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We have not yet developed much information on English parks. A good bit of information is available. Some of the parks in London are world famous, including Battersea Park, Green Park, Hyde Park, Regent's Park (with its noted zoo), St. James Park, and others. Many have origins as Royal Parks. These are land originally owned by the monarchy diversion of the royal family. This largely mean hunting. They are not only known to English people, but to many people around the world. We note a family outing to Regent's Part about the turn-of-the 20th century. An English reader has provided us some information on the park he visited as a boy. He explains just how important these parks were to urban children, most of which did not have yards (back gardens) where they could play. English boys might commonly have worn formal clothes like Fauntleroy suits to the park. Certainly sailor suits were very popular. After World War I (1914-18), park wear became more casual.
We do not have not yet developed much information on English parks. Many of the best known English parks had origins as Royal Parks from which the public was strictly excluded. These are lands originally owned by the monarchy and royal family. This largely meant for use as hunting areas. Thus there were large undeloped areas. While many of he most famous English parks originted as royal parks, there are urban parks of all description located throughout England and each has their own individual history.
Here we are talking about public lands of some size that had at least some area devoted to greenery such as lawns, gardens, and trees, not small paved over areas. A good bit of information is available. Some of the parks in London are world famous, including Battersea Park, Green Park, Hyde Park, Regent's Park (with its noted zoo), St. James Park, and others. They are not only known to English people, but to many people around the world.
Arundel is a picturesque market town in a steep vale of the South Downs, West Sussex, southeast of London. It is a few miles from the English Channel near Brighton and Chichester. It is a largely conserved town with many listed building and large green buffers and a medieval Norman castle which overlooks the park and town. There is also a Roman Catholic cathedral. The town is named after the River Arun which runs through runs through the eastern part of the town. Arundel was one of the rotton boroughs reformed by the important Municipal Reform Act 1835. Arundel is also home to one of the oldest Scout Groups in the world. 1st Arundel (Earl of Arundel's Own) Scout Group was formed in 1908 only a few weeks after Scouting began. Based in an HQ in Green Lane Close, it has active sections of Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts and Scouts. We We have not been able to find much information on the part, but believe it may be the castle grounds.
Bournemouth is a coastal resort town on Channel coast. It was until recet times undeveloped marshy land, including hat is now the gardens. Development began (1840). The land owners granted permission for the area to become a public park (1859). The park was developed separately as Upper, Central, and Lower Gardens. They were combined ino one park (1872). This was at the time that serious development of Bournemouth as a resortv town began with the arrival of the railroad which made the town easily acceable to London holiday makers. A competition to design the Lower Pleasure Ground was won by Philip Henry Tree (1871). He planned out new walks, plantations, and flowerbeds. Improvements to make a pleasant environment followed. There was a major expanson when the Square was laid out and the pavilion was built in the Lower Gardens (1920s). Large ornamental rock gardens and small waterfalls were included along the park facing side of the pavilion. A War Memorial was built in the Central Gardens and the rose beds were planted (1922). The basic design and layout of the gardens, however, hasn't changed significntly since the 1870s. Many different trees and shrubs have been planted. The Upper Gardens was a lake area with bad drainage. The drainage problem was finlly solved with broken pottery. This area now includes four grass tennis courts and a dressing house for people to get changed in. The tennis courts were moved to their current location (1903). The water tower was built over time (1883-1903). The purpose was to create a water wheel which would pump water to an ornamental fountain in the middle of the stream. The most recent improvement was to replant the Upper Gardens to include meadow walks and seating areas (1992). Information boards and fingerposts were put in to point the way to areas of interest. Board walks were built over the marshy areas.
English parks vary greatly in size. Some like the royal parks in London can cover substamtial areas. Others are virtual urban postage stamps. Of course this is especiall true of small towms. Often at the center of many small towns is a sculptured fountain surrounded by both paved areas and greenery often including gardens. Cities common have more real estate around their parks which often comminky have fountains. There are thousands of these small foutain parks throughout England as well as Wales and Scotand. Most fate to the 19th century. They may have been commons earlier, but the sculptured fountains were mostly berrected un the 19th century as the Industrial Revolution brought immense wealth to Britain. Usually these parks do not have names like larger parks. Locals may refer to them simply as 'the Fountain'. They are enjoyed by the locals, giving a destinatioin for a family stroll and chatting with neighboirs. Girls may bring their doll baby carriages along. Boys look forward to testing out their sail boats.
Green Park is one of the Royal Parks set square inn the middle of London. It is in the southern part, basically the core of the City of Westminster, before that zone was extended to the north, to take in Marylebone and Paddington it lay in its north-center of London. It is north of the gardens and the semi-circular forecourt of Buckingham Palace. It was first enclosed (16th century). It was first landscaped (1820). Unlike the other royal parks, it has no lakes or buildings, and only minimal flower planting -- naturalised narcissus which create a treat in Spring.
