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Vestry, but intimated that it would be useless asking the Council to
contribute to the cost of the site as a whole, although if it were possible
to purchase that portion in front of the Lodge only, at a moderate cost,
it thought the Council might be induced to contribute one-third the
amount. Having ascertained, however, that the portion in front of the
Lodge would not be sold separately, the special Committee came to
the conclusion that under all the circumstances it would not be worth
while for the Vestry to take any further action in the matter and
reported accordingly to the Vestry.
The estate was shortly afterwards sold by auction for £12,000.
CLISSOLD PARK.
It was pointed out in the last annual report that the purchase of
this fine park from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners had been completed
for the sum of £94,000, the amount originally named by the Commissioners
(who had abandoned their claim to interest), and that the
Vestry had ultimately decided, after considerable discussion, to contribute
the sum of £2,500 towards the purchase money. In July, 1889,
a communication was received from the London County Council, stating
that the Earl of Rosebery, chairman of the Council would open the
park to the public on the 24th of that month, and inviting the members
and chief officers of the Vestry to be present on the occasion.
A large number of ladies and gentlemen attended the ceremony,
there being present, in addition to the Earl of Rosebery and the
leading members of the County Council, the Earl of Meath representing
the Public Gardens Association, Sir Lewis Pelly, M.P., Mr.
Joseph Beck the leader of the local movement which resulted in the
acquisition of the park, the Rev. W. H. Barlow, B.D., chairman of the
Vestry, as well as several of its members and chief officers.
After a tour of the park Lord Rosebery in the name and on
behalf of the London County Council declared the park open to the
public for ever.
That this open space is appreciated by the public will not be
doubted by anyone who has seen the crowds of people who resort
there, particularly on a Sunday or public holiday; and the inhabitants
of Islington and the north of London generally may be congratulated
on its preservation.
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