Parks and open spaces in Liverpool

Last updated

Liverpool in England has a significant number of public parks and gardens. The Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England describes the city's collection of Victorian parks as the "most important in the country". [1] Liverpool has 10 listed parks and cemeteries, including two Grade I and five Grade II*, more than any other UK city except London. [2] There are over 2,500 acres (10 km2) of parks and open spaces in the city. [3]

Contents

For many centuries, much of the open space was private estate land. In particular, several of the city's grand houses of the Georgian and Victorian eras are now either demolished or in public ownership, with their grounds and gardens given over to the city. However, several parks which were conceived from the outset as public parks are partly modelled on the nearby Birkenhead Park, which was amongst the first of its type in the world.

Historical background

In 1833, the government's Select Committee on Public Walks emphasised the need to provide accessible space for recreation to improve the health of the urban population, defuse social tensions, and allow social classes to mix. From the early 1850s onwards, Liverpool endorsed this policy with the introduction of a ring of major municipal parks through a significant level of investment in public parks. These included parks such as Princes, Sefton, Wavertree, Shiel, Newsham, and Stanley.

List

This list includes all the parks and open spaces included on the website of Liverpool City Council, [4] all the registered parks and gardens in the National Heritage List for England, and a historic park that is now closed.

Key

Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

Explanation of the registered parks and gardens grades
GradeCriteria [5]
IOf exceptional interest
II*Particularly important, of more than special interest
IIOf special interest, warranting every effort to preserve them
Parks, locations, photographs, size, notes and listing, if any
NameMap ref and coordinatesPhotographSizeNotesGrading
Abercromby Square
SJ 359 899
53°24′11″N2°57′54″W / 53.403°N 2.965°W / 53.403; -2.965 (Abercrombie Square)
Abercromby Square and Metropolitan Cathedral Liverpool.jpg The square was built in about 1820 for Liverpool Corporation on heathland called Mosslake Fields. The design was by the Corporation surveyor, John Foster (senior). The buildings around the square are now occupied by the University of Liverpool. [6]
—
Allerton Cemetery Allerton Cemetery - geograph.org.uk - 40793.jpg
34 hectares (84 acres)
The cemetery opened in 1909 in part of the grounds of the Allerton Hall estate. It contains three sandstone chapels, all with steeples. [7] [8] II
Allerton Towers
14 hectares (35 acres)
The park originated as the grounds of Allerton Tower, a house designed by Harvey Lonsdale Elmes and completed in 1849. Liverpool Corporation bought the house and grounds in 1924, and the house was demolished. The park now hosts an outdoors activity centre. [9] [10] [11]
—
Alt Meadows
8 hectares (20 acres)
The newest park in Liverpool, officially opened in March 2014. [12]
—
Anfield Cemetery Anfield Cemetery Feb 11 2010.jpg
57 hectares (140 acres)
The cemetery was built in 1861–64 because those nearer the centre of the city were full. The layout was designed by Edward Kemp, and its buildings were mainly by the local cemetery architects Lucy and Littler. Two of the original three chapels have since been demolished. [13] [14] II*
Belle Vale Park This is a small park in a densely populated part of the city. Close to it is the Lee Valley Millennium Centre. [15]
—
Calderstones Park Calderstones House.jpg
38 hectares (94 acres)
The park has been developed from the grounds of Calderstones House, built in about 1828. The grounds were converted into a park in 1913, and the house is used as council offices. [16] [17] [18]
—
Camphill and Woolton Woods Walled Garden Woolton Woods.JPG
30 hectares (74 acres)
The park has been formed from the adjoining grounds of two houses, Camp Hill, which has been demolished, and Woolton Hall. It contains a walled garden and a floral cuckoo clock. [19] [20]
—
Canalside Park This is a small linear park lying between Vauxhall Road and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. [21]
—
Childwall Woods
16 hectares (40 acres)
This formerly consisted of the grounds of Childwall House, which became a golf clubhouse in 1922. The house and grounds were acquired by the city council in 1939, and the house was demolished in 1949. [22] [23]
—
Clarke Gardens Named after the Clarke family who were the last owners of Allerton Hall and who gave the hall and grounds to the city council. [24]
—
Croxteth Country Park


Craven and Dam Woods

203 hectares (500 acres)
Craven and Dam Woods (75 acres).		This large country park surrounds Croxteth Hall, the former home of the Earls of Sefton. It contains a walled garden and a home farm, both of which are open to the public. [25] [26] [27] [28]


Nearby Craven and Dam Woods, separated from Croxteth Park by Fir Tree Drive but linked via the back of the housing estate, comprise roughly 75 acres of woodland (additional to the 500 acres of Croxteth Country Park proper).

