Weston Park, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England

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

HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT

In July 1873, Weston Hall and grounds, built by Thomas Harrison, Sheffield saw-maker, were purchased from the Harrison Trust, by the Sheffield Corporation, under the Public Health Act 1848. The grounds were modified for use as a public park by Robert Marnock, who used much of the existing layout in his design. The park, the first bought with public funds to be made available to the people of Sheffield, was opened in September 1875, at which time the Hall was altered to make a museum. This was subsequently extended by the addition of the Mappin Art Gallery, opened in July 1887, which was the gift of John Newton Mappin, a Rotherham brewer who bequeathed £15,000 for the buildings and also presented works of art. In 1934, Alderman J G Graves presented £27,000 to the city for the reconstruction and enlargement of the old museum, the present building covering the flower garden and fountain which had stood to the north of the original park entrance. A Festival of Britain conservatory was added in 1951 and the following year exchanges of land with the adjacent Sheffield University resulted in the construction of a new building on Winter Street on the site of an earlier entrance gate, lodge and outbuilding. The park remains (1999) a well-used public open space.