Albert Park, Middlesbrough

Albert Park is an open access, free public park, located in Middlesbrough, in the borough of Middlesbrough and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. The park has been granted the Green Flag Award by the Civic Trust.

History

The town's first mayor and MP, Henry Bolckow, first proposed the idea of a public park for the residents of Middlesbrough, dubbed the 'People's Park' in its conception. Bolckow was particularly conscious of the need to provide a "green lung" to ease the plight of the burgeoning industrial population of a town which was granted its charter of incorporation in 1853.

In 1864, Bolckow bought land off Linthorpe Road and presented it to Middlesbrough Borough Council for use as a public park. An agreement drawn up between Bolckow and the Council in 1865 specified that the park should be called Albert Park and that £3000 should be spent on laying it out. Work commenced in 1865 to a design by William Barratt, using trees and shrubs from his nursery in Wakefield.^[1]

Albert Park was officially opened by Prince Arthur of Connaught (seventh child of Queen Victoria) on 11 August 1868, the park being named after his father Prince Albert.^[2]

Less than ten years later, it was the site of the formation by players from Middlesbrough Amateur Cricket Club of the original Middlesbrough Football Club and, for two years (its exit hastened by damage inflicted upon the Park by players and supporters alike), the club's first ground.

Landmarks

Sculptures

A statue depicting sporting legend Brian Clough at the start of his football career was unveiled in the park on 16 May 2007. The 7 ft-tall bronze figure, sculpted by Vivien Mallock, shows a 24-year-old Clough with his boots slung over his shoulder striding towards Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough's former ground, on his way to training.^[3]

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  Bust of Henry Bolckow (listed building)

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  Statue of Brian Clough

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  Crystallisation sculpture

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  The Horseman memorial (Part of the Marton West Beck series)

Sundial

A grade II listed sundial, designed and constructed by John Smith of Stockton, was donated by H.W.F Bolckow in 1879. The sundial allows people within the park itself to read the time in the UK, New York City and Melbourne.

Central fountain

The central fountain in Albert Park, was originally presented by Joseph Pease in 1869. It underwent substantial renovation and was switched back on Friday 2 April 2004.

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  The Sundial (listed building)

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  The central fountain

Image gallery

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  The Voyages of Captain Cook carving

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  The South African Memorial^*

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  The bandstand

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  Memorial Clock Tower^*

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  Sebastapol cannon

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  Lower lake used for boating and fishing

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  Lower Lake

^* listed building

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Albert Park.