Newsham Park
Encyclopedia
Newsham Park in Liverpool
, England is a 121 acres (49 ha) Victorian
park that was opened in 1868. To the east of it is the Canada Dock branch
railway line, and to the north is West Derby Road.
, Walton Hall Park
, Princes Park
and the largest of the group, Sefton Park
.
It is built on land purchased by the Liverpool Corporation from the Molyneux Estate. The development of the park was funded by the sale of plots for the construction of housing. Consequently the park is fringed by Victorian housing, some of which is currently empty and derelict. The area has been awarded Conservation Area
status, a legal protection against development to protect and preserve the Victorian architecture.
Newsham Park is the first individual work of the landscape architect Edward Kemp
, an understudy of Joseph Paxton
who was responsible for the grounds at Chatsworth House
and the design of Birkenhead Park
, a city park that became a working model for the creation of Manhattan's Central Park
. As a result of this historic connection, as well as the park's intrinsic natural beauty, it has been awarded Grade II listed status.
The park contains two large lakes, with one dedicated to the sailing of model boats, and the other larger lake playing host historically to rowing boats for hire to the general public. As has been the trend in Liverpool, the rowing boats are no longer present.
The park also plays host to several impressive buildings, including the Grade II listed Seaman's Orphanage — a building later converted to Newsham Park Hospital
and subsequently earmarked for development as luxury apartments. Another magnificent building within the park is Newsham House, which is the residence for judges attending Liverpool Crown court
and has in the past been visited by Queen Victoria
.
In 2004 work commenced on the Academy of St. Francis of Assisi, a secondary school (11–16) under the UK Government's City Academy
programme. The school is a modern four-storey building at the western end of the park, and its contemporary style caused some friction with local residents who felt that it was at odds with the park's Conservation Area status.
The now-closed Stanley railway station
was located in the south east corner and the similarly closed Tue Brook railway station
to the north west.
on its Heritage at Risk
list because of its "very bad" condition and because it is "expected to deteriorate".
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England is a 121 acres (49 ha) Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
park that was opened in 1868. To the east of it is the Canada Dock branch
Canada Dock Branch
The Canada Dock Branch is a 4 mile 59 chain long railway line in Liverpool, England. The line runs from the large Edge Hill rail junction in the east of Liverpool to Seaforth Dock to the north. The line was originally built by the London and North Western Railway terminating at Canada Dock, with...
railway line, and to the north is West Derby Road.
History
The park is part of a set of Victorian public parks within Liverpool, including Stanley ParkStanley Park, Liverpool
Stanley Park is a park in Liverpool, England, designed by Edward Kemp, which was opened on 14 May 1870 by the Mayor of Liverpool, Joseph Hubback. It is significant among Liverpool's parks on account of its layout and architecture. It has a grand terrace with expansive bedding schemes that were...
, Walton Hall Park
Walton Hall Park
Walton Hall Park in Walton, Liverpool, England is a park. It was opened to the public on July 18, 1934 by King George V when he visited Liverpool to open the Queensway Tunnel. The origins of the park date back to Henry de Walton, steward of the West Derby hundred in 1199.The park contains two...
, Princes Park
Princes Park, Liverpool
Princes Park in Toxteth, Liverpool, England, is a 45 hectare municipal park, 2 miles south east of Liverpool city centre. In 2009 it had it status upgraded to a Grade II* Historic Park by English Heritage....
and the largest of the group, Sefton Park
Sefton Park
Sefton Park is a public park in south Liverpool, England. The park is in a district of the same name within the Liverpool City Council Ward of Mossley Hill, and roughly within the historic bounds of the large area of Toxteth Park...
.
It is built on land purchased by the Liverpool Corporation from the Molyneux Estate. The development of the park was funded by the sale of plots for the construction of housing. Consequently the park is fringed by Victorian housing, some of which is currently empty and derelict. The area has been awarded Conservation Area
Conservation area
A conservation areas is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features, cultural heritage or biota are safeguarded...
status, a legal protection against development to protect and preserve the Victorian architecture.
Newsham Park is the first individual work of the landscape architect Edward Kemp
Edward Kemp
Edward Kemp was an English landscape architect and an author. Together with Joseph Paxton and Edward Milner, Kemp became one of the leaders in the design of parks and gardens during the mid-Victorian era in England....
, an understudy of Joseph Paxton
Joseph Paxton
Sir Joseph Paxton was an English gardener and architect, best known for designing The Crystal Palace.-Early life:...
who was responsible for the grounds at Chatsworth House
Chatsworth House
Chatsworth House is a stately home in North Derbyshire, England, northeast of Bakewell and west of Chesterfield . It is the seat of the Duke of Devonshire, and has been home to his family, the Cavendish family, since Bess of Hardwick settled at Chatsworth in 1549.Standing on the east bank of the...
and the design of Birkenhead Park
Birkenhead Park
Birkenhead Park is a public park in the centre of Birkenhead, on the Wirral Peninsula, England. It was designed by Joseph Paxton and opened on 5 April 1847...
, a city park that became a working model for the creation of Manhattan's Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
. As a result of this historic connection, as well as the park's intrinsic natural beauty, it has been awarded Grade II listed status.
The park contains two large lakes, with one dedicated to the sailing of model boats, and the other larger lake playing host historically to rowing boats for hire to the general public. As has been the trend in Liverpool, the rowing boats are no longer present.
Buildings
Newsham Park Hospital
Newsham Park Hospital is a grade II listed building in Liverpool, Merseyside, England . It now lies derelict but was previously a hospital and before that it was an orphanage.-Foundation:...
and subsequently earmarked for development as luxury apartments. Another magnificent building within the park is Newsham House, which is the residence for judges attending Liverpool Crown court
Crown Court
The Crown Court of England and Wales is, together with the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal, one of the constituent parts of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
and has in the past been visited by Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
.
In 2004 work commenced on the Academy of St. Francis of Assisi, a secondary school (11–16) under the UK Government's City Academy
Academy (England)
In the education system of England, an academy is a school that is directly funded by central government and independent of control by local government in England. An academy may receive additional support from personal or corporate sponsors, either financially or in kind...
programme. The school is a modern four-storey building at the western end of the park, and its contemporary style caused some friction with local residents who felt that it was at odds with the park's Conservation Area status.
The now-closed Stanley railway station
Stanley railway station
Stanley railway station was a station in Newsham Park to the north of Prescot Road on the Canada Dock Branch , Fairfield Liverpool, England. It opened on 1 July 1870 and closed to passengers on 31 May 1948.-External links:*...
was located in the south east corner and the similarly closed Tue Brook railway station
Tue Brook railway station
Tue Brook railway station was a station located on the north side of West Derby Road, Tuebrook, Liverpool, England, opposite Newsham Park on the Canada Dock Branch. It opened on the 1 July 1870; and it closed to passengers on 31 May 1948.-External links:*...
to the north west.
Present day
The park has been placed by English HeritageEnglish Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
on its Heritage at Risk
Heritage at Risk
Heritage at Risk is a collective term applied to 'designated' heritage assets that are at risk as a result of neglect, decay or inappropriate development, or are vulnerable to becoming so.In England, an annual Heritage at Risk Register is published by English Heritage...
list because of its "very bad" condition and because it is "expected to deteriorate".