Abington Park facts for kids
Edwardian postcard of Abington Manor with the church of St Peter and St Paul on the right
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| Established | 1897 |
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| Location | Abington, Northampton |
Abington Park is a large and lovely park located in the Abington area of Northampton, England. It's a great place to visit, with beautiful lakes, special bird enclosures called aviaries, and a fascinating museum. You'll also find lots of trees and open grassy areas perfect for playing or relaxing.
Exploring Abington Park's Past
The park sits on the land of an old village called Abington. This village was mentioned way back in 1086 in the Domesday Book. That was a huge survey of England ordered by William the Conqueror! The village also had a medieval manor house and a mill. Later, in the late 1600s, the Thursby family bought the land. They made the manor house bigger and created the parklands you see today. Because of this, the old village became part of the park.
The Historic Abington Park Manor House
The museum in Abington Park is actually a very old house. It was built around the year 1500. The oldest part is called the Great Hall, but now it's known as the Oak Room. This is because it has beautiful wooden panels made of oak.
This historic house was once home to Elizabeth Barnard, who was the granddaughter of the famous writer William Shakespeare. She lived there in the mid-1600s. Elizabeth was buried in 1670 in the nearby church of St Peter and St Paul. Her second husband was Sir John Bernard, who was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Huntingdon. He made the house even bigger in the 1660s.
In 1669, the Thursby family took over the house. They continued to expand and update it between 1738 and 1743. They gave it a new look in the classical Georgian style, which was popular at the time. While the Thursbys owned the house, a famous actor named David Garrick visited. He was friends with Anne Thursby and planted a mulberry tree in the park in 1778.
Sadly, in 1821, a big storm damaged the church next to the house. Most of it was blown down, except for the main tower. The Thursby family helped rebuild the church.
In 1841, the manor house was sold, and its contents were sold off. A few years later, in 1845, it became a private hospital called Abington Abbey Retreat. This hospital helped people with mental health challenges. It closed in 1892.
After that, the Manor House and its grounds were given to the Northampton Council. In 1994, the house reopened as a museum after being fully restored. The museum now shows the history of Northamptonshire. You can see old costumes and learn about the area's military past. For a while, the Museum of Leathercraft was also here, but it moved in 2016.
Fun Things to Do in The Park
Abington Park is a fantastic place for outdoor activities. It has a special bandstand where you can listen to different kinds of music. You might hear brass bands, concert bands, folk music, or jazz. The park used to host the 'Folk in the Park' festival, which was a big music event.
The park also has two lovely lakes and a smaller lake for model boats. These lakes are connected by a stream. The biggest lake was updated in the 1920s.
Besides the lakes, you'll find a fun play park for kids, a cafe where you can grab a snack, and tennis courts. There's also outdoor table tennis and a beautiful rose garden. And don't forget the historic church of St Peter and St Paul, which is right there in the park too!
