Although today’s photo shows part of plane tree in the foreground (see the seed pods that have clung on over winter) the focus of today’s blog is the garden area beyond, only part of which is visible. A detailed O.S. map of the late 1920s shows this area of the original park as being a ‘putting green’. Research shows that this 18 hole putting green was created in 1925, it being one of the last activities created in Pickering Park.
Putting greens were a ‘new kid on the block’ in terms of municipal park activities in the 1920s, and are an example of the burgeoning facilities being created in municipal parks in the 1920s. Further research shows that during the spring and summer of 1929 3,106 persons paid for a ’round’ on the putting green. Such a facility needed an attendant to rent out putters and balls, whether a specific member of staff or general staff working rotas. The building seen in the photo was mainly a public toilet block (locked and chained to prevent entry long ago), but maybe incorporated a cubicle for staff at the putting green.
The putting green has long gone. At some point a sensory garden was created on the site with a winding path passing through. Although the shrubs have grown to maturity the site has suffered neglect and vandalism; the latter responsible for the destruction of some wood carvings celebrating the life of Christopher Pickering and Hull’s one time fishing fleet. The wanton destruction of someone’s creativity and artistry. Like Pearson Park, Pickering Park is open, the large ornamental gate apparently never shut and with no fencing along the Park’s western boundary.
The Friends of Pickering Park do what they can; but unlike Pearson and East Parks, Pickering Park has, as yet, seen no big capital investment.
A valued public resource a century ago.