Paul Rabbitts MLA FRSA
Author, Parks Historian, Public Speaker
Parkitecture - Buildings and
Monuments of Public Parks
With many visits to parks looking at bandstands in particular, I do come across many other features of beauty and rich in heritage. Such as? fountains, gates, lodges, bridges, memorials, clocks, sundials, aviaries, cafes, boat houses, railings, statues... even cannons.
So I thought it would be great to add a page as there are some beautiful structures out there. Worth a book on this alone? Yes of course and here it is
Congleton Park - this stunning Walter Macfarlane drinking fountain.
Walter Macfarlane as always leaves his mark
Beckenham Rec - Bromley, great gates and lodge is just superb.
Bedford Park - Bedford - gates dedicated from 1888
Bedford Park - lodge and gates. Lived in and loved.
Embankment Gardens, Bedford - bridge architecture
Victoria Park, Ilkeston - this rather grand pergola
Handsworth Park, Birmingham - a fabulous bandstand here but complemented by these lottery funded restored gates
Stanley Park, Blackpool, Thomas Mawson designed park with some stunning art deco/arts and crafts features within. Fountains, statues, clock tower, boating lake and cafe.
Stanley Park
Great cafe or what
Lister Park, Bradford, another example of fine architecture
Lister Park
Moghul Gardens and the cafe and new boathouse
Queen's Park, Crewe, one of my favourite parks.
McDowall Steven shelter in Queen's Park​
Victoria Park, Denton on Tameside
Borough Gardens
Dorchester, one of the finest clocks in any public park
Borough Gardens
Dorchester, one of the finest clocks in any public park
People's Park, Halifax, and the infamous statues on the upper terrace.
Paxton's finest park, People's Park. The sundial the same as found in Albert Park, Middlesbrough
People's Park, bridge, fountain and bandstand.
Valley Gardens, Harrogate, one of the finest cafes in a park
Beaumont Park, Huddersfield, what a great lodge, and a lion sat watching as you walk by.
Greenhead Park, Huddersfield, packed with historic features and buildings, one of the finest parks in the country.
Conservatory a fabulous functional space today. Fountain flying high.
The impact of benefactors and philanthropy cannot be under-estimated here. Drinking fountains
Hyde Park, Tameside, a great use of stone in this fountain and ionic columns.
Ventnor Park, Isle of Wight. Stunning park lodge.
The Walks, Kings Lynn
The Walks
Jephson Gardens, Leamington Spa
Yet another park packed full of history and our heritage
Fountain in Jephson Gardens and opposite in the Pump Room Gardens, the new arches in place
Roundhay Park, Leeds, shelters rather than bandstands
The Arboretum in Lincoln
Mazes and fountains
Newsham Park in Liverpool
Sefton Park, Palmhouse, Liverpool,
restored and resplendent
Inside the palmhouse
2 of the many statues surrounding the Palmhouse
Stanley Park, Liverpool, Gladstone Pavilion and bandstand restored
Battersea Park, London
Festival Gardens, Battersea Park, London
Myatt's Fields, London
West Ham Park, London
Eaton Park, Norwich, Bandstand, colonnades and Model Yacht Club house
Sheffield Botanical Gardens and the Paxton Pavilions
The Richard Eve Monument, Brinton Park, Kidderminster, with bandstand behind it.
Summer-house,
Bridge End Gardens,
Saffron Walden
Dutch Garden, Bridge End Gardens
Alexandra Park, Oldham, The Lion's Den
Chinese Pavilion
Alexandra Park,
Oldham
Boathouse and cafe, Alexandra Park
Wardown Park, Luton, Daisy Chain Walk
- Photo Dr. Stewart Harding
Fulham Palace, London, Gates and Lodge
Photo Dr. Stewart Harding
Linslade, The Park, Leighton Buzzard
Public Park, Barrow, Cumbria
Mowbray Gardens, Sunderland
Linslade, The Park, Leighton Buzzard
Corporation Park, Blackburn
Birkenhead Park, Wirral, Merseyside
Main entrance and Swiss Bridge
Birkenhead Park, Boat house
The Lodge, Heaton Park, Manchester
Paisley Park, Nr Glasgow. Stunning restoration by Lost Art
Crystal Palace Park, London, the iconic dinosaurs
Waterlow Park, London, and the statue to the benefactor, Sydney Waterlow
Crystal Palace Park, and the tribute to Sir Joseph Paxton
Mary Stevens Park, Stourbridge, one of my favourite parks and beautifully restored.
