Victoria Park, Bristol
| Victoria Park | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
  Location within Bristol | |
| Type | Public park |
| Location | Bedminster, Bristol, England |
| Coordinates | 51°26′27″N 2°35′13″W / 51.44084°N 2.5869°WCoordinates: 51°26′27″N 2°35′13″W / 51.44084°N 2.5869°W |
| Area | 51.5 acres (20.8 ha) |
| Created | c. 1885 |
| Operated by | Bristol City Council |
| Status | Open year round |
| Website |
www |
Victoria Park is a park and open space near Bedminster, Bristol.[1] It lies to the east of Bedminster railway station and south of the Bristol to Exeter Line.[2]
The park features tennis courts, a bowling green, a 1.7-kilometre (1.1 mi) marked route for joggers, various exercise stations and a children's play area.[1]
History
The park was established in the 1880s following the expansion of Bedminster as a residential and industrial area within Bristol. The council bought 51.5 acres (20.8 ha) of land from Sir John Henry Greville Smyth for £20,678 (now £2,074,000), though the land had been used as an unofficial open space and meeting area for some time before this. By 1887, a children's play area had been installed which became immediately popular. The streets around the park were laid out in 1891. By 1898, four rangers were permanently employed in the park, and a bandstand had been installed. Several drinking fountains and a circular pond had also been established.[3]
In 1984, a Water Maze was built in the park, modelled on the bosses on the roof of the church of St Mary Redcliffe. It was built over a 12th-century pipeline supplying water from a spring at Knowle Hill to Redcliffe, and opened in conjunction with work elsewhere to stop sewage water discharging into the River Avon.[3]
Events
A number of annual events take place in the park. It is a performance venue for the Art on the Hill Arts Trail, which has been held on the first weekend in October since 2007.[4] The park has also hosted a number of open-air films, profits from which are used towards its upkeep.[5]
References
- 1 2 "Victoria Park". Bristol City Council. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- ↑ "Victoria Park, Bristol". Google Maps. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- 1 2 "History and Structures of Victoria Park" (PDF). Bristol City Council. May 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- ↑ "Bristol's art trails and open studios". Bristol City Council. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- ↑ "Cutthroat Island is the brilliantly AWFUL film showing at Bristol's Victoria Park this summer". Bristol News. 27 July 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.