Forum topic: Lost Urn returned to Broomfield Park

After a gap of at least 15 years a large urn has been restored to Broomfield Park.

The history of the urn is somewhat murky. Nothing appears to have been recorded about it, until the attached photograph (date unkown -1960's?) shows it by the path between the middle and lower lakes. It disappeared in 1999 (?) after which a smaller replacement was cemented in position.

Tales of its recovery include it being found in a Chelsea antiques shop, or at the Alexander Palace Garden Centre. In recent years it languished in a vehicle shed in Pymmes Park, where damage from the heavy equipment was always a risk, and of course it was inaccessible to public view.

Unfortunately the original base and the stem of the urn, which had been left behind, had deteriorated and suffered further damage when attempts were made to reseat the urn, though the broken elements have been kept. The urn has now been replaced in the same position, but on a new base.

This has taken a good deal of work by Parks staff and Corporate Maintenance and Construction Team staff among others (excuse me if I have missed anyone).

Attached are photos of the urn on the original base before vegetation grew around the lake to hide it and other features, and a close-up of urn taken this week.

If anyone can throw light on the history of the urn, or knows the date of the old picture, we should like to know.

So that's one item restored to the Park, now there's just the little matter of Broomfield House.......

Colin Younger

My ashes....