Albert Park, Abingdon
Encyclopedia
Abingdon Park is a park in the northwest of the town of Abingdon
, Oxfordshire
(formerly in Berkshire
), England
.
, an independent school. Abingdon Bowls
Club is located in the park. At the northern entrance is a monument to Prince Albert
(1819–1861, the husband of Queen Victoria), 48 feet high and designed by John Gibbs
of Oxford
and erected in 1865.
and Edwardian
houses were laid out by
Christ's Hospital of Abingdon
.
Architects who worked on the estate included Edwin Dolby
(1838–1900), his pupil, J. G. Timothy West (1860–1931), and A. B. West (1885–1957), as well as John Gibbs who designed the 1865 stone monument to Prince Albert in the park. This memorial was built by Charles Selby
Conduit Road runs south from the southeastern corner of Albert Park. It is named after the water conduit that used to run in line with the current road. This conduit carried spring water from Albert Park to a water fountain in Ock Street.
Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Abingdon or archaically Abingdon-on-Thames is a market town and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England. It is the seat of the Vale of White Horse district. Previously the county town of Berkshire, Abingdon is one of several places that claim to be Britain's oldest continuously occupied town, with...
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
(formerly in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
), England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Overview
The park is surrounded by large residential houses and, to the east, Abingdon SchoolAbingdon School
Abingdon School is a British day and boarding independent school for boys situated in Abingdon, Oxfordshire , previously known as Roysse's School. In 1998 a formal merger took place between Abingdon School and Josca's, a preparatory school four miles to the west at Frilford...
, an independent school. Abingdon Bowls
Bowls
Bowls is a sport in which the objective is to roll slightly asymmetric balls so that they stop close to a smaller "jack" or "kitty". It is played on a pitch which may be flat or convex or uneven...
Club is located in the park. At the northern entrance is a monument to Prince Albert
Prince Albert
Prince Albert was the husband and consort of Queen Victoria.Prince Albert may also refer to:-Royalty:*Prince Albert Edward or Edward VII of the United Kingdom , son of Albert and Victoria...
(1819–1861, the husband of Queen Victoria), 48 feet high and designed by John Gibbs
John Gibbs (architect)
John Gibbs was a British Gothic Revival architect based in Wigan, Manchester, and Oxford, England.- Life :John Gibbs was initially in Oxford but he moved to Wigan in the 1850s and then Manchester in the north of England....
of Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
and erected in 1865.
History
Albert Park was formerly Conduit Field. From 1860, the park together with the surrounding VictorianVictorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
and Edwardian
Edwardian architecture
Edwardian architecture is the style popular when King Edward VII of the United Kingdom was in power; he reigned from 1901 to 1910, but the architecture style is generally considered to be indicative of the years 1901 to 1914....
houses were laid out by
Christ's Hospital of Abingdon
Christ's Hospital of Abingdon
Christ's Hospital of Abingdon is a charity with a long history, based in Abingdon, England.Christ's Hospital was established in 1553 by royal charter under the full name of the Master and Governors of the Hospital of Christ of Abingdon. Sir John Mason, an Elizabethan diplomat, served as the first...
.
Architects who worked on the estate included Edwin Dolby
Edwin Dolby
Edwin Dolby was a Victorian architect who practised in Abingdon, England.-Career:Dolby's works span the period 1863–1888. He altered, rebuilt or restored a number of Church of England parish churches, most of them in the Vale of White Horse and Oxfordshire. In 1869–70, he built Abingdon Grammar...
(1838–1900), his pupil, J. G. Timothy West (1860–1931), and A. B. West (1885–1957), as well as John Gibbs who designed the 1865 stone monument to Prince Albert in the park. This memorial was built by Charles Selby
Location
Park Crescent runs along the west, north and east sides of the park in a large crescent shape around the park. A spur of Park Crescent continues to the north. The straight Park Road is to the south of the park and also continues to the east and the west.Conduit Road runs south from the southeastern corner of Albert Park. It is named after the water conduit that used to run in line with the current road. This conduit carried spring water from Albert Park to a water fountain in Ock Street.