The south-facing wing of Baysgarth House, Barton on Humber was completed in 1731 was built in the Georgian classical style in vogue at the time and was funded by the Nelthorpe family (see above picture), generations of which had lived in the older north-south orientated block since 1620 and further generations of which were to live in the new block to 1792. It seems very likely that Sir John Nelthorpe had his grounds, across which the picture windows of the new block viewed, had the 16 acres of his parkland ’emparked’, indeed some old mature trees seen in the public park today may have then been planted (for a more thorough examination of all the points made here see Evolution of Baysgarth Park in the Publication sections of this website).
In 1930 the private house and parkland were donated to Barton on Humber Urban District Council and so the Nelthorpe parkland and, in the 1950s, further ‘old enclosures’ pastureland to its south became a public park by private donation.
Similar, but not identical, philanthropy was to result in the creation of some public parks in Hull.
To be continued.