Crane Park Island was created to provide a mill pond for the River Crane to drive the machinery of the Hounslow Gunpower Works which opened in the 1760s.
After the licence to manufacture gunpowder was withdrawn in 1927 the area was sold to Twickenham Council and turned into Crane Park, a 30-hectare public park with the northern part now part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and the southern part in the London Borough of Hounslow, home to another London parkrun.
It’s a haven of wildlife, calmness and bird song and makes up part of the London Outer Orbital Path, known more commonly as the ‘London Loop’ which is 242k and sometimes described as the M25 for walkers; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Outer_Orbital_Path
The 1 and a-half anti-clockwise course takes in two nature reserves and Crane Park Island finishing at the ‘Brick Tower’, a grade II listed building. There is a debate on whether it was a Shot Tower for making lead shot or a windmill for powering the local mills. Either way, it marks a terrific landmark to announce the finish funnel.
Sadly we didn’t arrive early enough to take our bags to the finish area and with pandemic protocols still fresh in people’s minds none of the volunteers could take our bags to the finish meaning I ran the first 2k with jacket, hat and rucksack on.
0900 was upon us and 125 participants headed off and I could feel that sense of euphoria that parkrun was back and it wouldn't be happening without all the volunteers.
With 13m of elevation and no straight lines, the 22 volunteers called out about various tree roots on the paths which were much more like running on trails in part. We went through the woods coming out near the A316 before turning sharply and disappearing back into the park's embrace.
We walked out of the park the opposite way to how we’d run the course enjoying its rich lushness.
Next week we’ll be returning to West London to Bedfont Lakes Country Park home to Bedfont Lakes parkrun.
I want to visit all these wonderful parks!
Brilliant- thanks for bringing back memories of walking London Loop.