Preston Park, Brighton

Last updated

Preston Park, Brighton
Preston Park Bollard.jpg
An eastward view of Preston Park
Preston Park, Brighton
TypePublic park
Location Brighton
Area63 acres
Created1884
Operated by Brighton & Hove City Council
Open24 hours
StatusOpen year round
Public transit access Preston Park railway station

Preston Park is a park near Preston Village in the city of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England. It is located in Preston Park ward to the north of the centre of Brighton, and served by the nearby Preston Park railway station. [1] Preston Park is also one of the wards of Brighton and Hove City Council. The population at the 2011 census was 14,911. [2]

Contents

Overview

Captain Bertie Hubbard MacLaren conceived the idea of the rock garden B H MacLaren.jpg
Captain Bertie Hubbard MacLaren conceived the idea of the rock garden

It is one of Brighton's largest parks, with 63 acres (250,000 m2) of lawns, formal borders and rose gardens, bowling greens, tennis courts and a small pond. It was bought in 1883 by Brighton Corporation (then Brighton's local council) from Mr William Bennett-Stanford [4] who owned the Preston Manor estate and had begun to develop the park as enclosed pleasure grounds. The costs of the purchase (£50,000) and initial layout (£22,868) were funded with a bequest of £70,000 from a local bookmaker, William Edmund Davies in 1879. The park was formally declared open on 8 November 1884.

The Brighton and County Polo Club, started by Lt. Col. Robert McKergow in 1904, was based in Preston Park. [5] An earlier club, the International Gun and Polo Club, founded by George Mashall in 1874, used grounds in Preston, probably Preston Park, though the club itself was based in the Bedford Hotel. [5]

The park remains green throughout the summer because of a non-drinkable underground water source, known as the Wellesbourne, which runs below Preston Park, London Road and The Level. The source dates back many centuries and is often referred to as Brighton's lost river. In 2000, after torrential rain, it rose and caused considerable damage. [6]

The park is host to various annual events including the festival at the end of the Brighton & Hove Pride parade, [7] the start of the Brighton Marathon, [8] a circus during the Brighton Festival, a large starting event for the Take Part sports festival, and, from 20 April 2013, Parkrun, a free 5 km run open to all runners and joggers at 9am every Saturday. [9]

Opposite the park, across the main London Road, is The Rockery—the largest municipal rock garden in Britain [4] built up the side of a steep railway embankment. Various pathways and streams wind through its grounds. It was originally a wooded area which had been purchased along with the land used for the main park; it was landscaped into its present form in 1935 by Captain B Maclaren. Originally, the area was known as "The Rookery", referring to the tall trees in the former wood which were frequented by rooks. Over time, the name was modified into "The Rockery".

The surrounding neighbourhood is also widely referred to as Preston Park. It is distinct from the further outlying Preston Village.

Velodrome

Preston Park Velodrome, situated in the north-east corner, is the oldest velodrome in the UK having been opened on 12 May 1877, [10] and is the oldest, working velodrome in the world. It was constructed by hand by the British Army and originally had a surface of cinders, replaced in 1936 by a tarmac surface. During the 1950s, Bank Holiday events would attract large crowds to watch riders such as Reg Harris race. [10]

Unlike most modern velodromes which have two straights separated by a curved bend at each end, Preston Park velodrome has four straights of unequal length. A single lap is 579.03 metres (633.23 yards). [11]

In January 2015 British Cycling issued a statement indicating that they had assessed the track as being unfit for racing, and that they would not sanction competition at the velodrome for the summer of 2015. [12] Soon after, a 'Save Preston Park Cycle Track' campaign started. Local cyclist Rupert Rivett started a Facebook community page relating to the campaign which received over 4,000 likes in two days. [13] In January 2016 British Cycling announced that it would contribute £110,000 of the £160,000 needed to repair and reopen the track, with the remainder of the required funding coming from Section 106 financial contributions made by developers as part of planning applications. [14]

Statue theft

In 2007, a statue of athlete Steve Ovett by Peter Webster was stolen by a 44-year-old woman, of no fixed address. The woman was later arrested. Part of the statue, which had been sliced off at the ankle, was recovered but police believe that it had been sold to scrap dealers. [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Velodrome</span> Arena for track cycling

