Rosemary Gardens was open to the public in 1960. The park is on the site of the "Islington Vauxhall", the name given to the gardens of the Rosemary Branch Tavern in 1836. A Tavern of that name had existed here from the 16th century, but in 1783 was taken over for white-lead work, with two windmills erected in 1786 and 1792. These were no longer in use by 1835.
A new tavern was rebuilt next to Islington Common and had popular tea gardens, a pond supplied by the New River, elevated terraced walks and entertainment including pony racing and tightrope displays.
The gardens were also the site of a 19th century Independent School, a factory and various small residential streets. Fragments of the north wall of Camarthen Street and cobbled streets remain in the park. The park was extended in 1976 and a tennis court was added in 1983. The sporting facilities were futher enhanced in 2007 with funding from Islington Council, Barclays Bank and the Football Foundation.
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Basketball - 2 sets of free-play hoops
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Tennis courts 2 tarmac free-play plus a tennis wall
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Table Tennis 4 free-play tables
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children's playground
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accessible play equipment
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water play feature
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sand pit
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changing rooms
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accessible toilets
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grass meadow
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shrub beds
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herbaceous planting
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mature weeping ash trees
The tennis courts, table tennis and basketball courts now have floodlights. They are open until 10pm Monday to Friday and until 8pm Saturday and Sunday.
Congrats to Pja_cz for FTF and vix92008 for STF