Barra Hall Park
| Barra Hall Park | |
|---|---|
Barra Hall, Hayes
|
|
| Type | Public park |
| Location |
Hayes, Hillingdon, Greater London |
| Coordinates | 51°31′04″N 0°25′24″W / 51.51778°N 0.42333°WCoordinates: 51°31′04″N 0°25′24″W / 51.51778°N 0.42333°W |
| Created | 1923 |
| Operated by | London Borough of Hillingdon |
| Status | Open year round |
| Parking | On-site lot |
Barra Hall Park is an 11.06-hectare (27.3-acre) formal park situated near the centre of Hayes in the ward of Townfield in the London Borough of Hillingdon. The park came into existence in December 1923.
The main entrance to the park is off Freemans Lane. There are ten entrances altogether, spread around the perimeter of the park.
Barra Hall Park came into existence on 20 December 1923 when the then Urban District Council (UDC) of Hayes bought the Hall and its grounds from Ms Ethel Penfold for £5,700 in order to use it as a town hall. Later alterations by the UDC brought the total to £7,000. The Barra Hall building was officially opened as town hall on 23 February 1924 and its grounds became a municipal park with playground, tennis courts and a paddling pool opened by music hall star Jessie Matthews. In 1965, Hayes UDC was integrated into the London Borough of Hillingdon (LBH) and the hall was eventually supplanted by the new Civic Centre in Uxbridge as main council office.
The Barra Hall building was originally a manor house, formerly known as Grove House. In the late eighteenth century it was home to Alderman Harvey Combe, elected Lord Mayor of London in 1799. It passed ownership and in 1871 was bought by Robert Reid. Reid was an auctioneer and surveyor and claimed to descend from the Reids of Barra. After enlarging and refacing the building he changed its name to Barra Hall in 1875. Army Cavalry were stationed here during World War I. On 6 October 2005, a renovated Barra Hall was opened as a Sure Start children's centre.
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