Stewart Park, Middlesbrough
Encyclopedia
Stewart Park is a park
in Marton
, a southern suburb of Middlesbrough
, England
, located at the corner of Ladgate Lane and Marton Road.
. The 'lost village' of East Marton was also in the park area and an archaeological geophysical survey in September 1998 showed evidence of the village. In 2003, Stewart Park was the subject of Channel 4
's Time Team
programme, presented by Tony Robinson
.
The park was initially landscaped by Henry Bolckow, one of Middlesbrough's ironmasters and the borough's first mayor. Bolckow built Marton Hall in 1858. Councillor Thomas Dorman Stewart gave the park to the people of Middlesbrough in 1928 and he intended it to be "a public possession, open and accessible to all the people for all time".
In January 1959 J A Kenyon, the Borough engineer, stated in a report "The Hall....was of no wide historic or architectural value", and that renovations would cost in the region of £25,000. The council (reluctantly) made the decision to demolish the building.
Work started in May 1960 to demolish the Hall, but on 6 June the same year a fire broke out which tore through the building. Not even ten fire appliances could stop the fire due to the lack of water supply in the area. The monument of Middlesbrough's industrial revolution was destroyed.
The only remnant, a large conservatory, continued to be open to the public for a number of years, but was eventually demolished in the mid-1990s. The only remaining evidence that a building stood there at all is a stone portico that stands next to the Museum
.
on the south side, with open parkland on the northern (Middlesbrough) side. There are two lakes which are the home to Canada
and greylag geese
, moorhen
s, coot
s and various types of duck
. An extensive pets corner houses many types of domesticated animals, fallow deer
, highland cattle
, llama
s, goat
s, peacocks
, pheasant
s, rabbit
s and guinea pig
s. In the past the park has been plagued with Myxomatosis
, quite probably introduced by people abandoning their pet rabbits in the park.
Various nature, heritage, orienteering and tree trails are provided within the park, which are popular with school visits. The park also hosts larger events in the summer such as the Cleveland Show and Gypsy Fairs. It has also been the venue for various Radio 1
events.
The park has been credited with the Green Flag Award
by the Civic Trust
.
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 Marton
Marton, Middlesbrough
Marton — officially Marton-in-Cleveland — was a village in the North Riding of Yorkshire, which is now within the town boundaries of Middlesbrough, in the borough of Middlesbrough and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. Originally, the parish of Marton extended down to the River...
, a southern suburb of Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
, 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...
, located at the corner of Ladgate Lane and Marton Road.
History
The site of the cottage where Captain James Cook was born can be found in the park. Although the building has long since disappeared, a pink granite urn marks the approximate site. Nearby is the Captain Cook Birthplace MuseumCaptain Cook Birthplace Museum
Captain Cook Birthplace Museum is a free-entry public museum located in Stewart Park in Marton, Middlesbrough within the borough of Middlesbrough and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England....
. The 'lost village' of East Marton was also in the park area and an archaeological geophysical survey in September 1998 showed evidence of the village. In 2003, Stewart Park was the subject of Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's Time Team
Time Team
Time Team is a British television series which has been aired on Channel 4 since 1994. Created by television producer Tim Taylor and presented by actor Tony Robinson, each episode features a team of specialists carrying out an archaeological dig over a period of three days, with Robinson explaining...
programme, presented by Tony Robinson
Tony Robinson
Tony Robinson is an English actor, comedian, author, broadcaster and political campaigner. He is best known for playing Baldrick in the BBC television series Blackadder, and for hosting Channel 4 programmes such as Time Team and The Worst Jobs in History. Robinson is a member of the Labour Party...
.
The park was initially landscaped by Henry Bolckow, one of Middlesbrough's ironmasters and the borough's first mayor. Bolckow built Marton Hall in 1858. Councillor Thomas Dorman Stewart gave the park to the people of Middlesbrough in 1928 and he intended it to be "a public possession, open and accessible to all the people for all time".
In January 1959 J A Kenyon, the Borough engineer, stated in a report "The Hall....was of no wide historic or architectural value", and that renovations would cost in the region of £25,000. The council (reluctantly) made the decision to demolish the building.
Work started in May 1960 to demolish the Hall, but on 6 June the same year a fire broke out which tore through the building. Not even ten fire appliances could stop the fire due to the lack of water supply in the area. The monument of Middlesbrough's industrial revolution was destroyed.
