Walker, Walker Park

HER Number:
13509

District:
Newcastle

Site Name:
Walker, Walker Park

Place:
Walker

Map Sheet:
NZ26SE

Class:
Gardens Parks and Urban Spaces

Site Type: Broad:
Park

Site Type: Specific:
Public Park

General Period:
Early Modern

Specific Period:
C19

Form of Evidence:
Structure

Description:
Walker Park was opened in 1891 on land leased to Walker Board by Newcastle Corporation. The park was built for the large and growing community which developed alongside a colossal expanding industrial area. Facilities in the park included a promenade, bowling greens and pavilion, a lake, tennis courts, meandering walks through woodland overlooking the picturesque Walker Dene and Christ’s Church beyond. The park was enclosed by a band of trees and shrubs planted along the boundary. In 1901 a statue commemorating Rabbie Burns was erected by the local Burns Club supported by the numerous ship builders who moved to Walker from Clydesdale. By the 1940s the layout had been altered with a new bandstand, additional tree and shrub planting and the relocation of the tennis courts. Following a design competition in 1988 parts of the park were renewed with a new entrance at the south west corner, a new play area, paths, shrub beds, an amphitheatre, five aside area, grassed dry lake, bowling pavilion, lighting and seating areas. Despite the changes to the layout the original boundary, some compartments, the majority of the original path routes and many trees have survived.

Easting:
2898

Northing:
6416

Grid Reference:
NZ28986416

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
pers comm Seamus Tollitt, Ouseburn Parks Manager, 2010