Mowbray Park, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England
Record Id: 2352
The following is from the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.
HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT
The original site, at first known as People's Park, was acquired by the Borough in 1854/5 as part of the development of the railway; a grant of £750 was obtained towards the cost of the land, part of the Building Hill site, which was secured in 1854. The gardener to Lord Londonderry, Mr Lawson, and Joseph Smith who had worked at Chatsworth were responsible for laying out the park, which opened in 1857 and was later renamed Mowbray Park.
In the 1860s, land north of the railway was identified as suitable for an extension to the park, but although the council agreed to the purchase, many ratepayers were unhappy about the expense. The government sent Robert Rawlinson, who had been responsible for a Public Health enquiry in 1849, and it was on his recommendation that the land was purchased. Following a competition, the park was extended northwards towards the town by James Lindsay (who had not submitted a design), the new addition being known as Mowbray Extension Park. It was opened in July 1866.
Formerly, the Extension Park was overlooked by a vast Winter Garden built and opened in 1879, which stood at the north-west corner of the site, to the south of the museum and library, on the site of the present library (1960s). It was damaged by wartime bombing in 1941 and demolished the following year.
The park remains (1999) in public use and ownership.
People associated with this site
Sculptor: Charles Bacon (born 1821 died 1885)
Sculptor: Edward Behnes
Designer: J. Lindsay (born 1875 died 1900)
Architect: Richard Ray
Designer: Mr Joseph Smith (Known to have been active 1840 to 1857)
Sculptor: Percy Wood (Known to have been active 1850 to 1899)
Features
drinking fountain
Feature created: After 1878
lake
War memorial
Feature created: 1922
Creator: Richard Ray
War memorial with a winged figure of Victory on top of a tall polished Tuscan column. This rises above an ashlar pedestal, on which are carved low-relief down-turned torches and wreathes beneath the inscription panels. Victory holds out a laurel wreath in her right hand and a torch in her left. The whole is set on two steps within a raised and fenced enclosure on the edge of Mowbray Park.
Described as 'possibly the most impressive ceremony ever seen in Sunderland', the inauguration of its First World War memorial was an affecting occasion for the city. A large procession of military and associated units proceeded the unveiling by Colonel Ernest Vaux CMG, DSO and dedication by the Bishop of Durham. Credit was paid to Ray, head of the local art school, who was both sculptor and architect of the monument. Walter Raine MP asked the Mayor to accept the memorial: 'I believe that many thousands will cast an upward glance at it and when they see the figure of Victory they will think of the horrors of war, and be grateful for the blessings of peace.' The dates of the Second World War were added to the Memorial at the end of that conflict.
bandstand
Replica of the 1883 bandstand.
gate
cascade
© Copyright Parks and Gardens Data Services Ltd. 2007