Heaton Park is one of the best known English parks outside of London. It is Britain's largest family park. Heaton is owned and operated by the Manchester City Council. It is located outside of the city proper, 4 miles to the south.
The City Council has set up an agency to manage the park--Manchester Leisure. They work with a range of commercial organisations and community groups. One of the most popular facility with children is the Animal Centre with three resident alpacas. The Park has facilities for groups to hold meetings and events. The park is centered on Heaton Hall, a magnificent 18th century mannor house, the seat of the Egerton family. The home has many interesting feature, including a charming Orangery. And like all important country homes, there are beautiful grounds and gardens as well as a lake for boating. Manchester Leisure organizes all kinds of special events like astronomy evenings. There are many different children's activities as well as dramatic and musical programs. It is easily acceable through both the motorway network and Metrolink.
London's Hyde Park along with New York's Central Park have to be the tw most famous urban marks in the world. It is aarge prk and one of London's Royal Parks. Hyde Park is the largest of the four parks which form a continuous chain from the entrance of Kensington Palace through Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, via Hyde Park Corner and Green Park, past the main entrance to Buckingham Palace and then on through Saint James's Park to Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall. The park is divided by the Serpentine and the Long Water.
One usually thinks of London when Hyde Park comes up. Manchester, however, also has a Hyde Park. The site was originally the Newton Lodge estate sey in the countryside near Manchester. James Ashton purchased it (about 1620). The lodge house is situated roughly at the center of the site. It vontinued until the 20th century to be a private house and grounds. What is now Hyde Park was domated to the Borough of Hyde by Eveline Mary and Amy Elizabeth Ashton, daughters of Charles James Ashton (1902). It was opened to the punlic as a park (1904). It amenities include paddling pool, tennis court, and bowling green. A new art gallery replaced Newton Lodge (1939). The art gallery was built with a donation of £6,000 by Sir John Bayley. There are open fields to the southern boundary, with Manchester's Clarendon Road beyond. There is a railway along the north-eastern boundary, and a housing development off Lodge Lane to the north-west. The originl lodge is on Park Road. There is now a pleasure ground, with the site sloping down to a stream running through woods along the southern boundary. The site continues extant. The path system has been greatly extended.
Pudsey is a medieval market town in northern England. It is located in West Yorkshire. It has been incorporated into the Leeds metropolitan aea, but is equal distant between Manchester and Leeds. We see a nice, but not huge paddling pool for younger children in the 1920s which the children seem to be enjoying. It looks perfect not only for paddling, but for sailing sail boats. Park benches along the pool are well suited for parents to keep and eyes on the kids. This may be what is mow called just Pudsey Park which is a beautiful green area. Among other things the modern park has a skateboard area and large playground. But we do not see a paddling pool in the park now.
Regent's Park is named after the Prince Regent who became King George IV. It is part of the Roal Parks which nclude Hyde Park. Regent's Park is probably best known for the zoo that the children love. We note a family outing to Regent's Park about the turn-of-the 20th century. England's wonderful canal system extend into the park. A British reader has provided us a view of the canal complex at the park. The Regents Canal flows along the back. You can take a barge ride and get into the zoo from the Zoo canal stop. Quite a few London schools without extensive grounds use the park for their sports lessons. Regent Park Canal is the setting for a story called 'Sky Hunter'. It is a BBC Children's School TV programme in the 'Look and Read' series. These are specially commisioned stories for primary school children . One of best is 'Sky Hunter'. The story is about a group of children who live near Regent canal. They spend alot of of their spare time fishing. One day they meet Perigine Falcon smugglers. The gang is led by a nortorious thief called 'Cat Mary'. There in lies 8 weeks of fun and adventure.
Trafalgar Square in central London is perhaps the most famous urban space in the world. It is located near Whitehall the traditional center of British government. At its center is the huge colum to honor Lord Nelson. The name of the square come from Nelsons great victory at Trafalgur over the comined French and Spanish fleets during the Napoleoic wars (1805). It includes statues and fountains and people love to feed the pigeons. The square is surounded by imposing building, including the National Gallery. London as the city emerged from the medieval era grew up around what is now Trafalgur Square. The area of Trafalgar Square was once the courtyard of the Great Mews stabling for Whitehall Palace (14th and 17th centurues). The area was known as Charing Cross. Architect John Nash after King George IV moved the mews to Buckingham Palace, began to develop a new street from Charing Cross to Portland Place. His concept was for it to be a cultural space open to the public (1812). The site was formally named Trafalgar Square (1830). Construction of the National Galery began (1832). Sir Charles Barry created a plan to develop Trafalgar Square. His concept included the Nelson memorial statue and two fountains (1838). Nelson's Column, designed by William Railton, was erected (1843). The fountains were installed (1845). Sir Edwin Landseer designed the bronze lions situated to stand guard at the base of Nelson's Column, esentially completing the major features of the square (1867). The Imperial Measures were set into the north terrace wall (1876).
