARTMENT: ORGANISATIONAL AND GENERAL

1.2 linear metres

LCC/PK/GEN 1851-1965 Collection 1.2 linear metres LCC , London County Council x London County Council

The management of the Council's parks and open spaces was originally the responsibility of the Superintending Architect. In 1892, a separate "Parks and Open Spaces Sub-Department" under a chief officer was created and, in 1895, its title was changed to "Parks and Open Spaces Department". The Parks Department was responsible for the administration, design, improvement and maintenance of all the Council's parks, open spaces and gardens, including those attached to certain Council buildings and housing estates. Facilities for games and athletics were provided in many parks, encouraged by the Physical Training and Recreation Act. The deep water ponds at Highgate and Hampstead and various open air swimming pools and lidos encouraged bathing. Entertainment was also common in some parks, particularly performances by bands, dancing and entertainments for children. Some parks included wildlife such as water fowl, aviaries, deer and wallabies as well as horticultural features, floral displays and tropical gardens.

In 1931 the Council was instrumental in obtaining the passing of the London Squares Preservation Act, as a result of which over 460 garden enclosures in London squares are preserved as open spaces. The Council was also instrumental in the formation of the Green Belt, an area of woodlands surrounding the built-up urban environment. In 1935 a scheme was launched to begin purchase of land which would form the belt, with £2,000,000 set aside by the Council for this purpose. By 1937, 43,000 acres had been preserved.

During the Second World War much damage was done to London parks, yet they were very important as places of entertainment and relaxation. Post war priorities included repairs, but also expansion under the County of London Plan, 1948. This called for the creation of more open spaces, and specified an ideal of seven acres for each thousand of population. During the 1950s several new parks were laid out, including Hammersmith Park, Haggerston Park in Shoreditch and Brickfield Gardens in Limehouse. In 1952 work began on the riverside promenade along the South Bank, formerly part of the Festival of Britain site. The policy of providing entertainment in parks was continued, with theatre, opera and ballet, open air cinemas, symphony concerts, brass bands, dancing, gymkhanas and funfairs. Open air sculpture exhibitions were first held in 1948, followed by open air painting exhibitions. Parks were also made available to organisations arranging displays, parades, rallies, dog shows and so on. The provision of sports facilities was improved and specialist horticultural officers were hired to ensure that the wildlife and flora were well cared for.

Acquired with the records of its parent body, the London County Council.

Records of the London County Council Parks Department, 1851-1965, including lists of staff; instructions to officers; regulations affecting staff; Parks and Open Spaces staff handbooks; report on the Development of Crystal Palace (1955); pamphlet about the Green Belt; lists of London Squares with information about their status; regulations concerning individual sports and games, including Athletics, Bowls, Cricket, Football, Hockey, Lawn Tennis, Netball, and storage of Games Apparatus; specimen warrants used by the Parks Department Constable; brochures from opening ceremonies; register of small holdings and allotments; copies of Acts of Parliament affecting parks and open spaces; notices and posters for display in parks; example of staff passes; seven picture postcards (undated) of Battersea Park Flower Garden, Beckenham Place Park Golf Course, Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park Lido, Hainault Forest, Parliament Hill Athletic Ground, Ranger's House (Blackheath) and Rookery (Streatham Common); booklets and articles relating to playgrounds; papers relating to Crystal Palace motor sports; general files relating to the formation of the Parks Department, tree planting on Hampstead Heath, recreational facilities in individual parks, Parks regulations, individual medical reports of staff and production of food in parks during the Second World War.

