Monument record 7198/357 - Wicksteed Park

Public amusement or leisure park, created for Charles Wicksteed, and opened to the public in 1921. Additions to the park were carried out between 1922-1928.

{1} Wicksteed Park Estate. Charles Wicksteed became passionately involved in the idea of setting up a public park for the town. The plan fell through in 1897 and in 1914 he set up his own private park. The park was an ideal testing ground for his playground equipment.
'Beautifully situated on the London road about one mile form the centre of the town is the Wicksteed Park Estate. This was laid out by the donor, the late Mr Charles Wicksteed, with a view to providing pleasant, healthy homes. Mr Wicksteed invested the whole estate consisting of about 250 acres in the hand of Trustees for the purpose of laying out a Garden Suburb, and a Park which includes a lake of about 25 acres in area, Recreation Grounds, Gardens with Tea and the pavilions, has been beautifully laid out.'
Attractions include swings and the apparatus, boating and paddling and the latest attraction includes a miniature railway, miniature golf course, sports and cycle trace, tennis courts and ample accommodation for all other games.
Wickstead Park is still in use as a recreation ground, some of the original features appear to be in existence still, although much of the parkland has been re-modelled. The features including fountain and trough to the north west corner of the park remain in situ.

{3} Wicksteed Park served to accommodate a Quatermaster Company at the time in 1942 when the first American flying unit came to Britain.

{8} Public amusement or leisure park, created for Charles Wicksteed and opened to the public in 1921. Additions to the park were carried out between 1922-1928.

Sarah Couch Associates, Rev 2022, Wicksteed Park Conservation Plan (Revised June 2022) (Report). SNN116251.

<1> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Kettering (Industrial), (checked) (Digital archive). SNN100283.

<2> , 1950, Ordnance Survey 2.5 Inch Series, SP87 (unchecked) (Map). SNN60264.

<3> Gibson M.L., 1982, Aviation In Northamptonshire: An Illustrated History, (unchecked) (Book). SNN100276.

<4> Mowl T.; Hickman C., 2008, The Historic Gardens of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN106082.

<5> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 1996-2013, Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group Newsletter, Issue 126 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN55360.

<6> Upson-Smith T., 2004, 1930s pre-fabricated bungalows at Wicksteed Park, Kettering, (unchecked) (Article). SNN112211.

<7> Upson-Smith T., 2005, Buildings Recording at Wicksteed Park, Kettering, Northamptonshire June 2005, (unchecked) (Report). SNN108015.

<8> English Heritage, Register of Parks & Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England (2004, Northamptonshire), Part 30. Northamptonshire, 27-Apr-2001 (Report). SNN116093.

Record last edited

Mar 22 2024 4:25PM