Southampton Central Parks

Last updated

Southampton Central Parks
Watts Park.jpg
Statue of Isaac Watts in West Park
Southampton from OpenStreetMap.png
Red pog.svg
Shown within Southampton
Type Public park
Location Southampton, Hampshire, England
Coordinates 50°54′25″N1°24′10″W / 50.90699°N 1.402667°W / 50.90699; -1.402667
Area21 ha (52 acres)
Created1854-1866
Operated by Southampton City Council
StatusOpen year-round
Awards Green Flag Award
Website Official website
Official nameCentral Parks, Southampton
Designated9 February 1995
Reference no. 1001323

The Southampton Central Parks are a set of five parks, which collectively make a central public park, in the heart of the city of Southampton. Created between 1854 and 1866, they have gained Grade II* listed status, as well as being part of the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. The parks are legally Common Land. [1]

Contents

History

The land on which the parks now lie can trace their formation back to the medieval period, in which the lands surrounded the developing town of Southampton. As a result, they were used as open fields, where locals had Lammas rights - which allowed burgesses (locals of the town) the right to pasture after the harvest. This was usually between August and April. This resulted in the land having many paths crossing it, which form the basis of the paths through the park now. The Marsh Improvement Act 1844 then gave the local authority the power to acquire and then build on the area, as well as Southampton Common. [2] However, public protest led the council to protect 50 acres of this land. Throughout the 1840s, Lammas rights were slowly purchased, allowing development of the park to start. This development was protracted, hence why the parks gradually opened from 1854 to 1866. [3]

West Park and East Park (including the area on which the Civic Centre has been built) were the West and East Magdalens (also known as the Marlands), lands granted for the maintenance of the leprosy hospital of St Mary Magdalene. [3]

Houndwell Park and Palmerston Park both made up the area known as Houndwell Field. The field is named for the stream that arises near the junction of where Pound Tree Road and Sussex Road in now located. The western edge of Hoglands formed the eastern boundary, and a fragment of a boundary bank still survives. The establishment of a new boundary occurred when the southern portion of Palmerston Road was constructed in the middle of the 18th century, alongside the Salisbury and Southampton Canal. [3]

East Park

Statue of Richard Andrews in East Park Statue of Richard Andrews in Southampton.jpg
Statue of Richard Andrews in East Park

East Park, also known as Andrews Park is the largest of all the parks. It was named after Richard Andrews, a former mayor of Southampton. Within the park, there is a statue dedicated to him due to his respected nature after his tenure as mayor. [4] The Statue is made from Portland Stone. [5]

Since 1902 the park has been home to a sundial erected to mark the coronation of Edward VII. [6] It is made from Portland Stone. [5]

The park also has the Titanic Engineers' Memorial, dedicated to those who died when the Titanic sank. Finally, there is the Queens Peace Fountain. This was originally built in 2000, sitting on the site of a past fountain. It was built to commemorate the Queen Elizabeth II service as well as '56 years of Peace'. [7]

Hoglands Park

Hoglands Park is the park that usually holds sports events, as well as festivals, circus' and fairgrounds. This is due to it being a more open space than the other parks. It also has a skate park and a pavilion 'decorated by local artists'. [8] The area was originally known as 'Hogsland'. [3]

Speakers Pedestal

Within the park is Southampton's Speakers' Corner, consisting of steps with a guard rail. It was built in 1971, due to the significant increase in protesters on the recently pedestrianised High Street. As the High Street was still legally a highway, these protesters were arrested, charged and found guilty. To mitigate issues surrounding free speech, the council agreed to construct a speaker's corner in one of the parks, out the way of the shops on the High Street. It was first used on 27 November 1971 by an anti-apartheid group. It is rarely used now, with most protesters using the Guildhall Square. [9]

Houndwell Park

Gas Column in Houndwell Park Gas Column Houndwell Park.jpg
Gas Column in Houndwell Park