II
Devonfield Garden This is a small community park in a residential part of the city. [29]
—
Doric Park There is a small community park in the Old Swan area. [30]
—
Everton Park Liverpool from Everton Park - geograph.org.uk - 208708.jpg The park was created in the early 1980s on Everton Hill, the highest point in the city. It contains a walled garden and two small lakes. [31] [32]
—
Falkner Square Falkner Square - geograph.org.uk - 673259.jpg This was one of the first public open spaces in Liverpool and was in existence by 1831. Building of the surrounding houses commenced in the 1840s. [33] [34]
—
Greenbank Park Greenbank Park - geograph.org.uk - 35079.jpg The park contains a lake as its centrepiece, which can be used for fishing. It also has a children's playground, a walled garden, and it hosts a graffiti art project. [35]
—
Larkhill ParkMuch of this small park is occupied by a pond, which can be used for fishing. [36]
—
Newsham Park Newsham Park 006.jpg
48 hectares (120 acres)
The park has been developed from the grounds of Newsham House, and was laid out by Edward Kemp. It contains two lakes, a bandstand, and play areas. [37] [38] [39] II*
Norris Green Park
Otterspool Park The park was developed from the grounds of the former Otterspool House. It has been a public park since 1932, and is adjacent to Otterspool Promenade. [40] [41]
—
Princes Park
28 hectares (69 acres)
This was Liverpool's first public park, and was the first park designed by Joseph Paxton. It contains a fishing lake, and children's play areas. [42] [43] [44] [45] II*
Ranelagh Gardens This was the first open space for public recreation in the city, opening in 1722. It closed in the late 1790s, and its site is now occupied by the Adelphi Hotel [46]
—
Reynolds Park
6 hectares (15 acres)
The park has been developed from the grounds of the former Reynolds Park Mansion that burnt down in 1921. It contains a walled garden, a wildflower meadow, a sunken garden, a topiary and a ha-ha. [47] [48]
—
Sefton Park Marie Curie Field of Hope, Sefton Park - geograph.org.uk - 149919.jpg
82 hectares (200 acres)
This large park contains a Grade II* listed Palm House, the Shaftesbury memorial and Eros fountain, the Grade II listed Peter Pan statue, a grotto, a boating lake, a bandstand, and cafés. [49] [50] [51] I
Stanley Park Stanley Park Feb 11 2010 (10).jpg
46 hectares (110 acres)
Laid out between 1867 and 1871, the park was designed by Edward Kemp. It contains the Isla Gladstone Conservatory, lakes, a bandstand and play areas. [52] [53] [54] [55] II*
St James Gardens
4 hectares (9.9 acres)
Situated to the east of Liverpool Cathedral the gardens occupy a sunken site that was formerly a quarry, then a cemetery. Within the gardens is a memorial to William Huskisson. [56] [57] [58] I
St John's Gardens St Johns Gardens Liverpool May 11 2010 4.jpg Adjacent to St George's Hall in the centre of the city, the site was formerly occupied by a church. Opened in 1904 it contains formal gardens, statues to prominent men of Liverpool, and a memorial to King's Regiment (Liverpool). [59] [60] [61]
—
St Nicholas Church Gardens StNicholasGarden.JPG The former churchyard of St Nicolas' Church was laid out as a garden in 1891. It contains a memorial to those who died in the Liverpool Blitz. [62] [63]
—
Toxteth Park and Cemetery Toxteth Park Cemetery - geograph.org.uk - 375107.jpg
16 hectares (40 acres)
This was the first cemetery in the Liverpool area to be created under the Burial Act of 1857. Two of its original three mortuary chapels remain. [64] [65] II
Walton Hall Park
52 hectares (130 acres)
The park was developed in the grounds of Walton Hall, which was demolished in about 1918. It contains a fishing lake, a pool for sailing model boats, and a play area. [66] [67]
—
Wavertree Botanic Garden and Park Botanic Garden and Wavertree Park - geograph.org.uk - 64705.jpg
14.6 hectares (36 acres)
Botanic gardens founded by William Roscoe opened in 1836 and were acquired by the Corporation in 1846. Ten years later the land to the south of the botanic gardens was laid out as a park. The glasshouses were destroyed in the Second World War. The walled garden is still present. [68] [69] [70] [71] II*

Entry to all of these parks is unrestricted in terms of opening hours, with the exception of the walled botanic garden in Wavertree Park; and free of charge in all cases.