Brochures and publications including "Open Air London - An illustrated guide to some 480 open spaces in and around London (including Green Belt)", published by the LCC (1939); "Green Heritage - An Introduction to the work of the LCC Parks Dept", booklet for new entrants; "Green Islands - The Parks Service of the LCC" (1962); Guide Map (1964); "The Glory of the Garden" (Enjoy Your Parks Brochure No 3); "150,000,000 B.C - The Prehistoric Monsters of Crystal Palace" (Enjoy Your Parks Brochure No 4); "Hainault Forest" (Enjoy Your Parks Brochure No 5); "Parks for Tomorrow", LCC booklet (1964); "Garden Squares in Metropolitan Boroughs", maps prepared in connection with London Squares Preservation Act (1931); golf course regulations.

LCC/PK/GEN/01: Reports and directories; LCC/PK/GEN/02: General; LCC/PK/GEN/03: Miscellaneous.

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.

Copyright: City of London.
English

Fit

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

See also papers of the Clerk's Department relating to the Parks Committee, reference LCC/CL/PK. For records relating to Crystal Palace see reference CPT.

For further information on the history of the LCC please see Achievement: A Short History of the London County Council by W Eric Jackson (1965), LMA Library reference 18.0 1965, The London County Council 1938, LMA Library reference 18.7 SER 4, and The Youngest County: A description of London as a county and its public services, 1951, LMA Library reference 18.0 1951.

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. April to June 2009 Parks and Open Spaces Department , London County Council LCC , London County Council x London County Council Forests Leisure Leisure time activities Sport Outdoor sports Open spaces Parks Built works Public squares Rural areas Green belts Sports facilities Recreational facilities Sports grounds Playgrounds People People by occupation Park keepers Gardens Land use Allotments Forestry Tree planting Parks Committee , London County Council The Crystal Palace Restaurant and Catering Department , London County Council x School Meals and Catering Department Londoners' Meals Service Ministry of Food London England UK Western Europe Europe

Acquired with the records of its parent body, the London County Council.

Records of the London County Council Parks Department, 1851-1965, including lists of staff; instructions to officers; regulations affecting staff; Parks and Open Spaces staff handbooks; report on the Development of Crystal Palace (1955); pamphlet about the Green Belt; lists of London Squares with information about their status; regulations concerning individual sports and games, including Athletics, Bowls, Cricket, Football, Hockey, Lawn Tennis, Netball, and storage of Games Apparatus; specimen warrants used by the Parks Department Constable; brochures from opening ceremonies; register of small holdings and allotments; copies of Acts of Parliament affecting parks and open spaces; notices and posters for display in parks; example of staff passes; seven picture postcards (undated) of Battersea Park Flower Garden, Beckenham Place Park Golf Course, Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park Lido, Hainault Forest, Parliament Hill Athletic Ground, Ranger's House (Blackheath) and Rookery (Streatham Common); booklets and articles relating to playgrounds; papers relating to Crystal Palace motor sports; general files relating to the formation of the Parks Department, tree planting on Hampstead Heath, recreational facilities in individual parks, Parks regulations, individual medical reports of staff and production of food in parks during the Second World War.

Brochures and publications including "Open Air London - An illustrated guide to some 480 open spaces in and around London (including Green Belt)", published by the LCC (1939); "Green Heritage - An Introduction to the work of the LCC Parks Dept", booklet for new entrants; "Green Islands - The Parks Service of the LCC" (1962); Guide Map (1964); "The Glory of the Garden" (Enjoy Your Parks Brochure No 3); "150,000,000 B.C - The Prehistoric Monsters of Crystal Palace" (Enjoy Your Parks Brochure No 4); "Hainault Forest" (Enjoy Your Parks Brochure No 5); "Parks for Tomorrow", LCC booklet (1964); "Garden Squares in Metropolitan Boroughs", maps prepared in connection with London Squares Preservation Act (1931); golf course regulations.

LCC/PK/GEN/01: Reports and directories; LCC/PK/GEN/02: General; LCC/PK/GEN/03: Miscellaneous.

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.

Copyright: City of London.

• inglês

• latim

English

See also papers of the Clerk's Department relating to the Parks Committee, reference LCC/CL/PK. For records relating to Crystal Palace see reference CPT.

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

• inglês