Houndwell Park's main attraction is its large playground, the only one in any of the central parks. This playground gets frequent upgrades due to it being well used by locals. The park also houses the memorial to William Chamberlayne, the MP for Southampton between 1818 and 1829. This memorial is called the 'Gas Column', with it standing 50 ft high. It was moved to Houndwell park in 1865. [10]

Water Fountain

Houndwell Park fountain Houndwell Park fountain.jpg
Houndwell Park fountain

In the 1850s Edmund Kell, a local councillor wanted a water fountain to be built in Southampton, with the hope to reduce drunkenness. In 1859, Charles Melly, a philanthropist who encouraged the creation of public drinking fountains, sent a letter to the Southampton corporation, saying he would pay for the fountain. Later that year, it was unveiled on East Street. In 1969, it was moved to its current place in the park - with it no longer being connected to a water supply. [11]

Palmerston Park

Palmerston Park is named after Lord Palmerston, Prime Minister of the UK in the 19th century. There is a 7 ft statue made of Carrara marble [12] dedicated to him, erected four years after his death in 1869. The park also has a bandstand, which was replaced in 1999. The original bandstand from 1885 was removed in 1940 due to bomb damage, as a result of WW2. [13]

West Park

Paul de Monchaux's sculpture, "Enclosure", in Watts Park Paul De Monchaux's 'Enclosure' in Watts Park.jpg
Paul de Monchaux's sculpture, "Enclosure", in Watts Park

West Park, also known as Watts Park, is the western most park. It is named after Isaac Watts, with a statue of him being located in the centre of the Park. The statue faces the Southampton Civic Centre, with the Clock Tower playing his ‘Our God, Our Help in Ages Past’ at 8:00, 12:00 and 16:00 daily. The park also houses the Southampton Cenotaph, which was the model for the Whitehall Cenotaph in London. [14] The statue was placed there in 1861 and is made from Carrara marble, it sits upon a rubislaw granite plinth. [15] In 1985 The inscription on the structure was recut. [15]

Enclosure sculpture

In 2001, the sculpture ‘Enclosure’ by Paul de Monchaux was added to the park. The four metre high stone sculpture frames three skyline landmarks in and around the park. These framed structures are named on the base of the sculpture, with it framing the Cenotaph (though this is blocked by the Issac Watts statue), the Southampton Civic Centre clock tower and the Spire on what was formerly St Peters Church, opposite the Mayflower Theatre. It was paid for by the Lottery Fund. [16] [17]

Lime Tree Avenue

The Lime Tree Avenue runs in a straight line through the parks. It starts at Houndwell Park (at the Gas Column) and runs north through Palmerston Park to East (Andrews) Park, where it stops at the Queens Peace Fountain. The avenue of trees were presented in 1862, by then Mayor of Southampton, Sir Frederick Perkins. This is commemorated by a plaque adjacent to the statue of Richard Andrews. [18]

Notes

1. ^ The information regarding the Queens Peace Fountain is from signage within the park, at its entrance opposite the Cenotaph.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trafalgar Square</span> Public square in London, England

Trafalgar Square is a public square in the City of Westminster, Central London, established in the early 19th century around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. The square's name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, the British naval victory in the Napoleonic Wars over France and Spain that took place on 21 October 1805 off the coast of Cape Trafalgar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wealdstone</span> Human settlement in England

Wealdstone is a district located in the centre of the London Borough of Harrow, England. It is located just north of Harrow town centre and is south of Harrow Weald, west of Belmont and Kenton, and east of Headstone. The area accommodates most of Harrow's industrial and business designated land. Wealdstone was the location of the Kodak Harrow factory; it closed in 2016. Wealdstone is centred on the High Street, and much traffic is bypassed from here by the George Gange Way flyover built in 1996. Its western boundary is formed by Harrow View, across which Headstone Manor lies, whereas on the east is Byron Park and the Belmont Trail. Harrow & Wealdstone station and the council offices are located at its southern end.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Romsey</span> Town in Hampshire, England

