Originally set to be named ‘The People’s Park’, construction of the park began with a ceremonial cutting of the turf, on the 10th of March 1863, a date that coincided with the wedding day of the then Prince of Wales. The auspicious occasion encouraged a change of name to the ‘The Prince of Wales Park’ in his honour.
The site on which the park stands was formerly that of the Brown Hill Quarry, land deemed unsuitable for allotment cultivation and instead awarded for the recreational use of Bingley’s Labouring Poor. Industrialisation, pollution and the enclosure of once public land had left green spaces in short supply for many within the district and as a result, the opportunity to develop such a space was warmly welcomed and keenly supported. Voluntary contributions of both money and labour from local workers, with an additional eight acres of adjacent land purchased by public subscription, enabled the park to be created.
The park, which officially opened on the 6th of June 1865, the park was formally gifted a number of trees from the Sandringham estate of the Prince of Wales some of which it is believed still stand today.
Over the following years, significant structures were added to the park of which some still remain today including the Temperance Drinking Fountain, the Park Lodge and the Round House (though without its lead roof). Other features have been lost including the historic Bingley Market Hall, Buttercross and Stocks which stood in the park for nearly a hundred years before their return to the town centre in 1984.
The park continues to thrive today with cared for paths and walls, managed borders and new events bringing visitors from far and wide. Much of this is thanks to the efforts of the Friends of Prince of Wales Park, a dedicated body of volunteers whose work ensures that ‘The People’s Park’ continues to be an asset to the town.
You are standing in one of the oldest parks in Bradford!
Originally set to be named ‘The People’s Park’, the park opened in 1863, the same year that the then Prince of Wales was to be married in London. So, to mark that special event, the name ‘Prince of Wales Park’ was chosen instead. The Prince also sent a number of trees from London to be planted in the park, can you spot any trees that might be over 150 years old?
The park was paid for and created by the people of Bingley, many of them workers in the local mills. The mill workers and their families wanted a green space to walk, picnic and play. The steep hills and many streams made creating the park a difficult job but the people of Bingley worked together to make a wonderful place for everyone to enjoy.
The park remains a popular place for people to come together to rest and play. Cricket, bicycle racing, picnics, puppet shows, dog walking and many other activities have all happened within the park over the years and some still do today.
The park is still very much ‘the people’s park’, looked after today by the hard working ‘Friend’s of Prince of Wales Park’, who give their time as volunteers to keep it a special place for all to visit.
What will you do in ‘the people’s park’ today?
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