Corporation Park
Leon Fielding
Corporation Park is a traditional Victorian park set in the heart of Blackburn, Lancashire. It opened in 1857 after being landscaped by William Henderson from Birkenhead. Corporation Park is an urban park, set in 44.5 acres and open all year round. It is in easy walking distance (0.5 mile) from the town centre, heading towards Preston on Preston New Road. There are bus and train stations on the town centre. There is also on road parking around the park on East and West Park Roads and Revidge Road at the top end of the park. It is a very popular park with plenty of attractions and facilities.
Local street map of Blackburn showing where Corporation Park is situated.
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Corporation Park is now registered by English Heritage as a The Park's Origins Park and Garden of Special Historic Interest and has Grade II listing. It's main entrance is situated on Preston New The land which was acquired to create the park was called Road (A6777) and is a Grade II listed structure. Pemberton Clough and was owned by Joseph and John Feilden, local businessmen and landowners. Blackburn Water Works Company acquired Pemberton Clough and in 1848 it began to supply water to the town from the two reservoirs on the land. In January 1855 Blackburn Corporation came to an agreement with Joseph Feilden to buy just over 50 acres of land at Pemberton Clough. He agreed to sell it on condition that the Corporation built two public roads at each side of the park (these became East and West Park Road). The cost agreed on was ÂŁ65 per acre, the total being ÂŁ3257 6s 3d. It was the Mayor at the time, William Hoole, who named the park after Blackburn 'Corporation', but this was opposed to by numerous individuals, who wanted it to be named 'The Public Park'. This was rejected and it was opened as 'Corporation Park'. The large central arch was originally used by those arriving by horse and carriage, with the side arches used by those visiting on foot. Blackburn Coat of Arms is displayed on the entrance above the side arches. 3
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The park's grand opening was on 22nd October 1857 and performed by the Mayor, William Pilkington. On that special day in Blackburn, shops were closed and factory bosses gave their employees special leave to attend the event. It was estimated that around 60,000 people attended. The atmosphere at the opening was dramatic, with cannon's roaring and fireworks and rockets launching. Many people had their own guns and fired them enthusiastically into the air. Gifts were donat- In 1863, the Broad Walk was constructed, creating ed to the park, such as fountains, swans ducks and work for hundreds of cotton workers during the Cotgeese and an aviary was opened with thirty donated ton Famine. The paths were paved with stones from the quarries on the upperslope. birds.
The Park in 1857 5
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The statue of Flora, the Roman Goddess of flowers and spring, was presented in 1871 by T H Fairhurst. This statue of Flora inspired horror writer William Hope Hodgson to write his first fiction story "The Goddess of Death".
Corporation Park Conservatory is a classic example of Victorian cast iron architecture and is a unique structure. It was built in 1900 and is a Grade II listed building. A clock is sited at the front of the conservatory, which is made of all glass and iron, with arches and columns designed throughout. The mid section was designed to house exotic flora to house displays of plants enjoying a similar climate to their own. Unfortunately, the conservatory fell into a state of disrepair and is now closed to visitors. An application to the Heritage Lottery Fund is being processed for submission which, if successful, will enable much needed restoration of this beautiful building. 7
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In 1880 the first bandstand was constructed, hosting many public band concerts. They were so popular that the bandstand was demolished and a second, larger bandstand was built and officially opened in 1909.
The New Bandstand
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Two Russian cannons were presented to and installed in the park for the opening in 1857. They were captured in Sebastopol and presented to the borough as a trophy by Lord Panmure, Secretary of War, as a reminder of the British victories in the Crimean War. They were mounted at the top of the park on a specially built 'battery'.
After falling into a state of disrepair, the cannon battery was transformed with a creative project to erect a series of 21st Century landmarks across East Lancashire, to preserve the history of the area. This project was called Lancashire Panopticons and designed by architecture Jo Rippon and artist Sophie Smallhorn.
The Corporation Park Panopticon is titled, 'Colourfields' and uses the base of the former battery. It has been created to add space, height and colour, with it's raised viewing points and candy stripes, created from pastel-coloured tiles.
From the top of the structure superb views of the park, town and miles beyond can be seen, as the viewing platform stands at 213.5m above sea level. View from Corporation Park Panopticon January 2019
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There are many things to enjoy in Corporation Park, from a leisurely stroll along the many picturesque paths, to a game of tennis with friends.
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Sports and Activities The park has many sports areas which include tennis courts, two multi-use game areas for basketball, football etc, a children's cycle track, play area for younger children with swings and slides and an older children's adventure area.
There are also good-sized flat green grass areas, three bowling greens and a Discovery Trail, with discovery stones situated all around the park with information about the park and it's history.
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There are many discovery trails dotted around the park, each telling historic information about different areas of the park.
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Garden of Remembrance Just inside the park from the main entrance is the Garden of Remembrance, which was created in 1922 in honour of Blackburn residents who gave their lives to the First World War.
There is a large ornamental fountain to the right of the entrance, which is one of several gifted to the park by William Pilkington. The fountain was originally powered by gravity, producing a water jet that rose more than 70 feet into the air. The commemeration plaques and war memorial remember over 3,000 soldiers.
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There are two lakes in the park, which are home to a variety of waterfowl, including mute swans and ducks.
The 'Can', January 2019
Just west of the main lake is the smaller lake, known as 'the Can' because people The large lake was formed from a pre-existing reservoir named Pemberton Clough, created in used to take cans to this lake to draw water. 1772 and was the town's water supply. People were charged a penny per bucketful of water. This lake is known as 'the Big Can'. 21
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