Jesmond Dene facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jesmond Dene |
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Jesmond Dene ca. 1900
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| Location | Newcastle upon Tyne, UK |
| OS grid | NZ261663 |
| Owned by | Newcastle City Council |
| Managed by | Urban Green Newcastle |
Jesmond Dene is a wonderful public park located in the east end of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It sits in a narrow, steep-sided valley carved by a small river called the Ouseburn. This river flows south until it joins the larger River Tyne. In north-east England, these types of valleys are often called 'denes'. The name 'Jesmond' actually means 'mouth of the Ouseburn'.
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A Park for Everyone
The park was first created in the 1860s by Lord Armstrong and his wife. Their home, Jesmond Dean (now gone), was nearby. They wanted the park to look like a natural countryside, with trees, rocky cliffs, waterfalls, and calm pools. Lord Armstrong later gave this beautiful park to the people of Newcastle. Today, Newcastle City Council owns it. The building next to the dene, now a fancy hotel called Jesmond Dene House, used to be the home of Armstrong's business partner, Andrew Noble.
The Armstrong Bridge
The Armstrong Bridge, made of iron, stretches across the south end of the Dene. It used to carry road traffic but is now closed to cars. Instead, it hosts the Jesmond Food Market on the first and third Saturday of every month. A new road and tunnel, the Cradlewell By-pass, was built nearby. This project caused some concern in 1993 because many old, 200-year-old trees had to be removed.
Fun Things to Do
Jesmond Dene has a special place called "Pets' Corner." It is a free petting zoo that has been a favorite spot for families since the 1960s. You can see many different animals there.
Ancient History
The park is also home to Newcastle's oldest religious building, St Mary's Chapel. This chapel is now in ruins, but it was once a very important place. Many pilgrims, or people on religious journeys, used to visit it.
Keeping the Park Beautiful
Many people help to keep Jesmond Dene a lovely place. A group called 'Friends of Jesmond Dene' raises money for small projects to make the park even better. There are also 'Volunteer Rangers' who do hands-on work. They tidy paths, pick up litter, trim bushes, and help with other maintenance tasks.
Nature's Sounds
The sounds of birds singing at dawn in Jesmond Dene have even been professionally recorded. These recordings have been used in places like workplaces and hospitals to help people relax and recover.
Recent Changes and Challenges
In 2011, the open field area and Pets' Corner were updated. This included building a new road and a bridge over the Ouseburn river.
Landslide and Paths
In 2012, after a lot of rain, a landslide happened on the east side of the Dene, near the Old Mill. This landslide covered several walking paths along the hillside. These paths are still closed because it would cost too much money to clear them.
Protecting the Park
In July 2014, the Old Mill in the Dene was marked with graffiti. Luckily, this graffiti has since been removed.
New Management
On April 1, 2019, the responsibility for Jesmond Dene and other parks in Newcastle changed. Control and upkeep were passed from Newcastle City Council to a new charity called Urban Green Newcastle. This group now manages the park.
