Mowbray Park: Difference between revisions

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'''Mowbray Park''' is a [[municipal park]] in the centre of [[Sunderland, Tyne and Wear|Sunderland]], [[Tyne and Wear]], [[England]], located a few hundred yards from the busy thoroughfares of Holmeside and [[Fawcett Street]] and bordered by [[Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens]] to the north, [[Burdon Road, Sunderland|Burdon Road]] to the west, Toward Road to the east and Park Road to the south.

The park was voted best in Britain in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keepbritaintidy.org/GreenFlag/GreenFlagAwardSites/NorthEast/Default.aspx?parkID=190|title=Mowbray Park – Keep Britain Tidy Green Flag Award Sites|accessdate=16 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091115121450/http://www.keepbritaintidy.org/GreenFlag/GreenFlagAwardSites/NorthEast/Default.aspx?parkID=190|archive-date=15 November 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Mowbray Park is one of the oldest municipal parks in [[North East England]].<ref name="ref1">{{cite web|title=Mowbray Park – Architectural Tour | url=http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/public/editable/themes/environment/implementation/urban_design/architecturaltour/consprojects/mowbraypark.asp |work=City of Sunderland Council|accessdate=2007-01-28}} {{DeadJanuary link2007|dateurl-status=October 2010dead|botarchiveurl=H3llBothttps://web.archive.org/web/20070927201802/http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/public/editable/themes/environment/implementation/urban_design/architecturaltour/consprojects/mowbraypark.asp|archivedate=27 September 2007}}</ref>

The roots of '''Mowbray Park''' date back to the 1830s, when a health inspector recommended building a leafy area in the town after [[Sunderland, Tyne and Wear|Sunderland]] recorded the first [[cholera]] epidemic in 1831. A grant of £750 was provided by the [[Government]] to buy a £2,000 plot of land from the ''Mowbray'' family for a new park.

Work on Mowbray Park – then known as The People's Park<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1001320|title=MOWBRAY PARK, non Civil Parish - 1001320 &#124; Historic England}}</ref> – began in the mid-1850s, incorporating a former [[limestone]] quarry set within what was known as Building Hill. It appears that spoil heaps were shaped and mounded to create distinctive paths amongst steep sided hummocks. The effect was to afford the Victorian user plenty of opportunity to perambulate within a relatively small green area.

It was opened in 1857 in response to a demand for more open spaces in the town.<ref name="BH">{{cite web|title=A brief history of Mowbray Park |url=http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/libraries/Leaflets/Mowbray_Park.pdf |work=City of Sunderland Council |accessdate=2007-01-28 |format=PDFJanuary 2007 |deadurlurl-status=yesdead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927201508/http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/libraries/Leaflets/Mowbray_Park.pdf |archivedate=27 September 2007 }}</ref> The land was purchased from the Mowbray family, and named after them in recognition. The park was extended in 1866 to include a [[lake]] and a terrace, and in 1879 the ''Winter Gardens'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1001320|title=MOWBRAY PARK, non Civil Parish - 1001320 &#124; Historic England}}</ref> museum and [[art gallery]] were added along the Borough Road side.

Following the war, the park fell into neglect. The [[civicSunderland Civic centreCentre]] was built on the west portion of the park. The area became known for anti-social and absuiveabusive behaviour, and was considered generally unsafe. In August 1993, over £13,000 worth of damage was caused, and a survey by the [[Sunderland Echo]] showed that locals were too scared to use the park.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mowbray Park |url=http://www.makingendsmeet.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=1031814 |work=Improvement & Development Agency |accessdate=2007-01-28 January 2007 |deadurlurl-status=yesdead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008052858/http://www.makingendsmeet.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=1031814 |archivedate=8 October 2007 |df=dmy }}</ref>

Following a public campaign, in 1994 work began on restoring the park to its Victorian glory, funded by a £3.3 million [[Grant (money)|grant]] from the [[Heritage Lottery Fund]],<ref name="ref1" /> described as: ''"The jewel in the crown of the city centre regeneration"''.<ref name="hlf">{{cite web|title=Mowbray Gardens |url=http://www.hlf.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/C1AC5891-7AC5-41C3-A152-C94527F9EEB3/464/MowbrayGardens1.pdf |work=Heritage Lottery Fund |accessdate=2007-01-28 |format=PDFJanuary 2007 |deadurlurl-status=yesdead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928010841/http://www.hlf.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/C1AC5891-7AC5-41C3-A152-C94527F9EEB3/464/MowbrayGardens1.pdf |archivedate=28 September 2007 }}</ref> The [[Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens]] were rebuilt, the lake was restored, the bandstand was rebuilt, and the park was re-shaped and adorned with new artworks. A large adventure play area for children was built, to an "Alice Through The Looking Glass Theme" featuring a distorted giant chequer board and giant chess pieces. The park officially re-opened in 2000.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=8005| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150401220317/http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=8005| archive-date = 2015-04-01| title = Sunderland City Council: Mowbray Park}} </ref>

