Saltwell Park
Encyclopedia
Saltwell Park is a Victorian
park
situated in Gateshead
, England
. The major part of the park was designed by Edward Kemp
. Also known as the "People's Park" and part of Gateshead's heritage since it opened to the public in 1876, the park is steeped in history. Thanks to a £10 million restoration project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund
and Gateshead Council, the park has been restored to its former glory.
Saltwell Park has been given numerous prestigious awards, such as "Britain's Best Park" 2005 and "Green Flag Award
" 2006 amongst others.
At the centre lies William Wailes
's former home, the Grade II listed Saltwell Towers, also restored, with the addition of a café and visitor information points located in the building.
The park also contains a boating lake, children's play areas including animal stables and huge bird cage, a stream, bandstand, basketball and tennis courts. The park's bandstand was at one time situated in the middle of the lake and bands had to travel across the lake by boat to perform.
701 Airplane which had been modified, cutting its wings short and to include a slide for Children to play on for a small fee.
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
situated in Gateshead
Gateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The major part of the park was designed by Edward Kemp
Edward Kemp
Edward Kemp was an English landscape architect and an author. Together with Joseph Paxton and Edward Milner, Kemp became one of the leaders in the design of parks and gardens during the mid-Victorian era in England....
. Also known as the "People's Park" and part of Gateshead's heritage since it opened to the public in 1876, the park is steeped in history. Thanks to a £10 million restoration project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund
Heritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
and Gateshead Council, the park has been restored to its former glory.
Saltwell Park has been given numerous prestigious awards, such as "Britain's Best Park" 2005 and "Green Flag Award
Green Flag Award
The Green Flag Award is the benchmark national standard for parks and green spaces in the United Kingdom. The scheme was set up in 1996 to recognise and reward green spaces in England and Wales that met the laid down high standards...
" 2006 amongst others.
At the centre lies William Wailes
William Wailes
William Wailes, , was the proprietor of one of England’s largest and most prolific stained glass workshops.- Biographical :Wailes was born and grew up in Newcastle on Tyne, England’s centre of domestic glass and bottle manufacturing. His first business was as a grocer and tea merchant...
's former home, the Grade II listed Saltwell Towers, also restored, with the addition of a café and visitor information points located in the building.
The park also contains a boating lake, children's play areas including animal stables and huge bird cage, a stream, bandstand, basketball and tennis courts. The park's bandstand was at one time situated in the middle of the lake and bands had to travel across the lake by boat to perform.
Trivia
From 1982 to 1993 the Children's play area of the park featured a retired Vickers ViscountVickers Viscount
The Vickers Viscount was a British medium-range turboprop airliner first flown in 1948 by Vickers-Armstrongs, making it the first such aircraft to enter service in the world...
701 Airplane which had been modified, cutting its wings short and to include a slide for Children to play on for a small fee.