A WRITER passionate about all things Walthamstow is giving us a taste of her upcoming book about the history of Lloyd Park. 

Growing up in Walthamstow in the 1950s, Sue Nisbet spent many happy hours playing in the much beloved park. 

Her links to the park stayed strong throughout her life, becoming a founding member of the ‘Friends of Lloyd Park’ group in 2004. 

As the group’s resident historian she has gone on to put pen to paper in her new book ‘The History of Lloyd Park, Walthamstow’.

Here she shares a taste of the fascinating history behind Walthamstow’s beloved park.

Lloyd Park has been a favourite recreational place since it was officially opened on July 28, 1900. 

Although the estate has been in existence from around the 17th century, the name Lloyd Park was only established when the grounds were opened as a park. 

The newspaper publisher Edward Lloyd bought the house and surrounding lands in 1857, living there with his family until 1885. 

In 1898, Frank Lloyd, a son of Edward, offered the house and gardens on behalf of the family, to the Walthamstow Urban District Council. 

The gift was to be used by the public as pleasure grounds with the proviso that the council bought the adjoining land to be used as playing fields. 

The council made various changes to the grounds and house, laying out new flowerbeds, adding a new terrace at the back of the house and erecting a bandstand on the island, which later gave way to a concert pavilion. 

Other early park amenities included a sports pavilion in the playing field area, a children’s playground, a grotto, shelters, toilets, a refreshments kiosk, rockery, goldfish pool, drinking fountains, an Attendants Office, a bowling green and tennis courts. 

The park also features a historic moat surrounding an island and is the only remaining moated site in Waltham Forest. 

Its shrubbery and water has been home to a wide variety of birds and waterfowl including swans, geese and pigeons.

In 1912, the council purchased a further 16 acres of the Avelins Estate, allowing for more cricket and football pitches, an additional bowling green, and more tennis courts. 

The War Memorial which is now in the grounds of the Town Hall was also initially erected in the park in 1922. 

There has also been a putting green and an open air draughts board. 

After the Second World War, prefabs were built in the park to help alleviate the housing shortage caused by bombings. 

These were later demolished to make way for a new school building in 1962. 

An innovative ‘Garden for the Blind’ was laid out in 1957, the first of its kind. 

The present mansion house dates from around 1760 but there was probably an earlier house on the site. 

Between 1911 and 1943 the house was used as offices for children’s medical and dental services, and for the school attendance departments. 

It has been known as The Water House, Lloyd Park Mansion and latterly the William Morris Gallery, after its most famous inhabitant William Morris, whose family lived in the house from 1848 to 1856. 

Ms Nisbet is launching the book at the William Morris Gallery on Sunday, December 4, from 1.30pm.