Welcome To Wirral
The History of Birkenhead Park
Birkenhead Park is acknowledged to be the first publicly funded park in
Britain.
It was the forerunner of the Park's Movement and its influence was far
reaching both in this country and abroad - most notably on Olmstead's design
for Central Park, New York.
Designed by Joseph Paxton (later Sir Joseph Paxton) in 1843 and officially
opened in 1847 it was an immediate economic and social success. Its history is
inseparable from that of Birkenhead town itself. Distanced from the ravages of
the Industrial Revolution in Liverpool and the North-West by the physical
barrier of the River Mersey, Birkenhead retained its agricultural status until
the advent of the steam ferry service in 1820. Ready access from Liverpool now
opened up the Wirral for development and prompted the rapid growth of
Birkenhead as an industrial centre.
Within ten years the town's population had grown from just over one hundred
to two and a half thousand. Recognising the need to exercise control over its
development and establish municipal powers, the Government approved the setting
up of the Birkenhead Improvement Commission in 1833 after an Act of Parliament.
At the same time, in the country as a whole, there was a growing awareness of
the detrimental effects of overpopulation and the atrocious living and working
conditions to be found in the major industrial areas. This promoted the
establishment of various reform movements, including that of the 'Park's
Movement'. Its central theory was that by providing open spaces for public use,
the well-being of the industrial workforce was improved.
In 1841, alarmed by the exploding population figures, the idea of a public
park in Birkenhead was first raised by Mr Isaac Holmes, a Liverpool Councillor.
Two years later, empowered by another Improvement Act, the Birkenhead
Commissioners created history by purchasing land on which to construct the
world's first publicly funded park. The site chosen for the park was part of
the Birkenhead Estate, owned by Mr F R Price. The land was low lying, a mixture
of fields, marsh and commons, and contained a small farmhouse which was a known
beer den where illegal gambling and dog fighting took place.
The land was purchased cheaply because of its poor quality. 125 acres were
designated for public use, the remaining 60 acres were to be sold for private
residential development. The proceeds from the sale of the building plots was
sufficient to recoup all the costs incurred by the purchase of the land and the
construction of the park. An Improvement Committee chaired by William Jackson
was set up to supervise the development of the park. Joseph Paxton, a Landscape
Gardener whose work in Liverpool had brought him to the attention of the
Committee, was approached and in August 1843 he was engaged to design and
construct the park at a fee of ?800.
By November 1843 the completed plan of the park and the preliminary sketches
for the lodges (drawn up by Paxton's assistant, John Robertson) had been
approved. Preparatory work began on the site under the supervision of Edward
Kemp - later the Park Superintendent. A young Liverpool architect, Lewis
Hornblower, was engaged to supervise the construction of the lodges, and to
design and oversee other artifacts and building work within the park. Major
planting of trees and shrubs was carried out during the planting season of
Autumn 1844/Spring 1845. Attention was then directed to the establishment of
grassland areas. Sixty acres of peripheral land were divided into building
plots and sold for private development at two auctions and through estate
agents. In order to ensure a degree of uniformity and consistent high standard
of development, strict rules were laid down regarding the construction of the
dwellings. Any unsold plots of land were eventually absorbed into the public
area of the park. For example, the area now known as the Bowling Greens on Park
Road North was laid out for bowls and quoits in 1880. The Boothby Ground was
purchased from the Boothby Estate as late as 1903.
Work was virtually complete by Autumn 1846 but the official opening of the
park was delayed until 5th April 1847, in order to coincide with the opening of
the Birkenhead Dock Complex. The park was opened by Lord Morpeth and visited on
that day by an estimated 10,000 people. The strength and flexibility of the
original design were revealed over the years by the ease with which the park
evolved to satisfy the changing demands of its users. From an almost entirely
passive function the park absorbed facilities for active sports and large scale
events. Commemorative trees were planted, unemployment relief schemes
undertaken. Two World Wars intruded onto the park, different buildings and
structures erected and then removed or demolished. Some areas such as the area
known today as The Sunken Garden changed their nature and their name.
Birkenhead Park's Chronology
1841
- Idea of Public Park in Birkenhead first raised by Mr Isaac Holmes.
1843
- Joseph Paxton engaged to design and construct Park at a fee of ?800.
1846
- Birkenhead Cricket Club granted permission to play in the Park.
1847
- Park opened by Lord Morpeth.
- Lord Morpeth opens Morpeth and Egerton Docks on same day 5th April
1847.
1848
- Six sculptures placed in Park.
1849
- Refreshment saloon opened.
- Aerial suspension bridge erected over eastern part of Lower Lake.
1850's
- Aerial bridge collapses (1853).
- Mersey Curling Club use Upper Lake in Winter.
- Fishing in Lower Lake permitted.
- 2 Russian Cannons captured in 1853 at Sebastopol, Crimean War,
- sited near Grand Entrance (later moved to Cannon Hill and then
scrapped?during?Second?World?War).