Vivary Park, Taunton, gates and fountain restored
Victoria Park, London and the Burdett Coutts Fountain, one of the finest features in any park anywhere
The Albert Memorial, Hyde Park, London
Palfrey Park, Walsall, a lovely introduction to a very pleasant park
Town Centre Gardens, Redditch
Albert Park, Middlesbrough
Albert Park, Middlesbrough, central fountain
Forbury Gardens, Reading and the Maiwand Lion - stunning
Dunorlan Park, Tunbridge Wells and the Pulhamite Fountain.
Bushey Rose Garden, Bushey in Hertfordshire, a great restoration of this gorgeous garden
Saltwell Park, Gateshead, a rustic shelter in one of our greatest parks
Hackworth Park, Shildon, a Hill & Smith drinking fountain
Remains of The Pilgrimage of Life Fountain in Kennington Park, London, by George Tinworth. 1872. A sign in the park explains: “This was once a large ornamental fountain that stood in a panelled garden close to today's park playground. The pillar was covered with a bas relief decoration and supported a fountain bowl, slimmer column, and a sculpture, The Pilgrimage of Life. The creation of George Tinworth, the resident sculptor at Doulton's Lambeth factory, the sculpture showed a man carrying a cross with a women and child. The fountain was erected in 1872 and damaged irreparably during the blitz; the sculpture survived until 1981
Kennington Park - The Sexby Gardens and pergola walkway
Kennington Park - Cafe and its open too
Victoria "Bitts" Park in Carlisle and the dominating statue of Queen Victoria
Burslem Park, Stoke on Trent, bandstand and pavilion
Main entrance to Burslem Park, Stoke on Trent and the terracotta fountains.
Parker's Piece, Cambridge, Sun Foundry lighting column
Parker's Piece, Cambridge
Clarence Park, St. Albans, Aberdeen granite drinking fountain
Cricket Pavilion, Clarence Park, St Albans
Danson Park in the LB Bexley, with these rather grand gates.
Town Park, LB Enfield, gates and fountain and the odd plaque telling a story
Gunnersbury Park, LB Ealing and a wonderful gate detail at its main entrance
Gunnersbury Park, temple within the grounds
Gunnersbury House and Museum, its future is??
Stewart Park, Middlesbrough, a well considered restoration of the former Marton Hall's Stable Block
Victoria Park, LB Tower Hamlets
Victoria Park, Burdett Coutts Fountain, Tower Hamlets
Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets, a place for repose, once pedestrian refuges from the old London Bridge (demolished 1831) and erected in Victoria Park in 1860
Caldecott Park, Rugby, main gates.
Caldecott Park, Rugby
St Annes on Sea - a beautiful Macfarlane shelter by the sea.
St Anne's on Sea - a Walter Macfarlane fountain
St Anne's on Sea - and a shelter by McDowall Steven and Co.
Ropner Park, Stockton on Tees
Lurgan Park, Fountain
Bute Park, Cardiff
Corporation Park, Blackburn, a conservatory needing some TLC but still incredibly imposing
The Doulton Fountain, Glasgow Green
Glasgow Green - Winter Gardens ...... ...... and drying Greens
Forbury Gardens, Reading, green with a touch of red
Forbury Gardens, Reading
Queen's Park, Loughborough, Carillon Tower
Abbey Park, Leicester, a rather alarmed looking Cardinal Wolsey
Abbey Park, Leicester, a wonderful pavilion and cafe today
Abbey Park, Leicester
Abbey Park, main entrance