Romsey is a town in the Test Valley district of Hampshire, England. The town is situated 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Southampton, 11 miles (18 km) southwest of Winchester and 17 miles (27 km) southeast of Salisbury. It sits on the outskirts of the New Forest, just over 3 miles (4.8 km) northeast of its eastern edge. The population of Romsey was 14,768 at the 2011 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rochdale</span> Town in Greater Manchester, England

Rochdale is a town in Greater Manchester, England, and the administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale. In the 2021 census the town had a population of 111,261, compared to 223,773 for the wider borough. Rochdale is in the foothills of the South Pennines and lies in the dale (valley) of the River Roch, 5 miles (8 km) northwest of Oldham, and 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Manchester.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parliament Square</span> Square in London, England

Parliament Square is a square at the northwest end of the Palace of Westminster in the City of Westminster in central London, England. Laid out in the 19th century, it features a large open green area in the centre with trees to its west, and it contains twelve statues of statesmen and other notable individuals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southampton City Council</span> Local government body in England

Southampton City Council is the local authority of the city of Southampton in the ceremonial county of Hampshire, England. Southampton has had a council since medieval times, which has been reformed on numerous occasions. Since 1997 the council has been a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council; it is independent from Hampshire County Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lustleigh</span> Village in Devon, England

Lustleigh is a small village and civil parish in the Wray Valley, inside the Dartmoor National Park in Devon, England. It is between the towns of Bovey Tracey and Moretonhampstead. The village has often been named in various publications as being amongst the best or prettiest villages in the country, particularly due to the traditional thatched buildings in the village centre, and local activities such as the Lustleigh Show. That has also led to it being noted as the most expensive rural location in which to buy a house.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria Park, Regina</span> Municipal park in Regina, Saskatchewan

Victoria Park is a public park in the centre of downtown Regina, the capital of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waverley Park (Thunder Bay)</span> Park in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

Waverley Park is a public park located in the north end of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. It is the second oldest municipal park in Ontario. The park forms the centre of the Waverley Park Heritage Conservation District, a collection of historical homes, churches, schools, and other buildings at the centre of Port Arthur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leyton Marsh</span> Open space in Leyton, London

Leyton Marsh is an open space in the Lower Lea Valley, located in Leyton in the London Borough of Waltham Forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen's Park, Bolton</span> Park in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England

Queen's Park is a roughly circular 22 acres (8.9 ha) Victorian park lying on sloping ground to the north-west of Bolton town centre, in Greater Manchester, England. Opened as Bolton Park on 24 May 1866 by Lord Bradford it was renamed in 1897 in honour of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Centre, Bristol</span> Open space in Bristol, England, UK

The Centre is a public open space in the central area of Bristol, England, created by covering over the River Frome. The northern end of The Centre, known as Magpie Park, is skirted on its western edge by Colston Avenue; the southern end is a larger paved area bounded by St Augustine's Parade to the west, Broad Quay the east, and St Augustine's Reach to the south, and bisected by the 2016 extension of Baldwin Street. The Centre is managed by Bristol City Council.

<i>Titanic</i> Engineers Memorial

The Titanic Engineers' Memorial is a memorial in East (Andrews) Park, Southampton, United Kingdom, to the engineers who died in the Titanic disaster on 15 April 1912. The bronze and granite memorial was originally unveiled by Sir Archibald Denny, president of the Institute of Marine Engineers on 22 April 1914. The event was attended by an estimated 100,000 Southampton residents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Cenotaph</span> War memorial in Whitehall, London

The Cenotaph is a war memorial on Whitehall in London, England. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, it was unveiled in 1920 as the United Kingdom's national memorial to the dead of Britain and the British Empire of the First World War, was rededicated in 1946 to include those of the Second World War, and has since come to represent the Commonwealth casualties from those and subsequent conflicts. The word cenotaph is derived from Greek, meaning 'empty tomb'. Most of the dead were buried close to where they fell; thus, the Cenotaph symbolises their absence and is a focal point for public mourning. The original temporary Cenotaph was erected in 1919 for a parade celebrating the end of the First World War, at which more than 15,000 servicemen, including French and American soldiers, saluted the monument. More than a million people visited the site within a week of the parade.

