I discovered recently that the band of land between the northern part of the loop road round West Park, Hull and the open ground to the north where cars can be parked when Hull City are playing at home, where Hull Fair’s ‘attractions’ are sited and where an open market and car-boot sale are held on Wednesdays and Sundays no longer belonged to the Park (Hull City Parks Dept.). This band of land with its variety of trees and shrubs looks like it should be part of West Park, and indeed it was. I presume the change of ownership has existed since the Stadium was built, this linking to the ‘Trust’ building next to the Park entrance off Walton St. which is a gym and other facilities attached to the Stadium complex. Anyway, so far the Stadium management has retained the trees and shrubs.
The 1928 O.S. map extract reproduced in the booklet ‘The West Park’ by Paul Gibson (s.p.b.s) shows the Park extending north up to the edge of the ‘Fair Ground’. Indeed, there was a hard-surfaced terrace on which stood a long greenhouse/conservatory which, I think, was open to the public rather than being a propagation greenhouse used by the staff only. There were two bowling greens sited roughly where the ‘Trust’ building and car park now are (two of four in West Park at the time, reflecting the popularity of this sport). The 1928 map shows a network of paths on the raised terrace and lots of trees around, some of which survive. In amongst the tree are various remnants of structures once in this area but only a detailed study of the history of the Park’s changing amenities would shed light on their origin.
Given that this area is now only indirectly belonging to Hull City Council it is gratifying that this green, diverse area survives.
Incidentally an inter-War bowling pavilion in the Park alongside Walton St. is soon to be demolished following a planning permission granted by Hull City Council. It is an interesting building in the context of the Park’s history, but has been extensively vandalised.
to be continued.