The [[cast iron]] drinking fountain was constructed by [[Glenfield and Kennedy]] of [[Kilmarnock]] and erected in 1878 by the [[Manchester Unity of Oddfellows]].<ref name="BH"/><ref name="WHDF">{{cite web | title=William Hall Drinking Fountain | url=http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/apps/ListedBuildings/lbbuildingdetails.asp?Id=920-1/20/146&keyword=mowbray&Ownership=&Address3=&Grade= | work=Sunderland City Council | accessdate=2008-08-12 August 2008}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> It is a memorial to William Hall, who was the oldest Oddfellow in the [[North of England]] when he died, aged 75, in 1876.<ref name="BH"/> The domed canopy has eleborateelaborate foliage and four cupsed arches on the columns, which shelter the bollard-shaped drinking fountain.<ref name="WHDF"/> Above each arch is an [[escutcheon (heraldry)|escutcheon]] and motto: on the north and south is "Keep the pavement dry" and "Nil desperandum auspice deo 1878" (the motto on the [[Coat of arms of Sunderland]]) with symbols of the Borough of Sunderland and of [[Oddfellows]].;<ref name="WHDF"/> on the east and west is "Amicitia Amor et Veritas" (the motto of Oddfellows), "In memory of Wm. Hall PPGM of the Sunderland District Independent Order of Oddfellows" and "Presented to the Corporation of Sunderland by the Oddfellows NU".<ref name="WHDF"/> The fountain was repaired and restored with the re-opening of Mowbray Park in 2000.<ref name="WHDF"/>

===Victoria Hall disaster Memorialmemorial===

The Havelock statue, constructed in 1861, is located on Building Hill at the south of the park and commemorates [[Henry Havelock|Sir Henry Havelock]], a celebrated military general born in [[Bishopwearmouth]]. Either side of the statue are [[cannon]]s, named Joshua and Caleb, replicas of those captured from the [[Russia]]ns during the [[Crimean war]].<ref name="NEWMP">{{cite web | title=Guns in Mowbray Park | url=http://www.newmp.org.uk/article.php?categoryid=100&articleid=1328 | work=North East War Memorials Project | accessdate=2008-08-22 August 2008}}</ref> The originals were melted down for metal during the Second World War.<ref name="NEWMP"/>

The over life-sized bronze figuefigure of Havelock in military uniform and a sword in his hand is on a high stepped based and a tall, square, granite plinth and faces toward his birthplace.<ref name="HH">{{cite web | title=Statue of General Havelock | url=http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/apps/ListedBuildings/lbbuildingdetails.asp?Id=920-1/22/151&keyword=mowbray&Ownership=&Address3=&Grade= | work=Sunderland City Council | accessdate=2008-08-12 August 2008}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> The figure is signed 1861 by [[William Behnes|Behnes]] and the founder's mark on the rear of plinth reads: "The Statue Foundry, Pimlico, London".<ref name="HH"/> The inscription on the front of the plinth reads: "Born 5 April 1775 at Ford Hall, Bishopwearmouth. Died 24 November 1857 at Dil Koosha, Lucknow".<ref name="HH"/> There is a [[Statue of Henry Havelock, Trafalgar Square|statue of Havelock]] by the same sculptor in Trafalgar Square, London.

[[Jack Crawford (sailor)|Jack Crawford]], born in Sunderland, was honoured for bravery when he climbed the mast of his ship, the [[{{HMS Venerable|HMS ''Venerable'']]|1784|6}}, during the [[Battle of Camperdown]] to [[Nailing the colours|nail the British flag]] back up. Although he died a pauper (he was also the second victim of the [[cholera]] epidemic in Britain), a memorial statue was erected for him in 1890.

The monument is signed and dated "Percy Wood fecit 1889–90".<ref name="JaC">{{cite web | title=Monument of Jack Crawford | url=http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/apps/ListedBuildings/lbbuildingdetails.asp?Id=920-1/20/149&keyword=mowbray&Ownership=&Address3=&Grade= | work=Sunderland City Council | accessdate=2008-08-12 August 2008}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> The life size, bronze figure of Crawford is on a granite plinth set on a mound of magnesian limestone.<ref name="JaC"/> Crawford is in seaman's dress nailing a flag to the mast, using a pistol butt as hammer.<ref name="JaC"/> The irregularly-piled pieces of limestone rock support the plinth which has an inscription on its north side: "The sailor who so heroically nailed Admiral Duncan's flag to the main-top-gallant-mast of HMS Venerable in the glorious action off Camperdown on October 11, 1797. Jack Crawford was born at the Pottery Bank, in Sunderland, 1775 and died in his native town in 1831 aged 56 years. Erected by public subscription."<ref name="JaC"/>

The statue is signed and dated "C Bacon Sc London 1875", with the founder's mark "H Young & Co. Art Founders Pimlico".<ref name="JoC">{{cite web | title=Statue of John Candlish MP | url=http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/apps/ListedBuildings/lbbuildingdetails.asp?Id=920-1/20/147&keyword=mowbray&Ownership=&Address3=&Grade= | work=Sunderland City Council | accessdate=2008-08-12 August 2008}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> The slightly larger than life size figure shows Candlish in contemporary dress on a square plinth with a moulded stepped base of polished [[porphyritic]] granite.<ref name="JoC"/> The inscription reads: "John Candlish M.P. Born 1815 Died 1874".<ref name="JoC"/>

Sunderland has strong links with author [[Lewis Carroll]] – it is believed Carroll drew upon the sights of Sunderland in his work. To commemorate the link, there is a themed play area and – most notably a [[walrus]] sculpture<ref>{{Cite by the lake made by the sculptor Andrew Burton in 1999web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wear/content/articles/2005/06/29/coast05walks_stage7_walk.shtml|title However,= asPoint a7 child in- the lateCarroll 1940sconnection}}</ref> and early 1950s, I can rememberby the 'Walrus'lake nextmade toby the lake.sculptor It[[Andrew wasBurton a(sculptor)|Andrew favourite for children to play on and,Burton]] in those days, have their photographs taken1999.

Image:Sunderland - Monument To Jack Crawford statueAt Ngr 3979 5652 - 20220826175455.jpg|Statue of [[Jack Crawford (sailor)|Jack Crawford]]