The Gardenesque Style and the rise of Victorian Parks.....

This was most interesting, Floribunda.....I do have childhood memories of lovely parks (in Canada though) and also of neighbourhood parks which would incorporate a wading pool for children. Britain abounds with parks so we are very fortunate indeed to have the green space preserved and some even being brought back to life after neglect.

I have a distant relative who was Parks Commissioner in Chicago, Illinois and in St. Paul, Minnesota and a park was named in his honour. I must go online and dig up the information....this would have been in the late 1800's/early 1900's. I've never visited the parks but my dad went to see the Minnesota parks and was genuinely proud of all that his relative had designed/laid out and to see it still flourishing to this day.

I hope you'll write about some other parks again. Thank you...and nice to see you back in action!

Hello Whistonlass, Why thank you for your lovely comments, I just can't believe how long it has taken me to blog again! This was such a fascinating subject, that I could have done it in several parts.You sound like you have a lot of history in your own family regarding Parks...would love to hear more about it! :~)))

really interesting!I think the parks that were built up and down the country and in the capital~(eg Hyde Park etc) and the places like the Palm house at Kew are such a fantastic legacy ~ think what the cost of just getting the land to do something like that in London now would be~ we owe the Victorians big style!

really enjoyed reading this flori thanx, so interesting, lovely to see you again to ;o))) x

i grew up opposite a lovely victorian park. Belvue park Newport Gwent. I thought it was mine, all of it....the. band stand, trees, swings, park-keepers, daffodils by the thousands..ohh the memories. but what i didnt know was how unusual the trees and plants were. Thomas Mawson designed it in 1893 the trees were brought in from all over the world and people were in awe of them. Where as i thought they were just normal trees..i got into gardening at the age of 30, and have since revisited the park. now i have join those in awe...
when i visied the memoies flooded back. i was keen to see the two greenhouses again, my brother and I use to hang out in there on the colder days.. sadly they are no longer filled with plants. i have been trying to remember what sort of plants were in them one was hot and humid the other hot and dry. i can remember the warmth, and humidity, but alas no memory of the plants. but i have done a little reserch and i bet the one was full of cacti and succulents. i wonder if that has fueled my pasion for such plants...
i have since found singleton park in Swansea they have a series of glass houses the smell... the heat on a cold day....i just love it.
and now we have the Botanic gardens of wales. i enjoy my visits there as have my children as they were growing up...
so yes i to say thanks to those victorians who realised plants and parks were good for us..:-)

stanley park in blackpool was started as early as 1921 when the land was aquired then surrounding buildings knocked down to make bigger covering 256acres it was designed by TH Mawson and sons but mostly done by son edward as his fathers health was failing due to parkinsons desease,finally declared open on oct 2nd 1926 by the earl of derby.sir george edward villiers stanley, it is named after his father the former governor general of canada frederick stanley, so quite alot of history with our park, its beautifull in summer with lovely italian gardens, woodlands, boating lake, a nice cafe which has been restored in the centre and an old clock tower in the middle, now has a fitness centre, tennise courts and flood lit football pitches, childrens playground, mini golf, so much going on and a running track to, ;o))

so we have both enjoyed Mawson gardens Sandra...

yes strange isnt it that both done by them but yours before ours, i must look into the park where i was born as thats very old to in poulton-le-fylde if you remember i did a blog on the church crocus sandra ;o))

found this sandra on how poultons park came about,
The Jean Stansfield Park began its life back in 1926 in memory of Jean, the daughter of Mr and Mrs S F Stansfield, who died tragically at the age of 10 years old.

Jean was a pupil at Westbourne House and her parents donated two acres of land to the people of Poulton to create a park and recreational ground for local children.
isnt it interesting looking into our lovely park lands ;o))

Lovely Flori, I think we can all relate to your blog. Nice to hear so much info on the places we thought of as playgrounds when we were young and enjoy strolling through now. My memory is the park beside Bedford's river Ouse where I used to go with my mum and dad and later on my wedding photos were taken there :-))))

my uncle used to go to MY park to listen to the bands on the bandstand. me being a typical 7 year old soon sussed that if i went and found him i got sweets....but after a while i would sit and listen even if he wasent there.
San what a great way to honour their daughter..

lol did your uncle suss out what you were doing sandra lol
yes a lovely memorial for their daughter sandra, something we would all love to do if we lost a child im sure.

hi bev gud to see you on , love the blog, i remember going to our local park. victoria park in honner of the queen . was allways there. . as you say picnics and bowls lol. xx hope u ok hun xxx ;o))))

Just love youir garden history blogs... this one was fascinating, well done. Give Raff a big pat from me and I'm keeping you inmy prayers :o)

I'm with Pip on all of those sentiments :-)))

Flori....thank you for your comments regarding my distant relative. I have written a blog with some details of his involvement in park development in Chicago and Minneapolis (I mistakingly said it was St. Paul in my first comment).

