Peasholm Park
Encyclopedia
Peasholm Park is an oriental themed municipal park located in the seaside town of Scarborough, North Yorkshire
, England
. It opened in 1912 and became a favourite venue for galas, displays and exhibitions. The park was extended to include Peasholm Glen, a natural ravine, in 1924. Attractions include an artificial boating lake, where mock naval battles are staged, a putting green and a champion tree walk.The park suffered a decline in popularity from the 1970s as the number of holidaymakers visiting Scarborough decreased but it has recently been restored using Heritage Lottery Funding.
, which is here called Columbus Ravine. The boundary on the south and south-east side is Peasholm Drive and the cemetery. On the north side the boundary is Northstead Manor Drive and the west boundary is at roads called Ryndleside and Glenside. There is iron fencing on the perimeter of the park in some places but most of the park boundary is defined just by pavements or grass verges alongside the roads.
of Northstead
which was part of the Crown Estate
from the 14th century. By the beginning of the 20th century the area was open land used for farming and as allotment
s. In 1911 Scarborough Corporation bought some land called Tuckers Field from the Duchy of Lancaster
to create a public park. It was the borough engineer
, Harry W Smith, who had the idea of setting out the gardens in Japanese style. Japanese style statues in the park were purchased from Killerby Hall and exotic shrubs and flowers were imported from the home of a local retired banker who was living in the French Riviera. In 1924 the park was extended south-westwards along Peasholm Glen following the purchase of more land from the Duchy of Lancaster 1921. Parts of the east side of the Glen were in private ownership and these were donated to the Corporation. The park was used for aquatic displays, musical performances and evening firework displays. It becoming immensely popular in the immediate pre- and post-Second World War period. After a period of decay a programme of restoration was initiated.
Improvement works have been made possible by the granting of funding of over £300,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund
and additional funds from Scarborough Borough Council. Following the draining of the lake, work was undertaken to remove the large amount of silt in the lake bottom,with the aim of removing enough silt to free sufficient water capacity for the lake to operate successfully. The park remains open and in public ownership.
Japanese themed gardens and lake with a pagoda
said to be based on the Willow Pattern
pottery design, are a central feature of the park. The lake has a central island which is accessible by a Japanese-style bridge. There are waterfalls and wildlife in the more tranquil wooded areas.
The Naval Warfare event, Battle of Peasholm, has been played out for half an hour three times a week during the summer season for over 80 years. The model boats used are mostly man powered earning the fleet the title of "The smallest manned navy in the world". All the boats were man powered, until 1929, when electricity was introduced, and now only the larger boats need to be steered by council employees. In the early days, the models were First World War battleships, called Dreadnoughts, and a U-boat
. Then, after the Second World War, the fleet was replaced with new vessels and the battle that was recreated was the Battle of the River Plate.
Other events staged in the park include silver and brass band concerts, party in the park, proms in the park and lantern displays.
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, 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...
. It opened in 1912 and became a favourite venue for galas, displays and exhibitions. The park was extended to include Peasholm Glen, a natural ravine, in 1924. Attractions include an artificial boating lake, where mock naval battles are staged, a putting green and a champion tree walk.The park suffered a decline in popularity from the 1970s as the number of holidaymakers visiting Scarborough decreased but it has recently been restored using Heritage Lottery Funding.
Setting
Peasholm Park is sited on the north side of the town of Scarborough in a mainly residential area. The site is about 14-hectares and takes in a narrow steep-sided valley running north-east towards North Bay. The valley gradually broadens until it opens out on to low-lying ground closer to the sea. The south-west tip of the site adjoins a cemetery which was opened in the late 19th century, the north-east boundary of the site is the A165 roadA165 road
The A165 is a road that links Scarborough and Kingston upon Hull, both in Yorkshire, England. It is close to the coast for the northern part of the route...
, which is here called Columbus Ravine. The boundary on the south and south-east side is Peasholm Drive and the cemetery. On the north side the boundary is Northstead Manor Drive and the west boundary is at roads called Ryndleside and Glenside. There is iron fencing on the perimeter of the park in some places but most of the park boundary is defined just by pavements or grass verges alongside the roads.
