53°25′08″N2°56′24″W/ 53.419°N 2.940°W
| Newsham Park | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Type | Public Park |
| Location | Liverpool,England,UK |
| Area | 121 acres (490,000 m2) |
| Created | 1868 |
| Operated by | Liverpool City Council |
| Status | Open all year |
Newsham Park(locally/njuːʒəm/) inLiverpool,England is a 121 acres (49 ha)Victorianpublic park. To the east of it is theCanada Dock branchrailway line, and to the north is West Derby Road. The park is protected as a Grade II* listed site.
History
editThe park was opened in 1868. In 1877, it was the site for that year'sRoyal Agricultural Show.[1]
Newsham Park was the first individual work of the landscape architectEdward Kemp,an understudy ofJoseph Paxtonwho was responsible for the grounds atChatsworth Houseand the design ofBirkenhead Park,a city park that became a working model for the creation of Manhattan'sCentral Park.
Facilities and attractions
edit- The Grade II listed Newsham House, where Queen Victoria once stayed. Now used as Judges' lodgings.
- The Grade II listed Seamen's Orphan Institution.
- Fishing lakes with roach, carp and tench (registration permit required).
- Children's play area
- Lakeview Kiosk (open 9 am-5 pm)
Description
editThe park is part of a set of Victorian public parks within Liverpool, includingStanley Park,Walton Hall Park,Princes Parkand the largest of the group,Sefton Park.
It is built on land purchased by the Liverpool Corporation from the Molyneux Estate. The development of the park was funded by the sale of plots for the construction of housing. Consequently, the park is fringed by Victorian housing, some of which is currently empty and derelict.[2]The area has been awardedConservation Areastatus, a legal protection against development to protect and preserve the Victorian architecture.
The park contains two large lakes, the smaller of which hosts the sailing of model boats. The larger lake historically offered rowing boats for hire, but they are no longer present. It is currently used for fishing. The lake has a historical reputation linked to the matrons of the former orphanage, who allegedly employed extreme disciplinary measures on unruly children. According to accounts, they would submerge the children's heads in the water until the brink of drowning, only releasing them when they were in a state of distress and pleading for the practice to cease. It is now reported that visitors have heard the sounds of children screaming near the lake during the night, along with the bubbling of the water.
Buildings
edit
The park also has several important buildings, including the Grade II listed Seaman's Orphanage — a building later converted toNewsham Park Hospitaland subsequently earmarked for development as luxury apartments, which never happened. most notably due to the extensive sightings of supernatural activity. Another building within the park isNewsham House,which is the residence for judges attending theCrown Courtin Liverpool and was visited byQueen Victoria.
In 2004 work commenced on the Academy of St. Francis of Assisi, a secondary school (11–16) under the UK Government'sCity Academyprogramme. The school is a modern four-storey building at the western end of the park, and its contemporary style caused some friction with local residents who felt that it was at odds with the park's Conservation Area status.[citation needed]
The now-closedStanley railway stationwas located in the south east corner and the similarly closedTue Brook railway stationto the north east.
Present day
editThe park has been placed byEnglish Heritageon itsHeritage at Risklist because of its "poor" condition and because the trend is towards deterioration.[3]
On the 30 July 2012 Newsham Park's lakes were temporarily closed due to potentially toxic blue-green algae.[4]They were later reopened.
In 2012 a Kiosk was built, which opens from 9 am to 5 pm.[5]
References
edit- ^"The Royal Agricultural Show at Liverpool".Wrexham Guardian.14 July 1877.Retrieved9 January2021– via National Library of Wales.
- ^"Archived copy".Archived fromthe originalon 14 October 2008.Retrieved26 May2009.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^Newsham Park, Liverpool,English Heritage,retrieved24 March2015
- ^Liverpool Echohttp:// liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/newsham-park-lake-closed-after-7298172
- ^Project Newsham Parkhttp:// projectnewshampark.org/joomla/
External links
edit