Book Description

Lloyd Park is one of the most renowned and best loved places in Walthamstow; a vibrant mix of recreation, relaxation and visual enjoyment in a historic setting. The author Sue Nisbet shares her knowledge, understanding and the history behind the majestically beautiful park along with photographs and maps through the ages. Her continued love of the park drove the historian in her to look into how the park came into being which led to her to become the historian for the Friends of Lloyd group. Sue leads a number of historical walks and talks around the park which opened to the public in 1900 and was once described by the Council as part of the 'lungs of the town'. This book will take you on a journey through time, discovering about the early residents, how the park was established, its sports and recreation facilities along with wildlife and the changes over time. Features of this book also include the history of the Georgian Mansion House, originally known as Cryklwoods with the moat giving testimony to medieval origins. The house and estate have changed ownership and uses many times from a private house, municipal use building, a pupil teaching centre, clinic and now museum. The house itself is mostly remembered for its famous inhabitant William Morris who moved in in 1848. He was an artist, craftsman, designer, a prolific writer of stories and poetry, a translator, radical socialist, founding member of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings and in the latter years of his life a notable printer, setting up Kelmscott Press. The house was a large family home, Morris being the third of nine children, and the oldest son of William and Emma (Shelton) Morris. Take a walk through the fascinating history of Lloyd Park along the journey of this book.