St George Park (Bristol)

United Kingdom / England / Kingswood / Bristol
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Local park St. George Bristol BS5
History
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In the 1860s, St George was the market garden for Bristol's growing population and one of the few Bristol Parks which was originally not the responsibility of the city council but of a local organisation - in this case the St George Urban District Council.

By the late 1890s when it became part of the city, St George, as we know it today, had been almost completed. In 1894, Fire Engine Farm, an almost treeless area, had been purchased for the purpose of laying out the park and paths were laid. This was the first step in creating a park that was an integral part of the development of a new local suburb with its own character.

Like the suburb itself, the original design of the park was much more consciously planned with elegant pathways and walks, focused on specific features like the lake and bandstand.

In 1894 work started on a new network of paths, building a lake, bandstand, lodge, shelters, kiosks and urinals, lighting and fencing.

The following year quotes were obtained for planting trees and shrubs including Lime, Chestnut, Rhododendron, Birch, Box, Holly, Black Poplar, Hawthorn, Laburnum, Lilac, and Azaleas. In 1897, however, when St George Park became part of Bristol City Council's responsibility, much work was yet to be done, including the replanting of hundreds of trees and the creation of the splendid avenue of London Planes, and this was not completed until 1902.

Much of the work carried out then still remains and much of the design and layout of the park remains though, in common with the city's other parks, most of the buildings and structures have disappeared or been completely altered.
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Coordinates:   51°27'41"N   2°32'52"W

Comments

  • cool skate park here! newly refurbished resurfaced etc...
This article was last modified 18 years ago