Hornchurch Country Park

Before the creation of the Country Park, when the area was being quarried for gravel, evidence of the ancient history of this site was unearthed. Amongst the finds were Stone Age tools, Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman artifacts.

Following the Norman Conquest, the northern half of today's Country Park was part of Suttons Manor. During the 12^th century King Henry II gave this land to Hornchurch Priory and in the 14^th century it became the property of New College Oxford. The manor later became Suttons Farm, which was finally taken over for the creation of RAF Hornchurch. The southern part of the park was once in Dover's Manor, and later became Albyn's Farm, where the old farm buildings can still be seen. As from 1980, following ground reinstatement after quarrying and infilling with rubbish, the London Borough of Havering has carried out large scale landscaping to create Hornchurch Country Park.

The Airfield

During the First World War an airfield was created at Suttons Farm, from which biplanes of the Royal Flying Corps took off to defend London from airship attacks. RAF Hornchurch was later developed, covering most of today's Country Park area. During the Second World War, the squadrons of Spitfires based here played an important role in the Battle of Britain. After the War the airfield was used for air crew training and the RAF station finally closed in 1962.

You can see most of the Airfield's remaining features along the Eastern Pathway, starting at the Squadrons Approach car park. The concrete here was originally an aircraft dispersal bay and the surrounding banks contained air raid shelters. To the south the pathway follow the route of the old Airfield perimeter road. This first passes a concrete circle, which was an aircraft compass setting point. Beyond here, the sites of aircraft dispersal bays can also be seen. Further along the way are gun emplacements, turrets, pillboxes, tunnels and trenches, which were part of the Airfield's Second World War defence system.

Wildlife

The Country Park provides habitats for a great variety of wildlife, with extensive tree plantations, grassland, marshes, ponds, a lake and a river.

Most of the parkland has been left to develop naturally, but where the grass is cut, areas are kept as wildflower meadows. The tree plantations are growing into woodland, which will be opened to the public by the removal of protective fencing.

Along the east side of the park are the Ingrebourne valley Marshes, an extensive area of riverside reed swamps, flood meadows and willow thickets, providing a nature reserve which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. This area is rich in wildlife, with good opportunities for bird watching.

How to get there

By car to the main road entrance and car park at Squadrons Approach, signed off Suttons Lane/Airfield Way. Another entrance off South End Road leads to the park office at Albyn's Farm.

By train on the Underground District Line, which provides frequent services to Hornchurch Station, ¾ mile from the Squadrons Approach entrance to the Park.

By bus, with frequent services to both road entrances:

Route 165/365 via Hornchurch Country Park, Collier Row, Romford, Elm Park, South Hornchurch and Rainham. Stop near the Albyns Farm entrance, South End Road.

Route 252 via Collier Row, Romford, Elm Park and Hornchurch. Stop at Squadrons Approach, Suttons Lane.

Route 256 "Hornchurch Hopper" via Harold Hill, Harold Wood and Hornchurch. Stop just after St. George's Hospital, Suttons Lane.

The Ingrebourne Valley Parkways

Walkers can also reach the Country Park along 1¾ miles of the Ingrebourne Valley Greenway linking Gaynes, Hacton and Suttons Parkways, going alongside the River Ingrebourne from Upminster Bridge and Hacton Bridge. From here, footpaths also lead into the surrounding countryside.