Monument record 1698 - Abington Park (Municipal Park)

Municipal park opened in 1897 and extended in 1903. Some 20 acres were gifted by Lady Wantage as a 'People's Park'. The remainder was purchased by Northampton Corporation mostly from the Wantage Estate.

{1} Scheme for design of public park; only parts were used.

{4} The estate eventually devolved upon Lady Wantage who made a gift of the property to the Corporation for a People's Park and for the presentation of fine trees and maintenance of the old and picturesque fabric of The Abbey. Certain improvements were made to the grounds for their opening on Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.

{5} Plan of park trees.

{6} Plan of park trees.

{11}"The house became run down and the estate was in danger of being sold as building land until .. .Lady Wantage offered the house and 20 acres to the town as a public park. The corporation purchased adjoining land to bring it up to today's total of 116 acres. It was opened as a public park on Monday, June 21, 1897, to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee."

{15} Children's Payground: Approx. centre SP77496163. Small rectangular area adjoining east side of Park Avenue South. Annoted as 'Children's Play Ground'. Measures very approx. 20 x 10 metres. Located within area of DMV and later earthworks as recorded by Brown and others.

{16} Brief history of the park's origins. The initial gift from Lord and Lady Wantage in 1892 comprised 20 acres including public park, Recreation Ground, Museum, Public Library and gymnasium. An additional 45 acres were purchased by the Northampton Corporation with the proviso that Park Avenue South be constructed. Further land was purchased from the Wantage Estate and Messrs Green Bros in 1903 to extend it to c120 acres. The park was officially opened in 1897.

{17} During the prolonged summer drought of 2022 helped, a rectangular grass parch-mark became clearly visible at ground level in the north western part of Abington Park, Northampton. Without any further investigation, it is difficult to confirm it's origin but it is considered to be of later post-Medieval or early modern origin.

<1> 1896, Chronicle & Echo, (checked) (Article). SNN45305.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1899, Second Edition OS 6 Inch Mapping Series (45NW), (checked) (Map). SNN45307.

<3> , 1920, Third Edition, (checked) (Map). SNN59005.

<4> Gotch J.A., 1939, Squires' Homes and Other Old Buildings of Northamptonshire, p.34-5 (checked) (Book). SNN39616.

<5> 1949, NRO Map ZB 607, (unchecked) (Map). SNN45206.

<6> 1949, NRO MAP P3076, (unchecked) (Map). SNN45207.

<7> Mowl T.; Hickman C., 2008, The Historic Gardens of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN106082.

<8> McIntosh J.J., 1937, Abington Park, (part checked) (Guide). SNN58974.

<9> Adkinson A.L., 1960, Parks in Northampton, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN45446.

<10> 1990, Letter & Plans, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN45447.

<11> Burman, A., 2004, Still Growing into History, (unchecked) (Article). SNN104707.

<13> Ordnance Survey, 1950, Ordnance Survey 1950s Mapping Series (SP76), (part checked) (Map). SNN54695.

<14> Conservation Section, 2005, Abington Park, Conservation Area Assessment, (unchecked) (Report). SNN105369.

<15> Cadman, G., 2004, Northampton Abington Park, (unchecked) (Note). SNN103946.

<16> General reference for websites, https://abingtonpark.org/discover/history/; Accessed28/04/2025 (Website). SNN116607.

<17> Cadman G, 2025, Northampton, Abington Park: Note on rectangular grass parch-mark (Note). SNN116849.

Record last edited

Jun 19 2025 9:50AM