| Moor Park | |
|---|---|
 The ward of Moor Park (red) shown within Preston (orange) |
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| District: | Preston |
| UK Parliament constituency: | Preston |
| Ceremonial county: | Lancashire |
| Region: | North West |
| Coordinates | SD547303 |
| Population (2001): | 4,919 |
| Councillors | |
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Moor Park is a large park (approx 2 miles perimeter) to the north of Preston, Lancashire. Moor Park is also the name of the electoral ward covering the park and the surrounding area. The ward borders the traditional boundary of Fulwood.
Contents |
Park
The park is reputed to be the first in which the inalienable right of public access was assured.[citation needed] Moor Park is Preston's largest and oldest park. It was originally common land derived from the Royal Forest of Fulwood by the Charter of Henry III in 1235. The area in which the park stands was then known as Preston Moor. In the 1830s the park was created by enclosing some 100 acres (40 ha) of the moor, thus forming the first municipal park in the newly-emerging industrial towns. At this time it included an avenue of lime trees (the Ladies Walk) and the Serpentine Lake. In the 1860s it was landscaped to a design by the landscape architect Edward Milner and was part of a scheme to provide work for those unemployed because of the Lancashire cotton famine. These improvements cost £10,826.[1]
In 1907 Preston Open Air Baths were established in the park but these closed in the early 1970s. During the First World War a hospital for the wounded was built. This closed in 1919. During the Second World War the park was the site of a prisoner-of-war camp. In 1927 an observatory was built on the park which is run by the University of Central Lancashire. The park now contains football pitches, cricket creases, bowling greens, tennis courts, basket ball courts, a netball court, a bowls pavilion, and a football pavilion.[1]
The park lies on the corner of Blackpool Road and the A6 (Garstang Road) near the Preston North End F.C. stadium and National Football Museum. Three schools and a campus of Preston College sit on the edges of the park. On the weekend of the 19 and 20 May 2007 the 2007 Radio 1's Big Weekend took place at Moor Park. With 3 stages and an estimated 35,000 people attending, it was the biggest free music festival in Europe.[citation needed]
Electoral ward
Moor Park is currently a two-member electoral ward, whilst in addition to the neighbouring College, and Deepdale wards, forms the Preston Central North division of Lancashire County Council. The English Martyr’s Catholic Church is within the ward.
Demographics
At the 2001 census, Moor Park has a population of 4,919, whilst at the most recent election the electorate was 3,053. Of this figure, 68% described themselves as Christian, with a Muslim population of 5.2%. Whilst the area around Fulwood is largely commuter belt and recent retired properties, the Plungington and Deepdale areas are traditional terraces with multi-occupancy homes increasingly common.
Geography
The traditional “grid” terraces in the south of the ward are made up of a number of main roads, including the A6 Garstang Road which itself runs from the ward’s northern boundary at Lytham Road, to the outskirts of the city centre. The component of the electoral ward to the south of Moor Park itself crosses the A6 to take in a number of terraces to St Paul’s Road in an easterly direction towards Deepdale. From the main Blackpool Road heading north, the houses are largely semi- and true detached homes in the suburban style.
References
- ^ a b "Moor Park". Preston City Council. http://www.preston.gov.uk/Category.asp?cat=1681. Retrieved on 29 November 2008.
External links
See also
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
