Queen's Park, Loughborough, Leicestershire, England
Record Id: 4269
In 1894 the Borough of Loughborough Jubilee Committee discussed plans to acquire part of the Island House Estate to create a municipal park. Mr F. R. Griggs sold four acres (1.6 hectares) of the estate at a cost of £1,500. The park was called Queen's Park in celebration of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.
Further donations were made by citizens of Loughborough in 1897. Plans were also made to build municipal baths within the park. The baths were opened in 1898 along with the Volunteer Drill Hall.
Queen's Park was officially opened on 7 June 1899, two years after the Diamond Jubilee. An Ordnance Survey map dating from 1901 shows that one acre (0.4 hectares) of the park was taken up by the Memorial Baths and Volunteer Drill Hall. This left three acres (1.2 hectares) of park with an ornamental pool.
In 1902 a bandstand was presented to the borough to commemorate the Coronation of Edward VII. It was erected on a site opposite the baths, but moved in 1908 to its present location towards the centre of the park.
By 1904 the park had two entrances from Granby Street. A 'figure-of-eight' walk was laid out in the Picturesque style. The ornamental pool remained and was crossed by a rustic bridge.
The park corporation acquired an additional six acres (2.4 hectares) in 1908. New paths were made and trees planted. Between 1908 and 1918 a second lake and stream were created. The soil from this excavation was used to create a raised table for a bowling green.
In 1916 a final area of land was purchased by the borough thus creating the park that can be seen today (2008). The land was acquired from the site of the old Bleach Yard from the adjoining Dye Works.
Early in 1918 the Mayor of Loughborough decided to erect a war memorial for those who had fought and died during the First World War. It was proposed that it should take the form of a carillon tower because of Loughborough's worldwide reputation for bell-making. The foundation stone was laid in 1922 and the memorial was unveiled in 1923. It was also at this time that formal paths were laid out around the memorial. These contrasted with the earlier, Picturesque-style park. In 1928 the ornamental bridges were also changed to stone to match in with the Carillon Tower.
In 1955 an aviary was opened and stocked by the Loughborough Budgerigar and Foreign Bird Society. This was later moved to its present location by the Memorial Baths during the 1980s. Also during the 1980s a lake with an island was removed and replaced with the present (2008) much narrower linear watercourse. The island had provided refuge for waterfowl, which largely disappeared from the park with the change. The lake was also fully fenced, but this was also removed.
From 2006 to 2007 Charnwood Borough Council began a series of developments in a bid to achieve a Green Flag Award. These plans are due to be completed in 2008.
Site timeline
1894: Four acres of land were purchased by Loughborough Jubilee Committee to form Queen's Park.
1897: Plans were made to build municipal baths in the park.
1898: The Memorial Baths and Volunteer Drill Hall were opened for the first time.
1899: The park was officially opened on 7 June 1899.
1902: A bandstand was presented to the borough and erected on a site opposite the public baths.
1908 to 1918: The bandstand was moved to its present location towards the centre of the park. A second ornamental lake and stream was added. The soil from this excavation was used to create a raised table for a bowling green.
1908: The Corporation acquired an additional six acres of land. New paths were made and trees planted.
1910: The Bowling Club is established.
1916: The borough purchased the final piece of land to complete the park in the size and shape we know it today.
1918 to 1923: The Mayor of Loughborough decided to erect a war memorial in 1918. In 1922 the foundation stone was laid and the memorial was unveiled in 1923.
1921: An OS map of 1921 shows that tennis courts had been built.
1928: The ornamental bridges over the watercourses were changed from rustic to stone to match the balustrade around the Carillon Tower.
1955: An aviary was opened.
1960: Two play areas were created.
1980 to 1989: A lake with an island was removed and replaced with the present much narrower linear watercourse. The aviaries were moved from the side of the lake to their present position next to the Memorial Baths.
1992: The Swan Maze was created.
2006 to 2007: The council made a bid for the park to achieve a Green Flag award.
2008: The council installed new childrens' play equipment.
People associated with this site
Architect: Mr G. H. Barrowcliffe (Known to have been active 1897 to 1898)
Architect: Walter Tapper (born 1861 died 1935)
Features
War memorial
Feature created: 1922 to 1923
Creator: Walter Tapper (born 1861 died 1935)
The Carillon Tower is a war memorial dedicated to the Loughborough men who were killed during the First World War. The foundation stone was laid on 22 January 1922 and the building was unveiled on 22 July 1923.
The building is in a classical style. It is of red brick on a Portland stone base of about 8.5 metres square. It is surmounted by a copper bell storey carrying an octagonal parapet and lantern. The tower has a full height of 46 metres. The belfry contains 47 bells which were cast at Taylor's Bell Foundry in Loughborough. Public subscriptions raised £7,000 for the cost of the bells. The original music for the Carillon was called 'Memorial Chimes' and was composed by Sir Edward Elgar.
Designation status: English Heritage Listed Building Designation Grade II Designation Reference 189449
maze
Feature created: 1992
The Swan maze was created in 1992. The route of the maze is formed by beige-coloured pavers set in red gravel. In the centre is the figure of a swan in an ornamental wrought-iron gazebo. David Tarver carved the swan from stone.
bath house
Feature created: 1898
Creator: Mr G. H. Barrowcliffe (Known to have been active 1897 to 1898)
The Memorial Baths were first opened as public baths on 10 August 1898. The building is constructed of local red brick with slate roofs. Ruabon terracotta tiles were used to embellish the building. The building has an ecclesiastical form. The main building is flanked by lean-to aisles and capped by a narrow clerestory that lets light into the bathing hall.
In 1998 work started to convert the building into a museum. The Charnwood Museum in the Queen's Hall was opened on 2 April 1999.
ornamental bridge
Feature created: 1928
A stone bridge spanning one of the watercourses.
ornamental lake
Feature created: 1980 to 1989
A narrow linear lake was created on the site of an earlier lake.
aviary
Feature created: 1955
A 14.63-metre-long aviary was opened in 1955. It was divided into three sections to house different varieties of budgerigars and foreign birds. It was originally located by the lake but was moved to its present position, next to the museum in the 1980s.
bandstand
Feature created: 1902
The bandstand was presented to the Corporation by Councillor W. H. Wootton. It was opened by the High Sheriff of Leicestershire on 6 September 1902 to commemorate the coronation of Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.
ornamental lake
Feature created: 1899
© Copyright Parks and Gardens Data Services Ltd. 2007