Victoria Park is located in Widnes, an industrial town in norher Cheshire a little east of Liverppol. Town Centre. The Park reports tht it holds the prestgious Green Flag award and is regarded as Halton's premier park. We are not entirely sure what a Halton park is. It may be some sort of conservtion association. Victoria Park opened (1900). It was part bof the celebration for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. In recent years, the Heritage Lottery has provided the funding needed to restore Victoria Park to its original splendour. There are attrctions for all afe groups. Interstin ply ares for children as well as a quiet areas to walk your dog. The major features that had disappeared over the years, including the bandstand, fountain, and lake were restblished. The Park has many inviting facilities. There is a secure play facility for the younger children, including an interactive water feature which operates during the summer months). Other facilities include an ice cream kiosk, park pavilion serving snacks and drinks, bowling greens, model boating lake; floodlit tennis ci=ourts, basketball courts, and skate facility. There is also a climbing boulder and glasshouses with pets corner and butterfly house.
Parks primarily invoke leafy green areas, both gardens and naturally forested areas. This is primarily the case in America, perhaps with a fountain or memorial statue at the center in the case of urban parks. While this is also the case in England, we also see many pavilions. A prominent feature of English parks are pavilions. A pavilion is defined as 'a light, usually open building used for shelter, concerts, exhibits, etc., as in a park or fair.' Pavilions can be found in both American and English parks, but they are more common in English parks--especilly the more elaborate, substabtial pavilions. The word is not used as much in American as in England and has more of a connotation of a temporary shelter like a tent. We also see less elaborate pavilions as part of private gardens. While pavillions are often seen as temporary facilities. Many English pavilions are permanent often elaborate structures especially designed for public concerts even during inclemete weather. This seems poractical matter on country where rainy weather is so common.
England has several major urban zoos and in recet years has also developed wildlife, often described as safari parks in the country side. Since ancient times, it had been popular for powerful rulers to maintain menageries of animals, commonly powerful preators like lions and tigers. The first modern zoos were opened in Europe (late-18th century). The first English zoo was the London Zoo (1828). It was not the first zoo, but it was the World's oldest scientific zoo. Iwas situated in the northern edge of Regent's Park. The London Zoo has a current population of 755 different species and a total count of over 16,800 animals. It counts with many firsts desides being the oldest scientific zoo it is also the first zoo to open a Reptile house, Aquarium, Insect house and Children's zoo. The London Zoo is managed by the Zoological Society of London which also manages Whipsnade Zoo where many of the their larger animals have been moved. There are quite a number of other zoos and willife parks located throughout England. Most of the larger cities hve zoos, but not on the same scale of the London Zoo. A medium-size zoo of importance is the Chester zoo. They are olaying n inportant role in breeding enfangered species. Another zoo worth mentioning is the Whipsnade Zoo (1931). It is located near Dunstable in Bedfordshire. The collection includes nearly 230 different species with a population of over 6,400 animals. Whipsnade is a medium size zoo, but it is notble because of the herds of elephants that are allowed to freely roam within the grounds of the zoo. England also has some great Wildlife Park where visitors can enjoy wildlife in natural settings.
An English reader has provided us some information on the park he visited as a boy. He explains just how important these parks were to urban children, most of which did not have yards (back gardens) where they could play.
We notice small paved areas without any greenery. These are not really parks, but need to be mentioned here as they are public areas and we have noticed groups of children sometimes playing there. This includes both squares and plazas as well as circles, commonly traffic circles. The best known plaza area is probably Trafalgur Square in London. The best known circle is surely Piccadilly Circus is in London. It is called a circus from the Latin which meant 'circle', the creason the term was adopted for the modern entertainment form with attractions in circles. There are similar such places in other major British cities. There sometimes were fountains which especially attracted children on hot days. The authorities varied as to the tolerance of children using these public spaces as play areas.
English boys might commonly have worn formal clothes like Fauntleroy suits to the park. Certainly sailor suits were very popular. After World War I (1914-18), park wear became more casual.
London parks are famous world round. As a result, they are often featured in movies. Central Park in New York is commonly used in the same way. Sometimes in the background are children enjoying being in the park. In the 1959 version of the spy thriller 'The 39 Steps', the action starts with Richard Hanney (Kenneth More) walking through Hyde Park. At the Round Pond is a spy sailing a model boat. It is the way microfilm is sent from one spy to another. Two 11-year old schoolboys are also filmed sailing their boat too.
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