Grove Park, Weston-super-Mare, England

Grove Park is a very varied site. The northern area is on higher ground and is wooded with many paths and steps. To the north-west there is an attractive rock garden with several pools. The house at the centre of the park is all that remains of Grove House. To the south of it can be seen the walls (built in 1805) surrounding the rose garden.

A war memorial dominates a rectangular garden to the west of the house (which was bombed during the war). A second memorial to the civilian casualties of the wars stands at the northern end of this area. The war memorial was unveiled on 11th May, 1922.

There is a circular pond and a bandstand to the south. From near the pond a pergola walkway leads to a garden of fragrance containing a shelter, an aviary and a small rectangular pond.

Trees along Lovers' Walk used to form a grove with trees on the site of the present car park. One of these trees has within its branches some of the iron railings thrown there by the blast of the bombs in 1942. In the winter of 1980/81 many young trees were planted around the car park to improve the look of the southern end of the park, and to partially restore the grove from which the house took its name.

Grove Park is recognised as perhaps the finest of Weston-Super-Mare's parks. It is well-maintained by the local authority and well-used by the public. 

The following is from the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.   

A late 19th century public park developed by the Town Surveyor, A E Collins, from existing early- and mid-19th century pleasure grounds.

DESCRIPTION

LOCATION, AREA, BOUNDARIES, LANDFORM, SETTING

Grove Park is situated about 250 metres north-east of the seafront at Weston-super-Mare. The site of about 3 hectares is bounded to the north by Upper Church Road, to the east by Grove Lane, and to the south by Grove Road and a public footpath, Lovers' Walk. To the south-west the site adjoins Lower Church Road, while to the west and north-west it adjoins the gardens of the early 19th century former rectory, Glebe House, and the parish church of St John the Baptist. The boundaries separating the park from public roads and walks are formed by stone walls, those to the south and south-east supporting late 19th century or early 20th century wrought-iron railings. The western boundary adjacent to Glebe House is closed by a brick wall about 2.5 metres high, while other boundaries are formed by fences and hedges. The site slopes steeply from north-east to south-west, allowing views south-west from the high ground across the park and town to Weston Bay and Brean Down. To the north and north-east the site is adjoined by substantial late 19th and early 20th century villas which overlook the park. Grove Park Road is aligned on the northern entrance to the site. Oriel Terrace (about 1847) overlooks the park from its south-west boundary.
 

REFERENCES

J Rutter, Delineations of the North Western Division of the County of Somerset (1829)

J Rutter, The Westonian Guide (1829)

E E Baker, A Chronicle of leading events in the history of Weston-super-Mare in the last fifty years (1887)

E E Baker (ed), John Chilcott's 1822 Guide to Weston-super-Mare (1901)

Avon Past 3, (1980)

S Poole, Weston-super-Mare in Old Photographs (1987)

S Poole, Weston-super-Mare in Old Photographs: 1950s (1991)

D Lambert, Historic Public Parks: Weston-super-Mare (1998)
 

Description written: June 2001

Edited: September 2003