The only remnant, a large conservatory, continued to be open to the public for a number of years, but was eventually demolished in the mid-1990s. The only remaining evidence that a building stood there at all is a stone portico that stands next to the Museum
Captain Cook Birthplace Museum
Captain Cook Birthplace Museum is a free-entry public museum located in Stewart Park in Marton, Middlesbrough within the borough of Middlesbrough and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England....
.
Today
Today the park covers about 120 acre (0.4856232 km²) and consists mainly of mature woodland and arboretumArboretum
An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
on the south side, with open parkland on the northern (Middlesbrough) side. There are two lakes which are the home to Canada
Canada Goose
The Canada Goose is a wild goose belonging to the genus Branta, which is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, having a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and a brownish-gray body....
and greylag geese
Greylag Goose
The Greylag Goose , Anser anser, is a bird with a wide range in the Old World. It is the type species of the genus Anser....
, moorhen
Moorhen
Moorhens, sometimes called marsh hens, are medium-sized water birds that are members of the rail family Rallidae. They constitute the genus Gallinula....
s, coot
Coot
Coots are medium-sized water birds that are members of the rail family Rallidae. They constitute the genus Fulica. Coots have predominantly black plumage, and, unlike many of the rails, they are usually easy to see, often swimming in open water...
s and various types of duck
Duck
Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...
. An extensive pets corner houses many types of domesticated animals, fallow deer
Fallow Deer
The Fallow Deer is a ruminant mammal belonging to the family Cervidae. This common species is native to western Eurasia, but has been introduced widely elsewhere. It often includes the rarer Persian Fallow Deer as a subspecies , while others treat it as an entirely different species The Fallow...
, highland cattle
Highland cattle
Highland cattle or kyloe are a Scottish breed of beef cattle with long horns and long wavy coats which are coloured black, brindled, red, yellow or dun....
, llama
Llama
The llama is a South American camelid, widely used as a meat and pack animal by Andean cultures since pre-Hispanic times....
s, goat
Goat
The domestic goat is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the Bovidae family and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over three hundred distinct breeds of...
s, peacocks
Peafowl
Peafowl are two Asiatic species of flying birds in the genus Pavo of the pheasant family, Phasianidae, best known for the male's extravagant eye-spotted tail, which it displays as part of courtship. The male is called a peacock, the female a peahen, and the offspring peachicks. The adult female...
, pheasant
Pheasant
Pheasants refer to some members of the Phasianinae subfamily of Phasianidae in the order Galliformes.Pheasants are characterised by strong sexual dimorphism, males being highly ornate with bright colours and adornments such as wattles and long tails. Males are usually larger than females and have...
s, rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
s and guinea pig
Guinea pig
The guinea pig , also called the cavy, is a species of rodent belonging to the family Caviidae and the genus Cavia. Despite their common name, these animals are not in the pig family, nor are they from Guinea...
s. In the past the park has been plagued with Myxomatosis
Myxomatosis
Myxomatosis is a disease that affects rabbits and is caused by the Myxoma virus. It was first observed in Uruguay in laboratory rabbits in the late 19th century. It was introduced into Australia in 1950 in an attempt to control the rabbit population...
, quite probably introduced by people abandoning their pet rabbits in the park.
Various nature, heritage, orienteering and tree trails are provided within the park, which are popular with school visits. The park also hosts larger events in the summer such as the Cleveland Show and Gypsy Fairs. It has also been the venue for various Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
events.
The park has been credited with the Green Flag Award
Green Flag Award
The Green Flag Award is the benchmark national standard for parks and green spaces in the United Kingdom. The scheme was set up in 1996 to recognise and reward green spaces in England and Wales that met the laid down high standards...
by the Civic Trust
Civic Trust
The Civic Trust of England was a charitable organisation founded in 1957. It ceased operations in 2009 and went into administration due to lack of funds/...
.
See also
- Captain Cook Birthplace MuseumCaptain Cook Birthplace MuseumCaptain Cook Birthplace Museum is a free-entry public museum located in Stewart Park in Marton, Middlesbrough within the borough of Middlesbrough and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England....
- Other Middlesbrough parks: Albert ParkAlbert Park, MiddlesbroughAlbert Park is an open access, free public park, located in Middlesbrough, in the borough of Middlesbrough and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England....
.