- Archery permitted in Upper Park.
- Army drilling permitted in Park (Parades and drills are a regular occurence
in Park thereafter).
1860's
- Pillar Box sited in Ashville Road.
- Street railway from Woodside Ferry to Grand Entrance.
- Procession in Park (14,000 people) celebrating marriage of Prince and
Princess of Wales (1863).
- Manchester and Liverpool Agricultural Society's Annual Cattle Show in Lower
Park.
- Oak tree planted to celebrate 300th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth
(1864).
- Birkenhead Park Cricket Club play the All England XI.
1870's
- 1877 Birkenhead town becomes a Borough.
- St Mary's Cricket Club established.
- Unemployment schemes undertaken (1878/79).
1880's
- African Canoe donated for use on Lakes.
- Cast iron Bandstand erected in Lower Park (1885: Removed to Mersey Park in
1929).
- Boathouse refloored, roof repaired and 'walk' laid to entrance.
- Flowers and flower beds introduced to the Park.
- Swiss and 'Green' Bridges repaired.
- Willesden Chalet placed in Park (1884-1889).
- Birkenhead Rugby Union Football Club established.
1890's
- Thinning of trees in Park.
- 'Wooden' Bridge repaired.
- Curling Club on figure 8 or small lake.
- Unemployment relief schemes undertaken in Park (1893).
1900's
- Queen Victoria dies (1901).
- Boothby Ground purchased for Park (1903).
- Oak tree planted to celebrate Coronation of Edward VII (1902).
- Report on condition of trees in the Park (1902).
1910's
- George V reign begins (1910-1936).
- 1914 First World War begins (1914-1918).
- Balaclava and Night Pasture used for grazing.
- 1917 Lakes 'flushed' (emptied and cleaned).
- 1917 National Eisteddfod held in Park.
1920's
- Unemployment relief schemes undertaken in Park.
- Palm House erected (1921 and demolished in 1947).
- Jubilee Celebrations of the Charted of Birkenhead (1927).
- New Bandstand erected (1927).
- Path (later to be planted as Coronation Walk) constructed 1928.
- Storms bring down trees in Park (1927/28).
1930's
- Unemployment relief schemes undertaken in Park.
- Formation of grassed 'trotting' track.
- Figure 8 lake redesigned with rock gardens.
- Women's patrol in the Park.
- Silver Jubilee celebrations (1935).
- Storms bring down trees in Park (1938/39).
- Air Raid Precautions undertaken in Park.
1940's
- World War Two begins (1940-1945).
- Anderson Shelters in Lower Park.
- Upper Park closed to be used for allotments.
- Damage caused to gate pillars, Palm House and other areasin Park bombing
lead to large war damage claim after the end of the War.
- Fun Fair held to celebrate 'V' day (1946).
- Lakes cleaned out (1947).
- Unemployment relief schemes undertaken in Park (1947).
- Outline plan for the Borough of Birkenhead produced (1947).
1950's
- Displays to celebrate Festival of Britain (1951).
- Elizabeth II reign begins (1952- ).
- Costings for improving Park partly as a result of war damage?49,616
(1950).
- New - cafe, shelter, conservatory.
- Balaclava Field fenced (1955).
- Garden for the Blind opened on site of Figure 8 Lake (1957).
- Vandalism or 'malicious damage' noted.
1960's
- 'Malicious damage' to kiosks and Central Cafe (1962).
- Working horse retired from Park (1969).
1970's
- Glasshouses in Park demolished (1971).
- Swiss Bridge isolated (1972).
- Cycle racing commenced (1972).
- Blind Garden no longer maintained as such (1972).
- 1974 Local Government Reorganisation Birkenhead formerly administered by
Birkenhead Corporation becomes the responsibility of the Metropolitan Borough
of Wirral.
- Friends of Birkenhead Park formed (1976).
- Lake Improvement Scheme (1976).
- Park designated Conservation Area (1977).
- Dutch Elm Disease requires removal of all remaining Elms in the Park.
- Inner Area Programme Improvements 1978 onwards (in three phases) includes:
Large programme of tree planting; Conservatory demolished and garden designed
on site.
1980's
- Park Police based in Park discontinued (1982).
- Park Rangers employed (1984).
- Regular mowing of banks discontinued (1984).
- Draft Management Plan entitled 'A Plan for the Future' published
(1987).
- Park Police reintroduced.
- Tourism Development Strategy for Metropolitan Borough of Wirral
(1987).
- Keep Britain Tidy Programme.
- Mobil Oil sponsor restoration of Boathouse and production of Resource Guide
on Park.
- Five year Development Plan for Parks and Open Spaces produced as part of
Wirral's Leisure Strategy.
1990's
- Dredging of lakes (1992/3).
- Restoration of outer perimeter railings (1995/6).
- New Cricket Pavilion (1993).
- Restoration of Tree and Shrub planting (1992-95).
- Birkenhead Park's 150th Year (1847-1997).
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See Also