Open all year
Historical parkland in Stevenage named after local Olympian, Thomas Hampson with 1 route and 10 points of interest
The park is the highest point in Stevenage, with great views across the town and surrounding countryside.
The Green Flag Award winning site offers many facilities and is also home to Pin Green Play Centre and Hampson Park Community Centre.
The park has:
The park was named in honour of Stevenage resident Thomas Hampson who won Gold and Silver medal in the Los Angeles summer Olympics, 1932. Gold medal in the 800 meters, setting a new world record, and the Silver medal in the men’s 4 x 400 meter relay. In 1954 he moved to Stevenage and worked for the development corporation.
The land that is now Hampson Park was once part of the estate of Highfield House, a substantial Georgian house situated in what was then open country. At the turn of the twentieth centaury Highfield was the home of The Poston family would regularly entertain notable writers and intellectuals of the time such as George Bernard Shaw. They were also friends with Mrs Lily Forster and her son the future novelist Edward Morgan.
Elizabeth would become an accomplished composer, pianist and writer, composing scores for radio and television. Collaborating with writers such as C.S. Lewis and Dylan Thomas. She wrote the score for the television production of close friend E. M. Forster’s Howards End whilst living in Forster’s childhood home Rooks Nest – the setting for the novel.
The house was demolished in the early years of the new town. Some of the original garden trees and shrubs still remain and a short but interesting walk in the park.
Free car park at the main entrance accessed from Webb Rise. Sat Nav postcode SG1 5QU. Directions here
Public Transport Information:Residential areas bordering the park benefit from a bus service providing excellent access to those who rely on public transport.
For more information use Intalink website www.intalink.org.uk/timetables or www.nationalrail.co.uk
Cycling:A shared use cycle track and footpath runs through the middle of the park.
You can find more details of the cycle network in Stevenage here…
Easy Trail Distance 1.1km, 1462 Steps taken