Leazes Park
Leazes Park Newcastle
Leazes Park occupies a unique place in the centre of Newcastle Upon Tyne. Its location means that it is used by those working in the town as well as the surrounding communities.
In 1990 a group of dog walkers, united by their love for the park and dejection in its decline, rose like a phoenix from the litter and cigarette ash to become The Friends of Leazes Park. This small, local charity was formed to conserve and develop the built, natural and historic environments of the park
The Friends were successful om fighting proposals to extend the adjacent football ground into the park. Their support helped secure £3.7 million from the Heritage lottery fund in 2000, to restore this grade II listed park to its original condition.
Local architects, Southern Green were commisioned to lead the restoration project. This involved repairing and replacing key historical features using specialist and original suppliers, whilst meeting the needs of modern community.
Since reopening in 2004 the number of visitors to the park continues to rise. The park has provided a platform for art exhibitions, outdoor cinema and a fairs well as being home to the Green festival, The North East's largest free environmental festival.
A brief History of the Park
The tract of land on which the park is built ('Leazes' meaning 'meadowlands') has a history going back to the 13th century when King John(1199-1216) gave the land to townsmen of Newcastle to be used for grazing their cattle. Today's citizens are fortunate that 'Castle Leazes' and the adjacent Town Moor have been preserverd as precious green spaces throughout the many buidling and redevelopment phases the city has seen since the Roman times.
In 1857, Newcastle Council was presented wth a petition, signed by nearly 3,000 of the 'working men of Newcastle upon Tyne and the its vicinity' that they should be granted ' ready access to some open ground for the purpose of health and recreation' Then began the long process of choosing the site and design of the proposed 'people's park'. From inception to completion it was 16 years before the park was opened to the public n December 1873.
The creation of Leazes Park was supported by Charles F hammond, councillor, nbarristor and later alderman, MP and knight, who in 1861 proposed a vast scheme for improvement and change to the whole Town Moor area. First choice to the design the new park was John Hancock, the celebrated naturalist, whse early collections form the basis for the exhibits in the nearby Great North Museum: Hancock. However, his ideas were thought to be too grand for the proect.
JOhn Laing, the newly retired Steward to Lord Armstrong, also provided suggestions but the final plan accepted by the City Council, was a comprimise between Hancock and Laing's designs, and modifications suggested by Mr Fulton, the town surveyor, which reduced the cost to an acceptabe level (£2,750) There have been many changes to the design of the parkthrugh the years, with improvements taking placethroughout its history. In 1875, at a cost of £155.10s, an ornamental bandstand was commissioned: this atraction proved to be extremely popular, drawing large crowds on Sunday to enjoy the free musical entertainment.
The Terrace, an important feature of the park today, was added in 1879 and orders placed 180 nfor 19 vases and a terra- cotta fountainto finish the fineal 'stately home' look of the park.
A ' forcing house' or conservatory was built in 1875 and gardeners were employed at a wage of 22 shllings a week to maintain the park , under direction of Mr Oliver, the very first Park Keeper. The centenary of George Stevensons bith in 1881, was celebrated with fireworks and music in the park. The profits (£341,10s.8d) were used to provide proper lavatories, lighting and drinking fountain, as well as partially enclosing the whole town moor area with walls. fencing and gates.
Many small improvementsand changes have been made over the yearsbut Leazes Park has maintained the essential character envisaged by Charles Hammond Hal all those years ago.
Leazes Park Guide a Map Leaflet October 2009 Newcastle City Council