Stanley Park
View Larger Map
(The Google Map above was produced before the recent renovation of the Park)
Stanley Park is one of Liverpool's most important historic parks, of great value to its local and wider community and part of Liverpool's heritage. It is listed by English Heritage as a Grade ll Park in its Register of Parks and Gardens. It has recently benefited from a major regeneration project that has restored many features of this historic Park but also met the needs of today's users. The work started in November 2007 and will be completed in 2009.
The major historic features of the Park were the Conservatory, the sandstone terraces and the Park lakes. All of these have been refurbished together with landscaping improvements and creation of new wildlife habitats.
This has been the largest regeneration project carried out in the Park since it opened in 1870, a 'makeover' that has transformed the Park. The picture below shows the dilapidated and unusable Isla Gladstone Conservatory prior to renovation.
The original design of the Park (1866) was by Edward Kemp, a pioneer of public park design and the restoration will follow his acclaimed plans. He designed the Park with three sections, each complementing and providing a contrast with each other. The highest part of the Park is the most formal, with grand sandstone pavilions, flower beds and a rose garden.
The Terrace (above) and Rose Garden (below) each offer marvellous views over Liverpool and beyond.
The Gladstone Conservatory and Bandstand were later additions to the Park, built in the same era as the Palm House in Sefton Park (and by the same manufacturer, Mackenzie & Moncur of Edinburgh).
Kemp's design created an open area below the Terraces, with the effect of creating space around them, adding to their splendour. His 'Middle Ground' also created an open area for play, walking and games. Some of this area is now a Marie Curie Field of Hope, planted with thousands of daffodils. The open Middle Ground opens up the view, leading the eye to the lakes and the views beyond.
Two contractors were used for the work, supervised by 2020 Liverpool. DCT Civil Engineering restored the terraces, rose gardens and the Isla Gladstone Conservatory and The Casey Group worked on the Park lakes and other landscaping. Project managers of the contract were 2020 Liverpool.
Modern improvements include better disabled access, a cafe and new public toilets in the new ground floor of the Isla Gladstone Conservatory, which has been developed for functions, weddings and events. Security in the Park has been improved through the installation of CCTV cameras at strategic points.A new expanded Playground was completed in early 2007 and is already a popular attraction.
Stanley Park is part of the New Anfield Project which aims to regenerate and revitalise the area. As well as the Park extensive improvements including new housing and retail areas will improve the economy and infrastructure of the area.
Funding for Stanley Park has come from the NRF (Neighbourhood Renewal Fund),European Union Objective One and HMRI (Housing Market Renewal Initiative) and Liverpool Football Club. The total cost of the project is around £14 million pounds, all of which has come from external funding support.
The restored Isla Gladstone Conservatory is named after the local artist and textile designer, famous for floral prints in the Arts & Crafts movement at the turn of last century.
Isla Gladstone was from the Gladstone family, the best known being William Gladstone, famous Liverpudlian Liberal Prime Minister (born and brought up in Rodney St, Liverpool). The Conservatory is being developed for functions, weddings and events - a great place for a special day! More details on the Isla Gladstone Conservatory website.
