Vintage photos recreated to celebrate Clissold Park's 125th anniversary
Vintage photographs from Clissold Park's fascinating past have been re-staged by Clissold Park User Group to mark the park’s 125th anniversary.
One, a Victorian snapshot, captures jubilant visitors celebrating the park’s official opening in 1889 following a dogged crusade by campaigners to save the Stoke Newington treasure from the clutches of developers.
The other, from an early 20th century postcard, depicts three boys enjoying the park's celebrated Memorial Drinking Fountain, which commemorates John Runtz and Joseph Beck, the founding fathers of the park.
The pictures were reproduced with modern park users last week to honour 125 years of one of Hackney’s best-loved – and most visited – green spaces.
The fountain was restored by the Council, with help from the Drinking Fountain Association and Clissold Park User Group, in time for the official park celebrations on Thursday when the granite memorial was unveiled by the great great grandchildren of Joseph Beck.
Clissold Park has an incredibly rich and interesting history, including its salvation by people-power at the end of the 19th century. It is only right that we remember those who fought so hard to save Clissold for us, and future generations, through these wonderful photo recreations.
This week, it was announced Clissold Park, which enjoyed 3million visits last year, has maintained its Green Flag status for the ninth year in a row.
More than £9million has been invested over the past four years into restoring the park and the Grade II listed Clissold House back to their former glory through joint funding by the Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The park currently offers a range of services, including tennis courts, skate park, children’s play area, learning pavilion, animal enclosures, organic food-growing area, paddling pool and cafe. Function rooms in the refurbished Clissold House are available for hire and regularly host weddings, parties and meetings.
A new tennis clubhouse will open later this year.
The Council also holds regular, free activities, including, this summer, fitness classes, orienteering, butterfly dome tours, and lessons on Clissold's night-time world.
For more information, to volunteer, or to book any of the activities, visit Clissold Park.
The recreation pictures are courtesy of DoubleHPhotography