War Memorial Park, Coventry
Encyclopedia
The War Memorial Park is a large park of about 48.5 hectares situated in southern Coventry
. The park was opened in July 1921 as a tribute to the 2,587 Coventrians who died between 1914 and 1918 fighting in the First World War. Coventry Council bought the land from the Lords of Styvechale Manor, the Gregory-Hood family, when it was little more than a large grassed area that once formed Styvechale common.
The landscaped gardens and sports areas were originally created in the late-1920s and 1930s, and the most prominent construction in the park is the Coventry war memorial monument, built in 1927.
The park's features include football pitches, bowling greens, a small golf course, tennis courts, a splash and play area, an aviary for small birds, and a skate board area, but it mainly comprises large open green areas with many trees and shrubberies. A perimeter path lies just inside the park's boundaries, and now encircles the entire park following completion of groundwork on the south-western segment in the Summer of 2006. Visitors may park their cars in the park's main car park, which is also used by visitors to Coventry City Centre who use the park and ride
scheme.
The park is the venue for a number of annual events including the Godiva Festival
, Donkey Derby, Caribbean Festival and the Vaisakhi Mela.
During World War II
, barrage balloons and anti-aircraft guns were sited in the park, and the large concrete blocks where they were positioned still exist at the Coat of Arms bridge area of the park.
on 8 October 1927. It is made of Portland stone, and was built by John Gray who also built the Courtaulds
works at Foleshill
and a number of housing estates. Inside the Memorial is a room called the Chamber of Silence which contains the "Roll of the Fallen", a list of all Coventry men killed in the two World Wars and the Gulf War, and is open to the public every year on Remembrance Sunday
.
and the Big Lottery Fund
together with money from Coventry City Council. Additionally a grant of £50,000 was awarded in February 2011 to create a new under-8s play area in the park.
ed area with access from Kenilworth Road. Travel de Courcey
(in conjunction with Coventry City Council and Centro PTE
) operates a Park and ride
scheme between this car park and Coventry city centre. There is also a much smaller car park on Coat of Arms Bridge Road on the southern side of the park and another small car park near the northern end of Leamington Road.
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
. The park was opened in July 1921 as a tribute to the 2,587 Coventrians who died between 1914 and 1918 fighting in the First World War. Coventry Council bought the land from the Lords of Styvechale Manor, the Gregory-Hood family, when it was little more than a large grassed area that once formed Styvechale common.
The landscaped gardens and sports areas were originally created in the late-1920s and 1930s, and the most prominent construction in the park is the Coventry war memorial monument, built in 1927.
The park's features include football pitches, bowling greens, a small golf course, tennis courts, a splash and play area, an aviary for small birds, and a skate board area, but it mainly comprises large open green areas with many trees and shrubberies. A perimeter path lies just inside the park's boundaries, and now encircles the entire park following completion of groundwork on the south-western segment in the Summer of 2006. Visitors may park their cars in the park's main car park, which is also used by visitors to Coventry City Centre who use the park and ride
Park and ride
Park and ride facilities are car parks with connections to public transport that allow commuters and other people wishing to travel into city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system , or carpool for the rest of their trip...
scheme.
The park is the venue for a number of annual events including the Godiva Festival
Godiva Festival
The Godiva Festival is a free weekend long music festival held each year in the War Memorial Park, Coventry, England, named after the city's famous former inhabitant Lady Godiva. It first appeared as a day long event in 1997 and became a 3 day event the following year in 1998...
, Donkey Derby, Caribbean Festival and the Vaisakhi Mela.
Land
The park was opened in July 1921 as a tribute to the 2,587 Coventrians who died between 1914 and 1918 fighting in the First World War. Coventry Council bought the land from the Lords of Styvechale Manor, the Gregory-Hood family, when it was little more than a large grassed area that once formed Styvechale common. In the north of the park, the landscaped gardens and sports areas were originally created in the late-1920s and 1930s,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...
, barrage balloons and anti-aircraft guns were sited in the park, and the large concrete blocks where they were positioned still exist at the Coat of Arms bridge area of the park.
Monument
At around 90 feet (27.4 m) high, the war memorial monument is the most prominent construction in the park. It was designed by local architect T. F. Tickner and £5,000 was raised from a public appeal that commenced in 1924 to fund the building work. It was built in 1927 and dedicated by Field Marshal Douglas HaigDouglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig
Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, KT, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCIE, ADC, was a British senior officer during World War I. He commanded the British Expeditionary Force from 1915 to the end of the War...
on 8 October 1927. It is made of Portland stone, and was built by John Gray who also built the Courtaulds
Courtaulds
Courtaulds was a United Kingdom-based manufacturer of fabric, clothing, artificial fibres, and chemicals.-Foundation:The Company was founded by George Courtauld and his cousin Peter Taylor in 1794 as a silk, crepe and textile business at Pebmarsh in north Essex trading as George Courtauld & Co...
works at Foleshill
Foleshill
Foleshill is a suburb in the north of Coventry in the West Midlands of England.Longford. Courthouse Green and Rowley Green are to its north and Keresley is to its west.- History :...
and a number of housing estates. Inside the Memorial is a room called the Chamber of Silence which contains the "Roll of the Fallen", a list of all Coventry men killed in the two World Wars and the Gulf War, and is open to the public every year on Remembrance Sunday
Remembrance Sunday
In the United Kingdom, 'Remembrance Sunday' is held on the second Sunday in November, which is the Sunday nearest to 11 November Armistice Day. It is the anniversary of the end of hostilities in the First World War at 11 a.m...
.
Refurbishment
Work started on 16 August 2010 on a multi-million pound refurbishment project for the park, involving about 30 different projects taking place around the park over a ten month period. The work is being funded by a £2.8 million grant from the Heritage Lottery FundHeritage 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 the Big Lottery Fund
Big Lottery Fund
The Big Lottery Fund is a grant-making non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom created by the Government to administer the funding of "good causes" following the creation of the National Lottery. It has an annual expenditure of £630 million...
together with money from Coventry City Council. Additionally a grant of £50,000 was awarded in February 2011 to create a new under-8s play area in the park.
Car parks
The main car park is a large tarmacTarmac
Tarmac is a type of road surface. Tarmac refers to a material patented by Edgar Purnell Hooley in 1901...
ed area with access from Kenilworth Road. Travel de Courcey
Travel De Courcey
Travel de Courcey is a bus operator based near Coventry in the West Midlands region of England. They operate routes in the Coventry and Warwickshire area. The company was founded in 1972 by Mike de Courcey and now operate 74 vehicles, including 12 executive coaches, and employ around 130 staff...
(in conjunction with Coventry City Council and Centro PTE
West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive
The West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive , sometimes known as Centro, is a local government organisation responsible for certain transport services in the West Midlands county in England....
) operates a Park and ride
Coventry park and ride
Coventry Park and Ride is a park and ride system, operated by two different operators under contract to Coventry City Council and Centro, in the English city of Coventry...
scheme between this car park and Coventry city centre. There is also a much smaller car park on Coat of Arms Bridge Road on the southern side of the park and another small car park near the northern end of Leamington Road.