Monument record 1698 - Abington Park (Municipal Park)
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Summary
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.
Map
Type and Period (2)
Full Description
{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.
Sources/Archives (16)
- <1> SNN45305 Article: 1896. Chronicle & Echo. Chronicle & Echo. October 7th. Chronicle & Echo. (checked).
- <2> SNN45307 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1899. Second Edition OS 6 Inch Mapping Series (45NW). 6 Inch to 1 Mile. 45NW. Ordnance Survey. (checked).
- <3> SNN59005 Map: . 1920. Third Edition. Ordnance Survey. (checked).
- <4> SNN39616 Book: Gotch J.A.. 1939. Squires' Homes and Other Old Buildings of Northamptonshire. p.34-5 (checked).
- <5> SNN45206 Map: 1949. NRO Map ZB 607. ZB 607. (unchecked).
- <6> SNN45207 Map: 1949. NRO MAP P3076. P3076. (unchecked).
- <7> SNN106082 Series: Mowl T.; Hickman C.. 2008. The Historic Gardens of England: Northamptonshire. The Historic Gardens of England. Northamptonshire. Tempus. (unchecked).
- <8> SNN58974 Guide: McIntosh J.J.. 1937. Abington Park. N'pton Borough Council. (part checked).
- <9> SNN45446 Uncertain: Adkinson A.L.. 1960. Parks in Northampton. (unchecked).
- <10> SNN45447 Uncertain: 1990. Letter & Plans. (unchecked).
- <11> SNN104707 Article: Burman, A.. 2004. Still Growing into History. Chronicle & Echo. (unchecked).
- <13> SNN54695 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1950. Ordnance Survey 1950s Mapping Series (SP76). 2.5 inches to 1 mile. SP76. Ordnance Survey. (part checked).
- <14> SNN105369 Report: Conservation Section. 2005. Abington Park, Conservation Area Assessment. N.B.C.. (unchecked).
- <15> SNN103946 Note: Cadman, G.. 2004. Northampton Abington Park. (unchecked).
- <16> SNN116607 Website: General reference for websites. https://abingtonpark.org/discover/history/; Accessed28/04/2025.
- <17> SNN116849 Note: Cadman G. 2025. Northampton, Abington Park: Note on rectangular grass parch-mark. Not specified. N/A. N/A.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (1)
Location
Grid reference | Centred SP 77721 61549 (1065m by 757m) Central |
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Civil Parish | NORTHAMPTON, West Northamptonshire (formerly Northampton District) |
Protected Status/Designation
Other Statuses/References
- None recorded
Record last edited
Jun 19 2025 9:50AM