Vernon Park
Vernon Park is the oldest country park in Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. The Victorian park contains the Vernon Park Museum.
History[edit]
Vernon Park opened on 20 September 1858 as Pinch Belly Park or the People's Park. It was built by Stockport Corporation on land donated by George John Warren (Lord Vernon).[1] Work was given to the many unemployed mill workers of the time and it became known as Pinch Belly Park due to their hunger.[2]
The park has Grade II status in the English Heritage Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.[3] After being awarded £2.1 million from the Heritage Lottery for restoration, the park reopened on 29 September 2000.[1]
Park[edit]
In 1842 Lord Vernon presented to Stockport Corporation 15 acres (6.1 ha) of land about one mile (1.6 km) southeast of the town. The council laid it out as a public park. One portion rises from the bank of the River Goyt which flows over a weir making a waterfall. There are statues, ponds, rock work, a fountain and planting.[4] The park was formally opened by the Mayor of Stockport, William Williamson, on 20 September 1858.
The park has a bandstand, a maze, a pond, a playground and a bowling green.[5] The gardens include water features, a fernery, a sunken garden and herbaceous borders.[6] The landscape includes tree-lined paths, statues and a cannon. The open views allow sight of the nearby mills.[5]
Vernon Park Museum[edit]
A museum was opened in 1860.[7] Originally known as the Stockport Museum, the building was renamed the Vernon Museum.[8] In 2013 the museum was closed and many of its 2,800 objects were moved to the Stockport Story Museum.[9] The building is now run by Pure Innovations and includes a cafe run by people with disabilities.[10][11]
Gallery[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Vernon Park". Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
- ^ "Vernon Park". Greater Manchester Walking. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
- ^ Historic England. "Vernon Park (Grade II) (1001308)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^ "Opening of the Vernon Park, Stockport". The Belfast News-Letter. No. 13186. 24 September 1858. p. 4.
- ^ a b Kingston, Stephen (27 August 2019). "STOCKPORT ART EXHIBITION SHAMES SALFORD CITY COUNCIL". Salford Star. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
- ^ "Vernon Park". Visit Northwest. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
- ^ "STOCKPORT COUNCIL REPORT TO EXECUTIVE MEETING – SUMMARY SHEET: Vernon Park Museum". Stockport Council. 12 November 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
- ^ "Vernon Park" (PDF). Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
- ^ "Emptying Vernon Park Museum and other stories". Museum Musings. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
- ^ "Vernon Park Café". Pure Innovations. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
- ^ "Pure Innovations upgrades Vernon Park Café". Marketing Stockport. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2020.