Information Sheet: Grosvenor Park

The History of Grosvenor Park

The twenty acres, which forms Grosvenor Park, was given to the City by Richard, the second Marquis of Westminster. On 9th October 1867 he wrote to the General Council of the City Council "I am desirous of placing it (the park) on the hands of the Corporation as a gift on my part to the Citizens of Chester hoping it may afford health and recreation to themselves and their families for many years to come." The area was originally made up mainly of fields, with the largest field marked on the 1833 Plan of the City of Chester as 'Billy Obbies' Field. The Marquess also paid for the design and laying out of the 'pleasure park' by the famous Mr Edward Kemp, Landscape Designer and former pupil of Joseph Paxton, the architect of Crystal Palace.

Whilst the park was being prepared in 1865/6 a cholera epidemic broke out in the city. For want of more appropriate accommodation a temporary shed was erected in the future park, making it the first building there. The outcome of the epidemic led to the establishment of a new and separate wing on the old Infirmary for contagious diseases in 1867/8.

 

A detailed description of the celebrations for the opening of the park can be found in the Chester Chronicle for 9.11.1867: "The procession was one of the grandest ever witnessed in Chester, and it was about a mile in length. The Incorporated Companies ...in the procession were the remnants of the 'Gild Mercatorial', the Fletchers, Bowers, Coopers and Stringers'." "The Eastgate itself was adorned with evergreens and the arms of the Grosvenor family were surmounted with a trophy of flags. Under the Westminster Arms were the following lines:

Cestria, today with grateful heart accepts Her noble neighbours more than princely gift; Her children, too, in ages yet unborn. Shall bless the donor of the people's Park.

On arrival at the main entrance to the Park the sight that met the eye was pretty in the extreme. Facing the park road was a great triumphal arch, about 30 feet in height, composed of variegated evergreens, and surrounded by a trophy of flags, with streamers on either side: and on the columns were placed shields, the Marquess's coronet and the City Arms. On the sides of the Avenue leading to the Park gates a number of poles have been erected, and from the festoons of evergreens, being relieved at intervals with flags, which produced a pleasing effect."

Grosvenor Park is now regarded by many as one of the finest and most complete examples of Victorian Parks in the north west of England, if not nationally. Although many changes have taken place since it's official opening, much of the original design and features set out by Kemp have been retained.

Many features and buildings within Grosvenor Park were designed by the leading local Victorian architect John Douglas. These include Grosvenor Park Lodge, the boundary wall and gateways into the park and the canopy to Billy Hobby's Well.

Grosvenor Park Lodge

The Lodge was originally the Park Keeper's Lodge and is now the City Council's Parks & Gardens Office. The design of the Lodge and Billy Hobby's Well are the first recorded instance of Douglas's employment at the hands of the Grosvenor family. This was to be a long and fruitful partnership. Douglas practiced in Chester for over fifty years and has given Chester some of its best loved buildings. "Douglas's buildings are always superbly detailed and display a strong sense of craftsmanship." Distinctive features of his work include beautifully carved timbers, romantic turrets, oriel windows & "barley-sugar" chimneys.

The ground storey of the Lodge is made of stones with half timbering on the second storey. This is Douglas's first known use of black and white. The masonry detailing is gothic. There are seven carvings representing the Norman Earls of Chester and one representing William the Conqueror. The Norman Earls are a common theme in Chester. They appear in stained glass in the Town Hall and their arms are shown at each end of the Queen's Park Suspension Bridge.

Statues on the Lodge

Moving around the house from left to right, the statues are:

• William the Conqueror
• Hugh Lupus (1070-1120)
• Richard (1101-1120)
• Randle (1120-1128)
• Randle II (1128-1153)
• Hugh II (1153-1181)
• Ranulph (1181-1232)
• John the Scot (1232-1237)

After John the Scot's death King Henry III annexed the Earldom of Chester to the Crown of England and it became a title conferred upon the Sovereign's eldest son at the same time as he was created Prince of Wales.

Billy Hobby's Well

This was situated in Billy Hobby's Field before the park was created. The well had a magical reputation in Chester. Chester maidens would stand with their right leg immersed in the water, wishing for husbands. John Douglas designed a little medieval-style canopy for the well.

The Statue

"In November 1865, a subscription was originated by the tenantry of the Marquess of Westminster and by the citizens of Chester for the purpose of raising a testimonial to mark the public and private worth of his lordship, and the high estimation in which he is held by his neighbours and tenants, as well as by all classes of the community. Upwards of £5,000 was ... contributed for the purpose, and it was ...resolved that ...a statue be erected in a prominent place in the new Park". The statue was designed by Thomas Thornicroft and shows the Marquess in his garter robes.

