The renovated Library building has been renovated and renamed as Ashburton Hall. The building was known as the Stroud Green House. It was purchased by Father Tooth to set up a convent. After purchase by the Council, the old convent became the local Ashburton Library. The reading room was in the cloister. It was later demolished in 1975 after repeated vandalism.
Ashburton Hall
The renovated Library building has been renovated and renamed as Ashburton Hall. The building was known as the Stroud Green House. It was purchased by Father Tooth to set up a convent. After purchase by the Council, the old convent became the local Ashburton Library. The reading room was in the cloister. It was later demolished in 1975 after repeated vandalism.
The Park Grounds
The grounds have undergone numerous changes over the centuries. It has had vineyards, stables, an Italian garden, croquet lawn, fine timber and ornamental lake. Today it has a running and walking track that needs to be repaired. There are tennis courts, children’s playground and a bowling green.
The park is beginning to look like one big mess with litter all over the place. So if you are the owner of these food items you are invited to collect them. Absolutely disgusting..! Also told off a group of young people jumping on the roof of the bin shelter. If things carry on there is going to be a point when the park as we know it will cease to exist. Rant over! Happy Easter all!
As the days brighten and warm we look to spending more time in our local parks.![]()
There is a small group of volunteers that litter pick our park, through all seasons. The photos below are a sample of litter picking done by locals in the last week or so.![]()
If the bins are full please take your litter home with you and keep the park a lovely space for all to enjoy.
The park car park gates will remain shut for the foreseeable future. There are not enough parks staff to go round opening and closing up. Anti social behaviour in the car park last summer did not help the cause to open up.![]()
The toilet block will also remain shut. Covid cleaning regulations cannot be met by the Council while staffing levels are low.
Renovate the Pavillion
Become a Friend
Proposed Plans
The Pavilion
The Pavilion is in a sorry state after years of neglect by Croydon Council. The original red tiled roof was replaced with felt tiles, a poor substitute. The café closed a few years ago and since then the structure has been locked up. The roof has succumbed to the elements and a number of the timbers are rotten. Hoarding now surrounds the structure. We are working with partner organisations who have volunteered their expertise in the structural and asbestos surveys. This is needed before any repair work can be carried out.
The walking and jogging track
Works to repair some of the paths across the park, including repairs to the car park were set to start in September 2015. More details on what exactly is going to be completed and the timeline for these works will be posted as we get them from the council.
The Sports Facilities
The FOAP is following up with the council to fix the tennis courts and other play areas used by the community.
Historical map and photos of the park
Photos courtesy Museum of Croydon Collections.
Ashburton Park Maps 1910
The map shows that there was a natural lake in the park on parallel to Spring Lane. The lake was filled in, then dug up and converted to a pond and filled in again.
Pond in place of the old lake -1938, Courtesy of Museum of Croydon Collections
The revived pond
Farmers market in Stroud Green House grounds-1897, Courtesy of Museum of Croydon Collections
The farmers market
Newly constructed convent linked to Stroud Green House by the cloister, Courtesy of Museum of Croydon Collections
The Convent/Library
Pavilion-1938, Courtesy of Museum of Croydon Collections
The pavillon
Entrance to the Ashburton Hall.
Historic former library
The hall has been used as an orphanage, housed the army, and as a library.
