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West Bank Park

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Coordinates: 53°57′12″N 1°06′39″W / 53.9534°N 1.1109°W / 53.9534; -1.1109
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West Bank Park
Image of a tarmacked path curving through a wooded area
West Bank Park – Acomb Road
Map
LocationHolgate, York, England
OS gridSE 582511[1]
Coordinates53°57′12″N 1°06′39″W / 53.9534°N 1.1109°W / 53.9534; -1.1109[2]
Area20 acres (8.1 ha)
Created1936–1938
AwardsGreen Flag

West Bank Park is a public open space in Holgate, the city of York, in Northern England. The area was previously a nursery owned by James Backhouse before being converted into a park in the 1930s.

History

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In the 19th century, the botanist James Backhouse owned a nursery in Holgate which covered 100 acres (40 ha), and was known worldwide, having the nickname of the "Kew of the North".[3][4] During the second half of the 19th century, Backhouse had several large greenhouses built to grow ferns, with the Backhouse family being credited as "Britain's leading cultivators of exotic ferns."[5] Part of this land became West Bank Park in the early 20th century, and now has grassed areas and woodland.[6] The northern part of the woodland had previously been the site of a small lake, which archaeological evidence showed had silted up by the time the area was converted into a park.[7][8][9] The land was converted into a park between 1936 and 1938, but larger-scale development of the area was halted until after the Second World War, and then West Bank House was demolished in 1974.[10][11] The house had been built by Backhouse in 1853, and then sold to Sir James Hamilton in 1910, alter becoming a home for unwed mothers.[12] Less maintenance of the park and rising crimes rates saw the formation of the Friends of West Bank Park in 1993.[13]

In the northern part of the park is a grade II listed statue of Queen Victoria. It was created in 1905 by George Milburn and intended to commemorate the reign of Queen Victoria by being placed in the Guildhall in York. However, at some point during the 20th century it was removed to West Bank Park, and has been renovated as recently as 2018.[14][15][16]

In 2013, the council stopped locking the park gates on an evening in an effort to save money.[17] The locking of the gates was reinstated by the Friends of West Bank Park in 2016, which saw vandalism and crime rates in the park drop by 50%.[18][19] West Bank Park has been awarded a green flag for every year between 2006 and 2024.[20][21][22]

Facilities and transport

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Buses connect the city centre with West Bank Park; services 1 and 5, both run by FirstBus York, though service number 1 runs directly past the parks' northern entrance.[23][24][25] The park has children's play areas, bowling greens, woodland, and standard and adapted toilets.[26] One of the children's play areas additionally has a basketball court, and there is a children's wildlife area with a pond, and bird feeding.[27][28] The mature woodland at the north end of the park includes dawn and giant redwoods.[29]

The park used to have a cafe by the bowling greens, which was also used to teach cooking skills to those with special needs. It closed down in 2009, and efforts have been made to re-open the cafe, or to open a newer cafe in the old gate-keeper's lodge.[30][31]

References

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  1. ^ "EYO63 – West Bank Park". her.york.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  2. ^ "West Bank Park – York". parksandgardens.org. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  3. ^ Ginley, Joanne (25 February 2014). "Park heritage centre plan to highlight story of 19th century garden pioneer". The Yorkshire Post. p. 13. ISSN 0963-1496.
  4. ^ Cullen, Jane (13 June 2014). "Banking on future of city park". The York Press. p. 18. ISSN 1757-3289.
  5. ^ Keogh, Luke (2020). The Wardian Case. Kew: Kew Publishing. p. 136. ISBN 978-1-84246-719-0.
  6. ^ "West Bank Park". archaeologydataservice.ac.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  7. ^ "P0335 West Bank Park, Holgate · York Archaeology Online Collections · Collections". collections.yorkarchaeologicaltrust.co.uk. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Georeferenced Maps – Map images – National Library of Scotland". maps.nls.uk. Retrieved 11 September 2024. Use the slider on the bottom left (named "Change transparency of overlay") to toggle between old mapping and modern-day satellite imagery
  9. ^ "West Bank Park Holgate". archaeologydataservice.ac.uk. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  10. ^ Hodgeson, Geoff (1999). A History of Holgate in five parts; part five, twentieth century Holgate. Rufforth: Hodgson. p. 64. ISBN 0-9527093-7-6.
  11. ^ Pevsner, Nikolaus; Neave, David; Neave, Susan (2005). Yorkshire - York and the East Riding. London: Yale University Press. p. 261. ISBN 0300095937.
  12. ^ Waterson, Edward (1990). Lost houses of York and the North Riding. York: Jill Raines. p. 63. ISBN 0-9516-4940-X.
  13. ^ Hodgeson, Geoff (1999). A History of Holgate in five parts; part five, twentieth century Holgate. Rufforth: Hodgson. p. 65. ISBN 0-9527093-7-6.
  14. ^ Lewis, Stephen (24 May 2019). "'There's a statue of Queen Victoria – get it sorted!'". York Press. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  15. ^ Dobson, Michaela (4 June 2018). "Queen Victoria Statue Conservation Completed". York Civic Trust. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  16. ^ Historic England. "Queen Victoria Statue (Grade II) (1256224)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Jobs to go as city of York council budget agreed". BBC News. 1 March 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  18. ^ "Gate Locking". westbankpark.org. 13 September 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  19. ^ Turnbull, Catherine (11 December 2017). "Crime reduced at locked park". The York Press. p. 9.
  20. ^ Jacob, Liana (19 October 2021). "Best parks in Yorkshire: 77 parks and canals in Yorkshire have been awarded the Green Flag status". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  21. ^ "About". westbankpark.org. 6 September 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  22. ^ "Three York parks honoured with Green Flag awards". BBC News. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  23. ^ "Top 20 parks around York | First Bus". firstbus.co.uk. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  24. ^ "York Network map" (PDF). firstbus.co.uk. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  25. ^ "Top 20 parks around York | First Bus". firstbus.co.uk. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  26. ^ "Westbank Park". accessable.co.uk. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  27. ^ "West Bank Park play area – Parks and open spaces directory". york.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  28. ^ "About". westbankpark.org. 6 September 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  29. ^ Lewis, Haydn (28 December 2022). "Girl becomes trapped in popular park as fire crews come to her rescue". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  30. ^ Catton, Richard (22 April 2009). "Anger over West Bank Park café closure". York Press. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  31. ^ "Council hopeful's plans for West Bank Park café". York Press. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
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