Rock Park is an urban park in Barnstaple, Devon, England.[1] The park was donated to the public by William Frederick Rock and opened in 1879. It has a number of listed structures including an obelisk at the entrance to the park, a lodge and a range of historic lamp posts.
| Rock Park | |
|---|---|
 Obelisk at the entrance to Rock Park | |
 | |
| Type | Urban Park |
| Location | Barnstaple, Devon, England |
| Coordinates | 51°04′25″N 4°03′22″W / 51.0736°N 4.0561°W |
| Created | 1879 |
| Operated by | Barnstaple Town Council |
| Open | All year |
| Website | Barnstaple Town Council |
History
editThe park was donated to the public by William Frederick Rock and officially opened 12 August 1879.[2] It was designed and laid out by RD Gould.[3] The opening was commemorated with an obelisk at the entrance to the park which is a listed structure with Historic England.[4] William Rock was born in Barnstaple and educated at Christ's Hospital London, he started a successful printing business and became wealthy. He became a benefactor to the town founding the literary and scientific foundation in 1845, Rock Park in 1879 and North Devon Athenæum in 1888.[1]
Landmarks
editThe park contains a number of structures listed with Historic England. These include Rock Park Lodge which was built in Queen Anne style.[5] There are a number of historic lamp posts with one erected around the time of the park's opening designed in a Free Baroque style.[6] There are a pair of lampstands with pedestal bottoms dating to the same time at the entrance to the park.[3]
Facilities
editThere is a children's play area, tennis, crown green bowling, basketball, football, a skatepark, footpaths and walking along the River Taw, an outdoor gym and refreshment kiosk.[1] Barnstaple Parkrun takes place in the park every Saturday morning at 9am, it is 5 km in length and run on the park's footpaths.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Rock Park". www.barnstapletowncouncil.co.uk.
- ^ "Rock Park". www.barnstapletowncouncil.co.uk.
- ^ a b Historic England. "LAMP POST AT JUNCTION OF NEW ROAD AND PARK TERRACE, Barnstaple (1385221)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
- ^ Historic England. "OBELISK AT NORTH ENTRANCE, Barnstaple (1385312)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
- ^ Historic England. "ROCK PARK LODGE, Barnstaple (1385223)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
- ^ Historic England. "PAIR OF LAMP STANDARDS WITH PEDESTALS AT NORTH ENTRANCE OF ROCK PARK, Barnstaple (1385313)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
- ^ "Course | Barnstaple parkrun". parkrun.org.uk. Retrieved 24 September 2018.