Coram's Fields
51°31′29″N0°07′11″W/ 51.5247°N 0.1197°W
Coram's Fieldsis a seven acreurban open spacein theKings Crossarea of theLondon Borough of Camden. Adults are only permitted to enter if accompanied by children.[1]
History
[edit]The park is situated on the former site of theFoundling Hospital,established byThomas Coramin what was then namedLamb's Conduit Fieldin 1739. In the 1920s The Foundling Hospital was relocated outside London toAshlyns SchoolinBerkhamsted,Hertfordshire,and the site was earmarked for redevelopment.[2]However, a campaign organised byJanet Trevelyanand fundraising by local residents and a donation fromHarold Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Rothermere[3]led to the creation of the current park that opened in 1936.[3]
Services and facilities
[edit]Coram's Fields provides services for children and young people in the local community, including an after school and holiday programme, a sports programme, a youth centre and an early years programme which includes a nursery and drop-in.[1]
The park includes three eight-a-side football pitches, two tennis courts, a stickball field, a basketball court, a children'splayground,sand pits,apets cornerand acafé.
Neighbourhood
[edit]To the west isBrunswick Square,and to the east isMecklenburgh Square(bordered byGoodenough Collegeto the south), two historical London squares. To the north is theThomas Coram Foundationand St George's Gardens. To the south areGuilford StreetandGreat Ormond Street Hospital.TheThomas Coram Foundation for Children(the successor charity to the Foundling Hospital) and theFoundling Museumhousing the art collections of the former Hospital, are based in buildings nearby.
Management and planning designations
[edit]Coram's Fields is owned and run by an independentregistered charity,officially namedCoram's Fields and the Harmsworth Memorial Playground.[4]
Coram's Fields, and Brunswick and Mecklenburgh Squares are jointly listed Grade II on theRegister of Historic Parks and Gardens.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ab"About us - Coram's Fields".Coram's Fields.Retrieved28 September2020.
- ^"Coram and the Foundling Hospital".Coram.Archivedfrom the original on 25 July 2017.Retrieved25 July2017.
- ^ab"Your Visit - History of Coram's Fields".Coram's Fields.Retrieved14 December2016.
- ^"Coram's Fields and the Harmsworth Memorial Playground, registered charity no. 302963".Charity Commission for England and Wales.
- ^Historic England,"Coram's Fields, and Brunswick and Mecklenburgh Squares (1000212)",National Heritage List for England,retrieved12 November2017
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External links
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