A velodrome is an arena for track cycling. Modern velodromes feature steeply banked oval tracks, consisting of two 180-degree circular bends connected by two straights. The straights transition to the circular turn through a moderate easement curve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brighton</span> Seaside resort on the south coast of England

Brighton is a seaside resort and one of the two main areas of the city of Brighton and Hove in the county of East Sussex, England. It is located 47 miles (76 km) south of London. Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze Age, Roman and Anglo-Saxon periods. The ancient settlement of "Brighthelmstone" was documented in the Domesday Book (1086). The town's importance grew in the Middle Ages as the Old Town developed, but it languished in the early modern period, affected by foreign attacks, storms, a suffering economy and a declining population. Brighton began to attract more visitors following improved road transport to London and becoming a boarding point for boats travelling to France. The town also developed in popularity as a health resort for sea bathing as a purported cure for illnesses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brighton and Hove</span> City and unitary authority in England

Brighton and Hove is a unitary authority with city status in East Sussex, England. There are multiple villages alongside the seaside resorts of Brighton and Hove in the district. It is administered by Brighton and Hove City Council, which is currently under Labour majority control.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Ovett</span> British former middle distance runner

Stephen Michael James Ovett, is a retired British track athlete. A middle-distance runner, he was the gold medalist in the 800 metres at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. Ovett set five world records for 1500 metres and the mile run, and a world record at two miles. He won 45 consecutive 1500 and mile races from 1977 to 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Withdean Stadium</span> Athletics stadium

Withdean Stadium is an athletics stadium in Withdean, a suburb of Brighton. It was constructed in 1930. It was the home track of Olympic athlete Steve Ovett. Between 1999 and 2011 it was the home ground of football team Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brighton Pavilion (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom

Brighton Pavilion is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Caroline Lucas of the Green Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1950 onwards

Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2017 by Lloyd Russell-Moyle, currently an Independent after he was suspended by the Labour Party in May 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Valley VeloPark</span> Velodrome in Stratford, London, England

Lee Valley VeloPark is a cycling centre in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, London, England. It is owned and managed by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, and it was opened to the public in March 2014. The facility was one of the permanent venues for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Brighton and Hove City Council is a unitary authority in East Sussex, England. It was created as Brighton and Hove Borough Council on 1 April 1997 replacing Brighton and Hove Borough Councils. It was granted city status in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herne Hill Velodrome</span> Outdoor velodrome in Herne Hill, south London

The Herne Hill Velodrome is an outdoor velodrome in Herne Hill, in south London. It is one of the oldest cycling tracks in the world, having been built in 1891. It hosted the track cycling events in the 1948 Summer Olympics and was briefly the home of Crystal Palace Football Club during World War I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brighton Pride</span> Annual LGBTQ+ event in Brighton and Hove, England

Brighton and Hove Pride is an annual LGBT pride event held in the city of Brighton and Hove, England, organised by Brighton Pride, a community interest company (CIC) who promote equality and diversity, and advance education to eliminate discrimination against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT culture in Brighton and Hove</span> Cultural and demographic feature of Brighton and Hove

The LGBT community of Brighton and Hove is one of the largest in the United Kingdom. Brighton, a seaside resort on the south coast of England, has been described in some media as a "gay capital" of the UK, with records pertaining to LGBT history dating back to the early 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Brighton and Hove</span>

Public transport in Brighton and Hove, a city on the south coast of England, dates back to 1840. Brighton and Hove has a major railway station, an extensive bus service, many taxis, coach services, and it has previously had trolley buses, ferries, trams, auto rickshaws and hydrofoils.