History
The park is on the site of a medieval manor houseManor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
of Northstead
Manor of Northstead
The Manor of Northstead was once a collection of fields and farms in the parish of Scalby in the North Riding of Yorkshire in England. By 1600, the manor house had fallen into disrepair and was occupied only by a shepherd. At present the Manor is part of the Barrowcliff area of the town of...
which was part of the Crown Estate
Crown Estate
In the United Kingdom, the Crown Estate is a property portfolio owned by the Crown. Although still belonging to the monarch and inherent with the accession of the throne, it is no longer the private property of the reigning monarch and cannot be sold by him/her, nor do the revenues from it belong...
from the 14th century. By the beginning of the 20th century the area was open land used for farming and as allotment
Allotment (gardening)
An allotment garden, often called simply an allotment, is a plot of land made available for individual, non-professional gardening. Such plots are formed by subdividing a piece of land into a few or up to several hundreds of land parcels that are assigned to individuals or families...
s. In 1911 Scarborough Corporation bought some land called Tuckers Field from the Duchy of Lancaster
Duchy of Lancaster
The Duchy of Lancaster is one of the two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Cornwall. It is held in trust for the Sovereign, and is used to provide income for the use of the British monarch...
to create a public park. It was the borough engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
, Harry W Smith, who had the idea of setting out the gardens in Japanese style. Japanese style statues in the park were purchased from Killerby Hall and exotic shrubs and flowers were imported from the home of a local retired banker who was living in the French Riviera. In 1924 the park was extended south-westwards along Peasholm Glen following the purchase of more land from the Duchy of Lancaster 1921. Parts of the east side of the Glen were in private ownership and these were donated to the Corporation. The park was used for aquatic displays, musical performances and evening firework displays. It becoming immensely popular in the immediate pre- and post-Second World War period. After a period of decay a programme of restoration was initiated.
Improvement works have been made possible by the granting of funding of over £300,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund
Heritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
and additional funds from Scarborough Borough Council. Following the draining of the lake, work was undertaken to remove the large amount of silt in the lake bottom,with the aim of removing enough silt to free sufficient water capacity for the lake to operate successfully. The park remains open and in public ownership.
Features
The Peasholm Glen Tree Trail has rare and unusual trees. The Lottery Funded project there aims to conserve the trees and provides a leafleted trail identifying the most interesting and important species. The leaflet is free and is also available to download from the internet. Together with signage on site, it opens up this resource to the widest possible audience. During restoration of the site the Dicksonian Elm, a tree that was previously believed to be extinct, was discovered alive and well in Peasholm Glen.Japanese themed gardens and lake with a pagoda
Pagoda
A pagoda is the general term in the English language for a tiered tower with multiple eaves common in Nepal, India, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and other parts of Asia. Some pagodas are used as Taoist houses of worship. Most pagodas were built to have a religious function, most commonly Buddhist,...
said to be based on the Willow Pattern
Willow pattern
The Willow pattern, more commonly known as Blue Willow, is a distinctive and elaborate pattern used on ceramic kitchen/housewares. The pattern was designed by Thomas Minton around 1790 and has been in use for over 200 years. Other references give alternative origins, such as Thomas Turner of...
pottery design, are a central feature of the park. The lake has a central island which is accessible by a Japanese-style bridge. There are waterfalls and wildlife in the more tranquil wooded areas.
Events
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
. Then, after the Second World War, the fleet was replaced with new vessels and the battle that was recreated was the Battle of the River Plate.
Other events staged in the park include silver and brass band concerts, party in the park, proms in the park and lantern displays.
Photo gallery
A grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund has enabled the Scarborough Borough Council to rebuild the Pagoda in its original form using fire retardant wood. The Half-moon Bridge connecting the Island to the mainland has been replaced, the cascade upgraded and the gardens restored and upgraded.External links
- Peasholm Park - visiting info
- Friends of Peasholm Park