Park Wood

Park Wood, a Forest of Bere woodland, was among plots sold by the Enclosure Commissioners in 1813 to defray their expenses. Within a few years it belonged to the newly built Hart Plain House (HR1651), 0.25 mile west. Park Wood lay across the parish boundary and in January 2001 contains remnants of boundary oaks described in 1865. The 1838 Tithe map shows Park Wood as the productive area for Hart Plain House. It had a walled garden among the trees, and on its eastern boundary with London Road there was a Lodge and an acre of garden. On the Ordnance Survey 25" 1st edition map the walled garden was intersected with fruit-lined paths and the woodland was criss-crossed with paths. The Hart Plain estate was split up around 1910; Park Wood became the garden of Park Wood Cottage, an arts and crafts house, and had moss-covered paths. Its owner, Dr Frederick Beddow, died in 1953 and left Park Wood to his housekeeper during her lifetime, after which it was to be sold to finance a new library. When Dr Beddow's Trustees came to carry out his bequest, some 20 years after his death, Park Wood was a prime housing site, but after campaigning by local residents it was saved.

Type

Park

Purpose

Conservation

Principal Building

Parks, Gardens And Urban Spaces

Survival

Part: standing remains

Open to the public

Yes