Croxteth Country Park

Today Croxteth Hall & Country Park is managed by Liverpool City Council. This park is an example of a working country estate, with the park featuring the historic Hall itself, surrounded by mature woodlands, a collection of rare breed farm animals in the traditional "Home Farm" yard, and a Victorian walled garden. The Hall is Grade II* listed and the Park Grade II. [28]

Academic studies

Academics from the University of Liverpool's School of History have undertaken research on the historic development of parks and open spaces in the city and their future contribution to community development, education, bio-diversity, public health and urban regeneration. The team have worked to compile the first definitive chronology of the city’s parks over the past 200 years and a book should document the changing role of parks, from their prominence during the Victorian era through to the present day. [72]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croxteth Hall</span> Country house and estate in Liverpool, England

Croxteth Hall is a country estate and Grade II* listed building in the West Derby suburb of Liverpool, England. It is the former country estate and ancestral home of the Molyneux family, the Earls of Sefton. After the death of the seventh and last Earl in 1972, the estate passed to Liverpool City Council, which now manages the remainder of the estate following the sale of approximately half of the grounds. The remaining grounds, Croxteth Park, were at one time a hunting chase of the Molyneux family and are now open to the public.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Listed buildings in Widnes</span>

Widnes is an industrial town in the Borough of Halton, Cheshire, England, on the north bank of the River Mersey where it narrows at Runcorn Gap. The town contains 24 buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England as designated listed buildings. Of these, 5 are classified at Grade II*, and the rest are at Grade II; Widnes has no Grade I listed buildings. In the United Kingdom, the term "listed building" refers to a building or other structure officially designated as being of special architectural, historical, or cultural significance. Listed buildings are categorised in three grades: Grade I consists of buildings of outstanding architectural or historical interest; Grade II* includes particularly significant buildings of more than local interest; Grade II consists of buildings of special architectural or historical interest. Buildings in England are listed by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on recommendations provided by English Heritage, which also determines the grading.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Kemp (landscape architect)</span> English landscape architect and author

Edward Kemp was an English landscape architect and an author. Together with Joseph Paxton and Edward Milner, Kemp became one of the leaders in the design of parks and gardens during the mid-Victorian era in England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Picton</span>

Sir James Allanson Picton was an English antiquary and architect who played a large part in the public life of Liverpool. He took a particular interest in the establishment of public libraries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Liverpool</span> Overview of architecture of Liverpool, England

The architecture of Liverpool is rooted in the city's development into a major port of the British Empire. It encompasses a variety of architectural styles of the past 300 years, while next to nothing remains of its medieval structures which would have dated back as far as the 13th century. Erected 1716–18, Bluecoat Chambers is supposed to be the oldest surviving building in central Liverpool.

Liverpool is a city and port in Merseyside, England, which contains many listed buildings. A listed building is a structure designated by English Heritage of being of architectural and/or of historical importance and, as such, is included in the National Heritage List for England. There are three grades of listing, according to the degree of importance of the structure. Grade I includes those buildings that are of "exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important"; the buildings in Grade II* are "particularly important buildings of more than special interest"; and those in Grade II are "nationally important and of special interest". Very few buildings are included in Grade I — only 2.5% of the total. Grade II* buildings represent 5.5% of the total, while the great majority, 92%, are included in Grade II.

Liverpool is a city and port in Merseyside, England, which contains many listed buildings. A listed building is a structure designated by English Heritage of being of architectural and/or of historical importance and, as such, is included in the National Heritage List for England. There are three grades of listing, according to the degree of importance of the structure. Grade I includes those buildings that are of "exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important"; the buildings in Grade II* are "particularly important buildings of more than special interest"; and those in Grade II are "nationally important and of special interest". Very few buildings are included in Grade I — only 2.5% of the total. Grade II* buildings represent 5.5% of the total, while the great majority, 92%, are included in Grade II.

Liverpool is a city and port in Merseyside, England, which contains many listed buildings. A listed building is a structure designated by English Heritage of being of architectural and/or of historical importance and, as such, is included in the National Heritage List for England. There are three grades of listing, according to the degree of importance of the structure. Grade I includes those buildings that are of "exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important"; the buildings in Grade II* are "particularly important buildings of more than special interest"; and those in Grade II are "nationally important and of special interest". Very few buildings are included in Grade I — only 2.5% of the total. Grade II* buildings represent 5.5% of the total, while the great majority, 92%, are included in Grade II.

