Ashley Park Road runs through what was once the private grounds of Ashley House, a Georgian mansion that stood at the centre of a large estate. The grounds are now partly public open space, offering a pleasant tree-lined walk very close to Walton town centre.
The parkland is a favourite with dog walkers and families, offering shade and greenery in an otherwise built-up area. The mature oaks, beeches and limes give a sense of the estate’s former grandeur.
Ashley Park also holds a remarkable place in sporting history: in September 1749, Prince Frederick of Wales and the Earl of Middlesex played what is now recognised as the first recorded game of baseball in history on these grounds. A blue heritage plaque at the adjacent Walton Cricket Club on Ashley Road commemorates the event.
Read the full story of baseball’s birthplace in Walton-on-Thames →