Longley Park
Encyclopedia
Longley Park is a public park
within the City of Sheffield
, South Yorkshire
, England. The park lies between the suburbs of Longley and Firth Park, four km north of the city centre. It covers an area of just under 52 acres (21 hectares) and is the third largest public park in Sheffield.
to serve the newly built Longley housing estate. The park was established on mostly undeveloped farming land and signs of the hedge boundaries of the ancient field system can still be seen. Crowder House, a large country house
which dated back to the 14th century, was the only dwelling on the land which was to become the park and this was demolished to make way for the new estate and park.
The early 1930s saw the park undergo development of its facilities, with a sports pavilion, two football pitches, bowling
green, six tennis
courts and toilets being built . Much of the labour for this work was provided by the long term unemployed of the Great Depression
who had used up their unemployment insurance. On 3 September 1938, a 125 feet (38 metres) by 40 feet (12 metres) outdoor swimming pool was opened in the park along with a 90 feet (27 metres) by 30 feet (9 metres) children’s paddling pool. The pools, which were to become the parks major attractions for many years to come, were paid for by local businessman G.H. Lawrence, a razor blade manufacturer. During World War II
part of the park was turned into allotments to allow local people to grow their own food. In the 1960s, a nine hole pitch and putt
golf course was constructed in the park along with a putting green.
with many of the facilities suffering damage and becoming rundown, the open air swimming pool was closed in 1981 and eventually filled in by the council after being extensively damaged by stolen cars being crashed into it. The golf course closed in the 1980s along with the putting green.
use. A new seating and picnic area has been constructed near the playgrounds and the whole area around the pavilion has new lighting. Two Bowling greens are still in use, and there is one full size football pitch and two Five-a-side
pitches.
Urban park
An urban park, is also known as a municipal park or a public park, public open space or municipal gardens , is a park in cities and other incorporated places to offer recreation and green space to residents of, and visitors to, the municipality...
within the City of Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
, England. The park lies between the suburbs of Longley and Firth Park, four km north of the city centre. It covers an area of just under 52 acres (21 hectares) and is the third largest public park in Sheffield.
Geography
The main entrance to the park lies on Crowder Road at 53.4165°N 1.4627°W although there are several other entrances around the perimeter. It is roughly triangular in shape and is bordered by Elm Lane, Longley Lane, Barnsley Road and Crowder Road. The park has a rolling landscape with hills and valleys, there are numerous copses of old trees. The Bagley Dike rises in a valley in the park and flows on the surface for a short distance before going underground via a man made culvert built in the 1930s to keep the dike away from the old open air swimming pool.History
Longley Park was officially opened in 1929, it was created by Sheffield City CouncilSheffield City Council
Sheffield City Council is the city council for the metropolitan borough of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It consists of 84 councillors, elected to represent 28 wards, each with three councillors...
to serve the newly built Longley housing estate. The park was established on mostly undeveloped farming land and signs of the hedge boundaries of the ancient field system can still be seen. Crowder House, a large country house
English country house
The English country house is a large house or mansion in the English countryside. Such houses were often owned by individuals who also owned a London house. This allowed to them to spend time in the country and in the city—hence, for these people, the term distinguished between town and country...
which dated back to the 14th century, was the only dwelling on the land which was to become the park and this was demolished to make way for the new estate and park.
The early 1930s saw the park undergo development of its facilities, with a sports pavilion, two football pitches, bowling
Bowls
Bowls is a sport in which the objective is to roll slightly asymmetric balls so that they stop close to a smaller "jack" or "kitty". It is played on a pitch which may be flat or convex or uneven...
green, six tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
courts and toilets being built . Much of the labour for this work was provided by the long term unemployed of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
who had used up their unemployment insurance. On 3 September 1938, a 125 feet (38 metres) by 40 feet (12 metres) outdoor swimming pool was opened in the park along with a 90 feet (27 metres) by 30 feet (9 metres) children’s paddling pool. The pools, which were to become the parks major attractions for many years to come, were paid for by local businessman G.H. Lawrence, a razor blade manufacturer. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
part of the park was turned into allotments to allow local people to grow their own food. In the 1960s, a nine hole pitch and putt
Pitch and putt
Pitch and putt is an amateur sport, similar to golf. The maximum hole length for international competitions is with a maximum total course length of . Players may only use three clubs; one of which must be a putter...
golf course was constructed in the park along with a putting green.
Present day
In the 1980s the park suffered from vandalismVandalism
Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable...
with many of the facilities suffering damage and becoming rundown, the open air swimming pool was closed in 1981 and eventually filled in by the council after being extensively damaged by stolen cars being crashed into it. The golf course closed in the 1980s along with the putting green.
Redevelopment
The park has been redeveloped in recent years along with the nearby Parson Cross and Colley Parks as part of the Three Parks Programme. New facilities include play areas for toddlers and older children (officially opened by the Lord Mayor in February 2006), a replanting programme to replace some of the parks aging trees and shrubs. The park has had new drainage installed to prevent problems with boggy areas, new footpaths have been laid which are suitable for wheelchairs. The pavilion has been rebuilt and is now run and looked after by the parks bowling club. The tennis courts are no longer used and a car park has been built at the main entrance on Crowder Road on part of the old courts. Another area of the courts has been converted for BasketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
use. A new seating and picnic area has been constructed near the playgrounds and the whole area around the pavilion has new lighting. Two Bowling greens are still in use, and there is one full size football pitch and two Five-a-side
Five-a-side football
thumb|240px|alt=Men playing football on artificial grass pitch.|Five-a-side game on astroturf pitch.Five-a-side football is a variation of association football in which each team fields five players , rather than the usual eleven on each team. Other differences from football include a smaller...
pitches.