Liverpool is a city and port in Merseyside, England, which contains many listed buildings. A listed building is a structure designated by English Heritage of being of architectural and/or of historical importance and, as such, is included in the National Heritage List for England. There are three grades of listing, according to the degree of importance of the structure. Grade I includes those buildings that are of "exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important"; the buildings in Grade II* are "particularly important buildings of more than special interest"; and those in Grade II are "nationally important and of special interest". Very few buildings are included in Grade I — only 2.5% of the total. Grade II* buildings represent 5.5% of the total, while the great majority, 92%, are included in Grade II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grade I listed buildings in Liverpool</span>

There are over 2500 listed buildings in Liverpool, England. A listed building is one considered to be of special architectural, historical or cultural significance, which is protected from being demolished, extended or altered, unless special permission is granted by the relevant planning authorities. Of the listed buildings in Liverpool, 27 are classified as Grade I listed and are recognised as buildings of outstanding architectural or historic interest. The following list provides information on all the Grade I listed buildings in the city.

There are over 2500 listed buildings in Liverpool, England. A listed building is one considered to be of special architectural, historical or cultural significance, which is protected from being demolished, extended or altered, unless special permission is granted by the relevant planning authorities. Of the listed buildings in Liverpool, at least 85 are classified as Grade II* listed and are recognised as being particularly important with more than special architectural or historic interest. The following list provides information on all the Grade II* listed buildings located in all the L postcodes outside the city centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grade I listed churches in Merseyside</span>

Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England. It was created by the Local Government Act 1972, and consists of the metropolitan boroughs of Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool. Buildings are listed on the recommendation of English Heritage to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, who makes the decision whether or not to list the structure. Grade I listed buildings are defined as being of "exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important"; only 2.5 per cent of listed buildings are included in this grade. This is a complete list of Grade I listed churches in the metropolitan county of Merseyside as recorded in the National Heritage List for England.

Bootle is a town in Sefton, Merseyside, England. It contains 18 buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England as designated listed buildings, Of these, one is listed at Grade I, the highest of the three grades, one is at Grade II*, the middle grade, and the others are at Grade II, the lowest grade. Bootle was a bathing resort in the early 19th century. Between 1860 and 1900 its population increased nearly ten-fold, due to the building of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the extension of the docks. Before this time, the only listed buildings are those relating to a shooting lodge of the Earl of Derby. The main civic buildings, most of which are no longer used for their original purposes, date from the later years of the 19th century. The other listed buildings are churches, buildings associated with the docks, a statue, and a war memorial.

Maghull is a civil parish and a town in Sefton, Merseyside, England. It contains ten buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England as designated listed buildings. Of these, one is listed at Grade II*, the middle of the three grades, and the others are at Grade II, the lowest grade.

Melling is a civil parish and a village in Sefton, Merseyside, England. It contains 11 buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England as designated listed buildings. Of these, one is listed at Grade II*, the middle of the three grades, and the others are at Grade II, the lowest grade. Apart from the village of Melling, the parish is rural. The listed buildings include houses, farms and associated buildings, a church and associated structures, and an ancient cross.