I'm still doing some research about it all and unfortunately I haven't got any photos as yet....I hope you won't find it too laborious to read!

Sandra....you were a typical 7 yr. old...sweeties from uncle. lol My dad always had peppermints in his cardigan pocket and I knew exactly how to get some...and he would also take me on bus rides as a child to local parks and to watch the trains (he was a train engineer)....happy days!

This is a really lovely blog Flori with so much information. I have fond memories of playing in our local park with my three brothers. I often see them when I go down to Wales for a visit. Hope you are well my friend it is so nice to see you again ;-)))

Thank you so much everybody, for all your memories and historical information regarding Parks you have known and loved...I could never have forseen that this could pick up your interest and fantastic enthusiasm that it has, and I am deeply touched beyond words for all your imput, please keep it coming, as I love to share your memories, or even learn of the Parks that you visit today~ thank you Whistonlass/ Arlene/ San/ Sandra/ Annella/ Cristina/ Pip and Richard....X

thank you Floribunda for jogging my memories...:-)

The park at the end of the road where I was brought up had two lovely park keepers houses, I remembered how much I loved them last night Flori. They both had balconies overlooking the park (one of my wishes) and beautiful gardens. The large gates that where also very beautiful came to mind....then I remembered a few other things about the park....Lol xxx

Can't think what that must have been, Annella, you must still have been in nappies then...LOL!

Lovely to hear from you Sandra... :~))

OOO Annella ... were you remembering the trees and the grass there? lol ;-))

No, not exactly that Rich.....but I do remember some grass :-))))

Hmmm lol :-)))

And looking up at trees....

and birds ....................

..and the stars!!......

And some spotty boy !!!!!

and the park keeper chasing us for climbing the trees...he he he

Oh what great memories this is bringing back! lol, I will have you know that I was a good little girl, not like that Annella......lol! :~)))x

Hmmmmmmm really, no don't believe you..................................I wasn't good, I was great!!

I'm saying nothing......hahaha! I know a deep hole when I'm about to dig one and drop myself right in it! :~)))))x

Good idea Flori....I spent a lot of time in the park...Lol :o)))xxxx

You are indeed an expert on Flora and Fauna then Annella, if you are down there studying that hard my dedicated friend....lolx

trouble is Annella you were looking the wrong way to study these things ..lol, you should have studied astronomy instead! ;-))

What are you saying Rich....

Well you said you like taking photos in your post above Annella, and if you were in the park when it was dusk then by pointing the camera at the sky you could have taken some excellent star pictures .. :-)
I enjoyed my holiday in Ireland thanks it was verra good ;-))

Nice try Rich, but I got the gist of what you were trying to say!! Cheeky :-))

Hope you have a nice day Annella, and a great weekend ;-))

And you Rich :-))

Thanks Annella I have presented Flori with your award on the Somerset Blog ! ;-))

That was very interesting. I'm glad you've started to write these blogs again now. Sorry but I seem to have missed it along the way but have caught up lol
I hope you're ok :o) x

Hello Hywel :-))))

Hi Ann :o) x
Hope you're ok !

I'm fine :-))))))

Good :o) Glad to hear it.

Hywel! My dear friend, how good it is to see you on here! You have quite made my day... :~)) I know I have been sadly lax in completing these...life got in the way,(lol), but I am hoping to get these completed within the near future.....I am so pleased that you popped in to see me again, and that you found this blog interesting, I always value your input, and this has started so many recollections in Goyers about their favourite parks of their childhoods....

I am doing ok, my friend, but bless you for asking...Raff still holding his own.

Hello Annella, Rich and Cristina and all else for your comments...I appreciate every one of them... :~))))x

You are welcome Flori...
...I wondered where you have been.;-)

Hello my friend, good to see you back on here...hope you are well, and life treating you well...we are missing you on our 'Somerset' blog, pop in and say hello to us all \0/x

I have just done that Flori, commented, and not sure where it went

Ah, just found you on Somerset blog too, so it did get there, my friend....So good to have you back among us :~))))))))))))))))))))x

Thanks Flori so good to be with so many good friends ;-)))x

It is so easy to fall behind on GOY, it only takes a few days distraction, and you feel like you will never catch up...or is that just me? Glad to have your Welsh charm back with us, Richard, our little motley crew have all missed you too.... :~)))))

Thanks Flori, It is nice to know that I have been missed. You are right if you leave off from coming on here for a day or so there are loads of posts to catch up on. I have been chatting on the net to friends quite a bit recently about music and singing in particular. Someone has put up a lovely version of Autumn Leaves, very topical for this time of year. There are some very talented singers on there my friend....;-)))

That must be youtube you've been on, yes It can get quite addictive can't it....I really must check it out. With these colder nights coming in, it will be more like 'Hazy shade of Winter'!!
Am getting my plants ready for another one this year, just in case!!!! :~))

Glad you are getting all your plants ready for winter Flori. I have been on YouTube my friend and also had some very good MP3 music files posted to me. Hope you and Raff are keeping well. :-))