Hanley Park facts for kids
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Hanley Park is a cool green space in Stoke-on-Trent, England. It's like a big backyard, covering about 63 acres! The park first opened its gates on June 20, 1897. It took the town of Hanley five years to build, costing around £70,000 back then. People say it's a great example of a park from the late Victorian era.
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What Was Hanley Park Before?
Before it became a park, this area was a large empty space called 'Stoke Fields'. The Caldon Canal cut right through the middle of it. The land was bought from the Shelton Hall estate. Shelton Hall was a big house located a bit north of where the park is now.
Designing Hanley Park
Who Designed the Park?
The park was designed by a famous landscape architect named Thomas Hayton Mawson. He was from Windermere. Mawson also designed another park called Burslem Park around the same time.
Special Features and Buildings
Mawson used special red clay, called terracotta, to make parts of the park stand out. For example, he used it to highlight the path between the canal bridge and the pavilion. The pavilion is a key building in the park. It was finished in 1896 and designed by Mawson's junior partner, Dan Gibson. A local pottery owner, Mr. George Howson, helped pay for the bandstand.
Fun Things to Do in the Park
At the southwest end of the park, there's a lake where you can go fishing. Near the lake, you'll find a cool word sculpture. It has two quotes:
- 'There are sounds all around, but nothing matters except the sound of your voice'
- 'I see you standing there as if on a distant horizon, I reach out and our hands touch'
Hanley Park also has a basketball court and a football court. There are four different play areas for kids too! Right next to Stoke-on-Trent College, there's a smaller park called Cauldon Park, which is about 12 acres.
Park Events and History
From 1897 to 1939, the Hanley Park Fete was a popular event. It had a funfair, side shows, and amazing fireworks displays. The Potteries Central Horse Parade also happened every year. This parade was open to anyone living within 10 miles of Hanley Town Hall. However, it never started again after World War II.
Bringing the Park Back to Life
In June 2015, some exciting news was shared! The park received a huge grant of £4.5 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This money is being used to fix up many parts of the park. This includes restoring the pavilion, the boathouse, the bridges over the canal, the lake, and the fountains.
Hanley parkrun: Get Active!
Hanley Park is also home to a free, weekly event called Hanley parkrun. Every Saturday at 9 a.m., people gather to run or walk 5 kilometers. The very first Hanley parkrun happened in September 2011. It's a great way to stay active and meet new people!
