Gheluvelt Park
Encyclopedia
Gheluvelt Park is a public park
in Worcester
, England
.
The park was opened on the 17 June 1922 to commemorate the Worcestershire Regiment's 2nd Battalion after their part in Battle of Gheluvelt, a World War I
battle that took place on 31 October 1914 in Gheluvelt (near Ypres
), Belgium
. It was opened by Field Marshal
John French, 1st Earl of Ypres
, who stated, "on that day the 2nd Worcesters saved the British Empire." A plaque inside the park commemorates Captain Gerald Ernest Lea, who died on 15 September 1914 while commanding D. Company of the 2nd Battalion.
The park is located in the Barbourne area of Worcester, along the A449
(Barbourne Road) and stretches across to the River Severn
. The Barbourne Brook, which leads to the Severn, feeds a duck pond within which is a bandstand
. The park contains a children's play area and a supervised paddling pool. A conservation site is managed by the Duckworth Worcestershire Trust and, following renovations to the old Victorian Pump House, the Environment Centre provides information about environmental issues as well as sustainability
. There are also tennis courts within the grounds which can be booked by the public ahead of time.
The Friends of Gheluvelt Park organisation helps maintain the parks and organise events such as Carols in the Park and a St George's Day
celebration.
A significant area of the park, including the children's play area, was flooded by the Severn and the Barbourne Brook during the 2007 United Kingdom floods
in July.
The park is currently undergoing work that will be completed in late 2010.
Update March 2011.
Gheluvelt Park has received £850,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, in order to improve the park. A new play area has been created, a Splash Pad built for toddlers to early teens, the railings have been reinstated along Barbourne Road, and the bandstand has been renovated.
Recently, a sculpture costing £33,000 was installed, to symbolise the fallen soldiers, and a funding application has been submitted for outdoor fitness equipment for adults, (2011), including six exercise units and also two concrete table tennis tables. Funding has also been applied for, for a community "Fitness event" in Autumn 2011.
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
in Worcester
Worcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
, 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...
.
The park was opened on the 17 June 1922 to commemorate the Worcestershire Regiment's 2nd Battalion after their part in Battle of Gheluvelt, a World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
battle that took place on 31 October 1914 in Gheluvelt (near Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
), Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. It was opened by Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
John French, 1st Earl of Ypres
John French, 1st Earl of Ypres
Field Marshal John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres, KP, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCMG, ADC, PC , known as The Viscount French between 1916 and 1922, was a British and Anglo-Irish officer...
, who stated, "on that day the 2nd Worcesters saved the British Empire." A plaque inside the park commemorates Captain Gerald Ernest Lea, who died on 15 September 1914 while commanding D. Company of the 2nd Battalion.
The park is located in the Barbourne area of Worcester, along the A449
A449 road
The A449 is a major road in the United Kingdom. It runs north from junction 24 of the M4 motorway at Newport in South Wales to Stafford in Staffordshire....
(Barbourne Road) and stretches across to the River Severn
River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
. The Barbourne Brook, which leads to the Severn, feeds a duck pond within which is a bandstand
Bandstand
A bandstand is a circular or semicircular structure set in a park, garden, pier, or indoor space, designed to accommodate musical bands performing concerts...
. The park contains a children's play area and a supervised paddling pool. A conservation site is managed by the Duckworth Worcestershire Trust and, following renovations to the old Victorian Pump House, the Environment Centre provides information about environmental issues as well as sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
. There are also tennis courts within the grounds which can be booked by the public ahead of time.
The Friends of Gheluvelt Park organisation helps maintain the parks and organise events such as Carols in the Park and a St George's Day
St George's Day
St George's Day is celebrated by the several nations, kingdoms, countries, and cities of which Saint George is the patron saint. St George's Day is celebrated on 23 April, the traditionally accepted date of Saint George's death in AD 303...
celebration.
A significant area of the park, including the children's play area, was flooded by the Severn and the Barbourne Brook during the 2007 United Kingdom floods
2007 United Kingdom floods
The 2007 United Kingdom floods were a series of destructive floods that occurred in various areas across the country during the summer of 2007. The most severe floods occurred across Northern Ireland on 12 June; East Yorkshire and The Midlands on 15 June; Yorkshire, The Midlands, Gloucestershire,...
in July.
The park is currently undergoing work that will be completed in late 2010.
Update March 2011.
Gheluvelt Park has received £850,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, in order to improve the park. A new play area has been created, a Splash Pad built for toddlers to early teens, the railings have been reinstated along Barbourne Road, and the bandstand has been renovated.
Recently, a sculpture costing £33,000 was installed, to symbolise the fallen soldiers, and a funding application has been submitted for outdoor fitness equipment for adults, (2011), including six exercise units and also two concrete table tennis tables. Funding has also been applied for, for a community "Fitness event" in Autumn 2011.