Coram's Fields

Coram's Fields is a large urban open space in the London borough of Camden in central London. It occupies seven acres in Bloomsbury and includes a children's playground, sand pits, a duck pond, a pets corner, café and nursery. Adults (defined as anyone over the age of 16) are only permitted to enter if accompanied by children (under 16).[1]

Entrance gate to Coram's Fields
Bronze plaque at entrance
Autumn 2017

It is situated on the former site of the Foundling Hospital, established by Thomas Coram in what was then named Lamb's Conduit Field in 1739. In the 1920s The Foundling Hospital was relocated outside London to Ashlyns School in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, and the site was earmarked for redevelopment.[2] However, a campaign organised by Janet Trevelyan and fundraising by local residents and a donation from Harold Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Rothermere[3] led to the creation of the current park that opened in 1936.[3] Coram's Fields is owned and run by an independent registered charity, officially named Coram's Fields and the Harmsworth Memorial Playground.[4]

Coram's Fields also offers three eight-a-side football pitches, two tennis courts, a stickball field and a basketball court.

The Thomas Coram Foundation for Children (the successor charity to the Foundling Hospital) and the Foundling Museum housing the art collections of the former Hospital, are based in buildings nearby.

To the west is Brunswick Square, and to the east is Mecklenburgh Square (bordered by Goodenough College to the south), two historical London squares. To the north is the Thomas Coram Foundation and St George's Gardens. To the south are Guilford Street and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Coram's Fields, and Brunswick and Mecklenburgh Squares are jointly listed Grade II on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.[5]

The park users are organised in an independent body called Coram's Fields User Group[6]. Coram's Fields User Group (CFUG) acts as a critical friend and supporter of development of Coram's Fields. In recent years, Coram's Fields User Group was a vocal opponent of an extensive rental of Coram's Fields grounds to adults and private events, including through information published in local media: Camden New Journal Letter [7].

References
  1. "Coram's Fields". Camden Council. Archived from the original on 6 July 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  2. "Coram and the Foundling Hospital". Coram. Archived from the original on 25 July 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  3. "Your Visit - History of Coram's Fields". Coram's Fields. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  4. Charity Commission. Coram's Fields and the Harmsworth Memorial Playground, registered charity no. 302963.
  5. Historic England, "Coram's Fields, and Brunswick and Mecklenburgh Squares (1000212)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 12 November 2017
  6. Coram's Fields User Group https://cfugblog.wordpress.com
  7. "What is going on behind closed doors at Coram's Fields" http://archive.camdennewjournal.com/letters/2015/oct/what’s-going-behind-closed-doors-coram’s-fields%5B%5D

Official website

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