Memorials and monuments to victims of the <i>Titanic</i>

Memorials and monuments to victims of the sinking of the RMS Titanic exist in a number of places around the world associated with Titanic, notably in Belfast, Liverpool and Southampton in the United Kingdom; Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada; and New York City and Washington, D.C. in the United States. The largest single contingent of victims came from Southampton, the home of most of the crew, which consequently has the greatest number of memorials. Titanic was built in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and had a "guarantee party" of engineers from shipbuilders Harland and Wolff aboard all of whom were lost in the disaster and are commemorated by a prominent memorial in the city. Other contingents of engineers aboard the ship came from the maritime cities of Liverpool in England and Glasgow in Scotland, which erected their own memorials. Several prominent victims, such as Titanic's captain, were commemorated individually. Elsewhere, in the United States and Australia, public memorials were erected to commemorate all the victims.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">God's House Tower</span> Gateway in Winkle Street/Town Quay, Southampton

God's House Tower is a late 13th century gatehouse into the old town of Southampton, England. It stands at the south-east corner of the town walls and permitted access to the town from the Platform and Town Quay. It is now an arts and heritage venue, and has previously served as the town gaol and housed the Museum of Archaeology. The building is Grade I listed and a scheduled ancient monument.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gore Park (Hamilton, Ontario)</span>

Gore Park is a town square or urban park located in downtown Hamilton, Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Floyd protests in the United Kingdom</span> 2020 anti-racism protests in the UK

Protests were held across the United Kingdom following the murder of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American man, by a police officer in the United States on 25 May 2020. Immediately following his murder, protests and riots occurred in dozens of cities across the United States. Protests were staged internationally for the first time on 28 May, with a solidarity demonstration outside the United States Embassy in London. They took place during the UK COVID-19 pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of Robert Milligan</span> Sculpture by Richard Westmacott

A statue of Robert Milligan was installed at the West India Docks in London, in 1813. Milligan was a merchant, and was largely responsible for the construction of the West India Docks. After being put in storage in 1943, it was re-erected by the London Docklands Development Corporation in 1997.

References

  1. "Central Parks". Southampton.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  2. Rance, Adrian (1986). Southampton An Illustrated History. Milestone Publications. p. 113. ISBN   0903852950.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "History of Central Parks, Southampton". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  4. "List of Southampton Mayors" (PDF). Southampton City Council. 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  5. 1 2 Wadham, Anthony w. Building Stones of Southampton Four Geological Walks Around the City Centre. Southampton Geology Field Study Group. p. 17.
  6. "SUNDIAL, ANDREWS PARK (OFF ABOVE BAR STREET)". historicengland.org.uk. Historic England. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  7. "East Park". www.southampton.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  8. "Hoglands Park". www.southampton.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  9. "Southampton's Speakers' Corner". In-common.co.uk. Martin Brisland. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  10. "Houndwell Park". www.southampton.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  11. Leonard, A. G. K. (2005). Southampton Memorials of Care for Man and Beast. pp. 1–8.
  12. Wadham, Anthony W. Building Stones of Southampton Four Geological Walks Around the City Centre. Southampton Geology Field Study Group. p. 26.
  13. "Palmerston Park". www.southampton.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  14. "West Park". www.southampton.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  15. 1 2 Wadham, Anthony w. Building Stones of Southampton Four Geological Walks Around the City Centre. Southampton Geology Field Study Group. p. 18.
  16. "West Park". www.southampton.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  17. Pevsner, Nikolaus (March 1997). Hampshire and the Isle of Wight (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England). Yale University Press. p. 524. ISBN   0300096062.
  18. "Houndwell Park". southampton.gov.uk. Retrieved 27 June 2024.