References

  1. ↑ Dr. Peter Brown, chair, Merseyside Civic Society
  2. ↑ Liverpool City Council News, 23 February 2009
  3. ↑ "Parks and recreation". Liverpool City Council website. Archived from the original on 16 April 2007. Retrieved 23 April 2007.
  4. ↑ Parks and greenspaces , retrieved 24 August 2011
  5. ↑ Grading, English Heritage , retrieved 1 June 2011
  6. ↑ Pollard & Pevsner 2006 , pp. 368–369
  7. ↑ Pollard & Pevsner 2006 , p. 387
  8. ↑ Historic England, "Allerton Cemetery (1001636)", National Heritage List for England , retrieved 2 September 2013
  9. ↑ Allerton Towers, Liverpool City Council, retrieved 23 May 2011
  10. ↑ Pollard & Pevsner 2006 , pp. 391.
  11. ↑ Twist 2000 , pp. 37–38
  12. ↑ Mayor officially opens new Alt Meadows park in Liverpool
  13. ↑ Historic England, "Anfield Cemetery (1000993)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 2 September 2013
  14. ↑ Pollard & Pevsner 2006 , pp. 394–395
  15. ↑ Belle Vale Park, Liverpool City Council, archived from the original on 21 April 2011, retrieved 23 May 2011
  16. ↑ Calderstones Park, Liverpool City Council, retrieved 23 May 2011
  17. ↑ Pollard & Pevsner 2006 , pp. 389.
  18. ↑ Twist 2000 , pp. 29–33
  19. ↑ Camphill and Woolton Woods, Liverpool City Council, archived from the original on 23 April 2011, retrieved 23 May 2011
  20. ↑ Twist 2000 , pp. 34–36, 42–43
  21. ↑ Canalside Park, Liverpool City Council, archived from the original on 21 April 2011, retrieved 23 May 2011
  22. ↑ Childwall Woods, Liverpool City Council, retrieved 23 May 2011
  23. ↑ Twist 2000 , pp. 55–58
  24. ↑ Twist 2000 , pp. 44–45
  25. ↑ Croxteth Country Park, Liverpool City Council, retrieved 23 May 2011
  26. ↑ Pollard & Pevsner 2006 , pp. 406–409.
  27. ↑ Twist 2000 , pp. 62–63
  28. 1 2 Historic England, "Croxteth Hall (1001304)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 2 September 2013
  29. ↑ Devonfield Gardens, Liverpool City Council, retrieved 23 May 2011
  30. ↑ Doric Park, Liverpool City Council, retrieved 23 May 2011
  31. ↑ Everton Park, Liverpool City Council, retrieved 23 May 2011
  32. ↑ Twist 2000 , pp. 59–61
  33. ↑ Falkner Square, Liverpool City Council, retrieved 23 May 2011
  34. ↑ Pollard & Pevsner 2006 , pp. 374
  35. ↑ Greenbank Park, Liverpool City Council, retrieved 23 May 2011
  36. ↑ Larkhill Park, Liverpool City Council, archived from the original on 23 April 2011, retrieved 23 May 2011
  37. ↑ Newsham Park, Liverpool City Council, retrieved 23 May 2011
  38. ↑ Historic England, "Newsham Park (1001536)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 2 September 2013
  39. ↑ Twist 2000 , pp. 17–19
  40. ↑ Otterspool Park, Liverpool City Council, retrieved 23 May 2011
  41. ↑ Twist 2000 , pp. 49–52
  42. ↑ Princes Park, Liverpool City Council, retrieved 23 May 2011
  43. ↑ Historic England, "Prince's Park, Liverpool (1000998)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 2 September 2013
  44. ↑ Pollard & Pevsner 2006 , pp. 451–453
  45. ↑ Twist 2000 , pp. 14–16
  46. ↑ Layton-Jones & Lee 2008 , pp. 4–6.
  47. ↑ Reynolds Park, Liverpool City Council, retrieved 23 May 2011
  48. ↑ Twist 2000 , pp. 46–48
  49. ↑ Sefton Park, Liverpool City Council, retrieved 23 May 2011
  50. ↑ Historic England, "Sefton Park, Liverpool (1000999)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 2 September 2013
  51. ↑ Twist 2000 , pp. 24–28
  52. ↑ Stanley Park, Liverpool City Council, retrieved 23 May 2011
  53. ↑ Historic England, "Stanley Park, Liverpool (1001000)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 2 September 2013
  54. ↑ Pollard & Pevsner 2006 , pp. 395–397
  55. ↑ Twist 2000 , pp. 20–23
  56. ↑ St James Gardens, Liverpool City Council, retrieved 23 May 2011
  57. ↑ Twist 2000 , pp. 2–5
  58. ↑ Historic England, "St James's Cemetery, Liverpool (1001585)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 2 September 2013
  59. ↑ St Johns Gardens, Liverpool City Council, retrieved 23 May 2011
  60. ↑ Pollard & Pevsner 2006 , pp. 335
  61. ↑ Twist 2000 , p. 66
  62. ↑ St Nicholas Church Gardens, Liverpool City Council, archived from the original on 23 April 2011, retrieved 23 May 2011
  63. ↑ Pollard & Pevsner 2006 , pp. 284
  64. ↑ Historic England, "Toxteth Park and Cemetery, Liverpool (1001611)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 2 September 2013
  65. ↑ Pollard & Pevsner 2006 , pp. 474
  66. ↑ Walton Hall Park, Liverpool City Council, retrieved 23 May 2011
  67. ↑ Twist 2000 , pp. 53–54
  68. ↑ Wavertree Botanic Garden and Park, Liverpool City Council, retrieved 23 May 2011
  69. ↑ Historic England, "Wavertree Botanic Garden and Park (1001538)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 2 September 2013
  70. ↑ Pollard & Pevsner 2006 , pp. 413
  71. ↑ Twist 2000 , pp. 9–13
  72. ↑ "Researchers explore history of Liverpool parks". University of Liverpool. Retrieved 23 April 2007.
Bibliography
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.