I remember when all this was trees - the buildings of Hilly Fields

Another flaw in the human character is that everybody wants to build and nobody wants to do maintenance.

- Kurt Vonnegut, Hocus Pocus

"The View at Hilly Fields" - a recent proposal to create a cafe in Hilly Fields on alternative site to the one currently being considered by the Council - prompted a lot of discussion about the buildings that had previously existed in the park.

To settle the debate, BrocSoc's Rob has sent us these photos and a map which shows the location of the Refectory and Bandstand that once stood there.

Rob says:

I am not sharing this information as a way of supporting The View’s proposals for the site - I just thought it would be of interest. My own opinion is that any new construction anywhere in the park has to be critiqued based on contemporary sensibilities and concerns. If local people now judge that this particular site is of more benefit to the community as an open space – then that that has to be the most important factor. Precedence shouldn’t be an issue in this case.