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People's Park, Halifax, Yorkshire

 

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The People's Park in Halifax, opened in 1857, is a classic Victorian park designed by Joseph Paxton, and paid for by Sir Francis Crossley, who then donated the park to the city of Halifax. Paxton worked for many wealthy private clients, creating gardens at Chatsworth, Dyrham Park and Hatchlands Park. The People's Park, and the gardens he designed at Crystal Palace were public projects, and this is noteworthy. In the year following the People's Park's opening, the Board of Health, set up to try and improve sanitation and public health generally was abolished. The Times newspaper said it would rather take its chances with cholera than be "bullied into health." This illustrates prevalent attitudes to the public role of government at the time. But as the People's Park shows the attitudes of Britain's ruling classes were beginning to change. In Halifax a garden was being created in the interests of public health. People of the town could take some fresh air and relax for a while. There is a terrace along the highest ridge of the site, as at Crystal Palace, with a transition to lawn and a "wild area". There is a children's play area. Since 1995 much effort has gone into restoring and maintaining an historic park that had begun to fall into neglect.

Opening Times: Open daily from dawn to dusk.

Directions: The People's Park can be found at King's Cross Street, Halifax, Yorkshire HX1. Click here for an interactive map centred on the People's Park.

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