Peter Webster is an English artist and sculptor, best known for his sculpture of the British athlete Steve Ovett, which was exhibited in Preston Park, Brighton, before its theft. Webster created a replacement which was installed on Brighton seafront in 2012 as part of the celebrations for the London Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palmer Park Stadium</span>

Palmer Park Stadium is located in Palmer Park, Reading. It contains an outdoor velodrome and an athletics stadium. Set in acres of parkland, the stadium provides a focal point for a variety of indoor and outdoor leisure activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tower House, Brighton</span> Grade II listed building in Brighton, United Kingdom

Tower House is a former private house in the Withdean area of the English coastal city of Brighton and Hove. Built in 1902 for a former jeweller to King Edward VII, it remained in private ownership until it was converted into flats and a daycare centre in 1988. It is one of the few large houses and villas to survive in the high-class Withdean area—many were demolished in favour of blocks of flats after World War II—and it has been described as "Brighton's finest example of a grand Edwardian house". English Heritage has listed the building at Grade II for its architectural and historical importance.

Sport in Sussex forms an important part of the culture of Sussex. With a centuries-long tradition of sport, Sussex has played a key role in the early development of both cricket and stoolball. Cricket is recognised as having been formed in the Weald and Sussex CCC is England's oldest county cricket club. Slindon Cricket Club dominated the sport for a while in the 18th century. The cricket ground at Arundel Castle traditionally plays host to a Duchess of Norfolk's XI which plays the national test sides touring England. The sport of stoolball is also associated with Sussex, which has a claim to be where the sport originated and certainly where its revival took place in the early 20th century. Sussex is represented in the Premier League by Brighton & Hove Albion and in the Football League by Crawley Town. Brighton has been in the Premier League since 2017 and has been a League member since 1920, whereas Crawley was promoted to the League in 2011. Brighton & Hove Albion W.F.C. play in the FA Women's Super League from 2017. Sussex has had its own football association, since 1882 and its own football league, which has since expanded into Surrey, since 1920. In horse racing, Sussex is home to Goodwood, Fontwell Park, Brighton and Plumpton. The All England Jumping Course show jumping facility at Hickstead is situated 8 miles (13 km) north of Brighton and Hove.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Preston Park Velodrome</span>

The Preston Park Velodrome is an outdoor velodrome in the north-east corner of Preston Park in Brighton, United Kingdom. It is the oldest velodrome in the United Kingdom having been opened on 30 May 1887. It is also thought to be the oldest, working velodrome in the world that still uses its original track design. The only known older working velodrome is the Andreasried Velodrome in Erfurt, Germany which originally opened in 1885 but was later reconfigured from 333m to 250m in 2006-07.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Brighton and Hove City Council election</span> English local election

The 2023 Brighton and Hove City Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Brighton and Hove City Council, England. This was at the same time as other local elections in England. Due to a boundary review, there was a change in ward boundaries, but the city council continued to comprise 54 members.

References

  1. ↑ "Preston Park Ward". Openly Local. Archived from the original on 7 September 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  2. ↑ "Brighton and Hove ward population 2011" . Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  3. ↑ A Well Kept Secret: The Largest Municipal Rock Garden in Britain
  4. 1 2 "Rockery history". mybrightonandhove.org.uk. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  5. 1 2 Horace A. Laffaye, Polo in Britain: A History, Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 2012, p. 24
  6. ↑ "Aid hopes for flooded farmers". BBC. 12 November 2000. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
  7. ↑ "About Pride". Pride in Brighton & Hove. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  8. ↑ "The Course". Brighton Marathon. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  9. ↑ "Weekend Events > Preston Park". Take Park Brighton & Hove. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  10. 1 2 "Cycling at Preston Park Velodrome". Brighton & Hove City Council. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  11. ↑ "Tracks in the UK". Road Cycling UK. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  12. ↑ Windsor, Richard (22 January 2015). "Preston Park Velodrome receives racing ban over safety fears". Cycling Weekly . Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  13. ↑ Save Preston Park Cycle Track. Accessed: 15 October 2015.
  14. ↑ Clarke, Stuart (11 January 2016). "British Cycling funding package set to save racing at Preston Park velodrome". Cycling Weekly . Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  15. ↑ Pilditch, David (5 September 2007). "Who did a runner with Ovett's statue?". Daily Express. Retrieved 24 March 2009.

50°50′29″N00°08′52″W / 50.84139°N 0.14778°W / 50.84139; -0.14778

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.