The plinth is inscribed "Richard: Second Marquess of Westminster: K.G. The Generous Landlord: The Friend of the Distressed: The Helper of all Good Works: The Benefactor to this City: Erected by Tenants Friends and Neighbours; AD 1869". Two sets of guns used to share this space with the Marquess. There were two Boer guns which had been captured in the Boer War and also two Russian guns which had been captured at Sebastopol being brought in state to the castle in June 1857 they were placed by the monument. It is believed that these guns were melted down in the Second World War.

The Arches & Fountain

In the south western corner of the park, near to the entrance to the 'Groves' you will find three interesting architectural remnants of Chester's medieval buildings:

St. Mary's Arch

This archway and wing walls were removed from St Mary's Benedictine Nunnery, Chester (where the Police Station is now). The Nunnery had lain in ruins since Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1637. The arch and walls date from around the 13th century.

The Old Shipgate Arch

This medieval arch formerly stood at the west of the Bridge Gate and was taken down in 1831.

Jacob's Well Drinking Fountain

This little stone arch had a fountain for people and a dish for their pets. It is now dried up. Beside the fountain is the inscription - "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall never thirst again" John IV 13.

The Roman Aqueduct

When the Park was laid out, a long line of Roman earthenware water-pipes were discovered close to the Lodge. These brought fresh water from Boughton to the Roman fortress. The precise course of the aqueduct is now unknown. However, the continuation of the line has been found much further east, near Old Government House.

Grosvenor Park Today

Grosvenor Park is the main ornamental park in Chester and is extremely popular with residents and visitors to the city alike. It is typically Victorian in it's layout with formal avenues lined with trees, statuary, large sweeping lawns surrounded with ornamental shrub beds and display bedding, for which the park has become famous. The bedding displays are planted twice yearly to provide a spectacular and colourful display throughout the Spring and Summer months.

More recently, the park has become the focus for many significant cultural andhorticultural events, including the Summer Music Festival, 'Art in The Park', 'Eggopolis', the Chester Lions fireworks display and the annual prize-giving show for 'Chester in Bloom' and Allotments competition. However, despite this annual frenzy of activity, Grosvenor Park continues to retain it's peaceful character and charm with visitors enjoying more informal activities in this attractive setting.

The Rockery and Waterfall

The rockery along the southern edge of the park overlooking the River Dee, was built during the 1950's by Park's staff. The waterfalls, streams and fountains in the pond take their water from the River Dee and it is pumped via a system of pipes and returns to the river through the drainage system. Sadly, due to extensive leaks in the whole system, the waterfall and streams no longer operate and will require a scheme of restoration over the next few years. However, the rockery and planting has recently undergone considerable improvements - with the removal of a number of dead and overgrown shrubs and replanting of many more. This will soon be restored to its former glory.

Wildlife in the Park

The park, being situated as it is adjacent to the river and to open countryside, abounds with wildlife. There are many grey squirrels in the park which over the years have become remarkably tame and can be fed by hand, although this is something that we would not encourage you to do as they do have a nasty bite. They will eat almost anything and can often be seen climbing in and out of litter bins especially in Winter when natural food is scarce.

Similarly, the population of pigeons visiting the park has grown considerably over the years. Together, the grey squirrels and visiting pigeons account for a lot of damage to the annual bedding schemes through continual scavenging for food, so don't be too alarmed if you see irate park staff shouting and frantically waving their arms!

Many other species of birds can be seen, some of which may nest in the park. These include Mallard duck and Waterhens on the pond, as well as Robins, Songthrushes and Blackbirds. Watch out for the more unusual species, such as the Spotted Flycatcher, a Summer migrant, and the Tree Creeper, a shy furtive bird which may be seen walking up tree trunks in search of insects. If you would like to know more about any aspect or feature in the park, please call into the park lodge where we would be pleased to answer your query. All accidents and any hazards found should be reported to the parks staff working in the park or at the lodge.

Above all else, there are many things to see and do in Grosvenor Park, so enjoy yourself and please respect the enjoyment of others. Chester has a park to be proud of and we welcome everyone who will help us to ensure that this remains so.

Trees in the Park

The mature trees, including the avenues of Holly and Lime, were planted during the development of the park in the 1860/70s. The Lime trees lining the main avenues have been traditionally maintained in keeping with the Victorian fashion for creating a pyramidal form, which gives rise to their rather strange appearance during the Winter months!

Many new specimens have been introduced since then, including two Californian Redwoods, (Sequoia sempervirens), planted in the mid 1970's. These two trees were raised from the seeds of the famous Giant Redwood named 'General Sherman' growing in the Californian National Park whose recorded height is 275 feet with a circumference of 83 feet. Luckily the two redwoods planted in Grosvenor Park will not attain such astounding dimensions, but may nevertheless develop into very large specimens.

Further Information

• Chester Guide by Gretsy & Burghall, 1867.
• Chester by Peter Carrington
• The work of John Douglas by E Hubbard

We are still discovering information about the history of the park. If you have any information which can help us please contact Duncan Henderson on 01244 325 681.