West Park in Wolverhampton, a Victorian gem!

Back in March 2019, I noticed on Google Maps while in Wolverhampton, there was a park nearby called West Park. So I went to check it out before getting the train back to Birmingham. Opened as the People's Park in 1881. It is surrounded by Park Road West and Park Road East. There is a statue of Charles Pelham Villiers in the park. He was the local MP at the time (he served 63 years).

West Park, Wolverhampton

My visit to West Park, Wolverhampton was on the 24th March 2019. At the time I got the train from Birmingham to Wolverhampton. Initially to see the orange West Midlands Railway signs at Wolverhampton Station, then for another walk around the City. I ended up at the Costa Coffee on Dudley Street, when I was looking at Google Maps for somewhere to walk, and take photos, when I noticed West Park on the map. I went for a walk around West Park, then when I left, I passed the Molineux home of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, where I saw the statue of Sir Jack Hayward. I also passed the University of Wolverhampton campus on the walk back to the station (saw one of the Wolves in Wolverhampton sculptures from the 2017 trail).

Now for some history of the park taken from the Wikipedia page (link above). The park opened on the 6th June 1881 as the People's Park. The site that was chosen was formerly the Wolverhampton Race Course, or Broad Meadows, owned by the Duke of Cleveland. In March 1879, Alderman Samuel Dickonson invited landscape gardeners to complete the layout of the park. The winner was Richard Hartland Vertegans of Chad Valley Nurseries, Edgbaston, Birmingham. The park includes ornamental lakes, a Bandstand, which was presented by the towns long-standing MP, Rt. Hon. Charles Pelham Villiers in May 1882 (his statue was moved to the park in 1931). It is now Grade II listed. A conservatory opened was opened in July 1896 by the widow of former Mayor Alderman Samuel Dickinson. Commemorative flower beds were laid out in 1911 for the Coronation of King George V, and the same was done in 1937 for King George VI. The park was added to the Heritage National Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in 1986. A team room was refurbished in 2005 with help from a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

 

And now onto my visit from March 2019. Approaching the Gates between Park Road West and Park Road East. They are Grade II listed. They were installed in 1880. All the walls and gates that surround the park are part of this listing. The architects were Bayliss, Jones and Bayliss. Made of Ashlar on a brick base with cast-iron railings and gates. Park Road West is to the left and Park Road East to the right.

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The entrance path from the Park Road East gates, heading into the park.

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On the left was the gatehouse, which is now the Ranger Station.

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A large open field of grass not far from the Park Road East entrance.

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Not far from there was this brick sculpture of a Victorian Sewer. It was built for the Wolverhampton Fiesta of the 1970s. Made of brick.

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The West Park Tea Rooms were to the right.

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The Bandstand. It is Grade II listed dating from 1882. It was made by McDowell Stevens & Co of Glasgow. Originally made of a Cast-iron on brick base. It used to have a cast-iron roof, but this was replaced with fibreglass in 1976.

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At the time the bandstand had fences around it (I think it has since been restored and reopened since I was there). The bandstand is in an Octagonal structure on brick base.

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Seen on the other side of the West Park Boating Lake was the Conservatory. It is a Grade II listed building. It dates to 1896 and was designed by Dan Gibson. It was made of Brick with terracotta dressings. It also had a timber superstructure on iron stanchions.

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Another view of the Conservatory over the boating lake, as families walked past it. I did not go on that side of the lake, and wasn't sure if it was open or not.

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This view from the West Park Boating Lake towards the Conservatory.

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Several views of the West Park Boating Lake. All the usual Canada geese and ducks in here.

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There was an island in the middle of the lake, where I assume that all the birds would go.

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This side of the lake towards the Pavilion.

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A close up look at the Pavilion from the other side of the lake.

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There was some Greylag geese in the lake at the time.

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Now for a look at the Statue of Charles Pelham Villiers. It was looking quite weathered at the time of my visit.

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Years of rain, wind and snow have done this to the statue.

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The statue is Grade II listed as the Villiers Statue. It was made in 1878 and was of the town's long standing Member of Parliament, Rt.Hon. Charles Pelham Villiers. It was sculpted by W.Theed the younger.

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The statue was made of Ashlar. It was placed on a high plinth which supports a figure in 19th century dress and was holding scroll, against draped stand.

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The statue was moved from it's original position in Snow Hill, Wolverhampton in 1931, to this site in West Park. Villiers was born in 1802 and died in 1898 at the age of 96 years. He was MP for Wolverhampton for a record 63 years! He had the seat of Wolverhampton from 1835 until 1885, then Wolverhampton South from 1885 until his death in 1898.

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Heading out of the park, saw this Bridge over the lake. It is Grade II listed and dates from 1880. It was made with Cast-iron with ashlar abutments and piers. I did not cross it, as I wanted to get more views of the Villiers statue (see above).

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Saw this fingerpost on the way out of the park. It had directions to the Devon Road exit to the left and the Connaught Road exit to the right. Also to the playground and bandstand. Tennis court and boating lake.

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The path near the Lansdowne Road exit / entrance, which I would take to leave the park.

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The noticeboard at the Lansdowne Road entrance. Also with the parks opening hours.

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The gates at Lansdowne Road. This was the exit that I took to Park Road East. I then headed down to Park Crescent, and back to the Wolverhampton Ring Road.

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Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

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