People's Park, Halifax, West Yorkshire, England
Record Id: 2609
The following is from the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.
HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT
People's Park was presented to the town of Halifax by the manufacturer Sir Frances Crossley who is said to have conceived of the idea while enjoying the 'grand scenery of the White Mountains' in America (Chadwick 1966). Crossley commissioned Paxton (1803-65) to design the park which was laid out on an area of open fields, as shown on the 1848 OS map. The park provided for quiet enjoyment of the scenery and for walking, and all meetings, games and dancing were forbidden. Crossley made an endowment which initially provided enough money for maintenance but gradually reduced in value, so that Halifax Corporation had to take over responsibility. The park is a public park owned by Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council. It is currently (2000) undergoing restoration.
People associated with this site
Sculptor: Joseph Durham (born 1814 died 1877)
Architect: John Hogg (Known to have been active 1825 to 1875)
Designer: Edward Milner (born 20/01/1819 died 26/03/1884)
Designer: Sir Joseph Paxton (born 03/08/1803 died 08/06/1865)
Architect: George Henry Stokes (born 1827 died 1874)
Features
bandstand
lake
promenade
entrance
sundial
pavilion
The Crossley Pavilion.
terrace
boundary wall
A wall along the east side of the park is surmounted by ornamental cast-iron railings (late 20th-century reproduction of originals by Brooks of Brighouse removed during the Second World War).
balustrade
© Copyright Parks and Gardens Data Services Ltd. 2007