Lottery award for Bishops Park and Fulham Palace

by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
14/10/2008

Exciting plans to rejuvenate Bishops Park and the grounds of Fulham Palace have been boosted with the National Lottery awarding the council £270,000.

The funds, from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund means that the council has made it to stage two of the ‘Parks for People’ initiative. The money will enable the council to produce finalised plans for the massive improvement programme. 

If the Lottery organisations are impressed with the plans, the council will be in line for a grant of over £3 million to transform the two parks.

Cllr Paul Bristow, Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s cabinet member for resident’s services, said: "This really is excellent news. We have some exciting plans for Bishops Park and Fulham Palace Grounds and this money will help us to realise those aspirations. I would like to extend my gratitude to the Lottery organisations for their help – it is most appreciated."

The plans form part of the council’s Parklife campaign – which sees the council improving the quality of life for all people who live, work and play in Hammersmith and Fulham by providing award winning parks and open spaces that are clean, green, safe and sustainable.

In Bishops Park the council intends to restore the lake, pond, balustrade and Fulham Beach,to their original Edwardian splendour. The pitch and putt golf course will return, the outdoor play area will move to another part of the park and an interactive water play feature will be built on the site of the former bandstand. The café building will be refurbished with new toilet blocks and an extension serving as a community room and bowls club.

At Fulham Palace, there are plans to restore and extend the stable block for proposed shop use and education activities, bring back the vinery and herb garden, restore the bothy, reinstate a section of the moat and renovate the Gothic Lodge as the head gardener’s cottage.