West Park is the premier park in Long Eaton, Derbyshire, England.[2] It is also the location of the town's indoor leisure centre.
| West Park, Long Eaton | |
|---|---|
 West Park | |
 | |
| Type | Park |
| Coordinates | 52°53′44″N 1°17′0.4″W / 52.89556°N 1.283444°W |
| Area | 46.6 ha[1] |
| Operated by | Erewash Borough Council |
| Open | All year |
History
editWest Park is near the historic centre of Long Eaton on the opposite side of Erewash Canal, the area was used for Lace factories and part of the park is within The Lace Factory Conservation area.[3] It is an Edwardian park with Long Eaton Borough council purchasing the land that now comprises the park in seven parcels starting in 1882 and finishing in 1952.[4]
Landmarks
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The gates and gatepiers to West Park were made by Robert Bakewell in the early 1700s and are Grade II* listed by Historic England,[5] they were purchased from Aston Hall, Aston on Trent, Derbyshire and erected in 1928. A Fishpond Shelter was also installed after purchase from Aston Hall and there is a historic bandstand.[1]
Facilities
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The town's leisure centre is located at the park. In addition there is football, two cricket clubs, rugby pitches, baseball pitches, tennis courts, bowling greens, an outdoor gym, a cafe, formal gardens, a bandstand, a skatepark, two children's play area, a splashpad, walking, cycle paths and croquet.[2] A Parkrun takes place in the park every Saturday morning.[6] Long Eaton Rugby Club are based at the park.[7]
Minature railway
editThe Park once had a narrow gauge passenger railway which was opened in 1966. It was of 2 ft (610 mm) gauge and used a 4 wheeled Ruston diesel and an ex NCB 4-wheeled open carriage[8]
A four-wheel 13 h.p. Ruston Hornsby diesel locomotive was bought for £75 (equivalent to £1,765 in 2023)[9] from British Gypsum Ltd at Kingston-on-Soar[10] and one 15 feet (4.6 m) coach was obtained from a colliery.[11] On opening on 28 May 1966 the line comprised 150 yards (140 m) of line. Two years later the line was extended to a total length of 400 yards (370 m) when it ran from the paddling pool towards Wilsthorpe Road.
In 1976 the line was converted by Narrotrack Ltd of Sheffield from 2 ft (610 mm) to 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) gauge and extended to a length of 1,000 ft.[12] However, this did not secure the railway’s future and it was dismantled in 1977.[13]
Flooding
editWest park has had issues with flooding in the past, with the autumn of 2023 having particularly notable flooding. Parts of the park had knee-high water levels, with the majority of the park's grounds being visibly submerged. As a result of the 2023 flooding, the annual Bonfire Night event, that usually takes place in the park, was cancelled.[14]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "West Park Management Plan 2014-2018" (PDF). www.erewash.gov.uk. p. 7.
- ^ a b "Erewash Borough Council". www.erewash.gov.uk.
- ^ "West Park Management Plan 2014-2018" (PDF). www.erewash.gov.uk. p. 14.
- ^ "West Park Management Plan 2014-2018" (PDF). www.erewash.gov.uk. p. 14-15.
- ^ Historic England. "Gates to West Park (1087919)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
- ^ "course - Long Eaton parkrun". www.parkrun.org.uk.
- ^ "Long Eaton RFC". nldrfu.co.uk.
- ^ Cooke, B.W.C., ed. (August 1966). "Narrow Gauge in Nottingham". Notes and News. Railway Magazine. Vol. 112, no. 784. p. 482.
- ^ UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ "To Pull West Park Express". Long Eaton Advertiser. England. 20 May 1966. Retrieved 27 January 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Now Train Rides in the Park". Nottingham Evening Post. England. 30 May 1966. Retrieved 27 January 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "New look and track extension for West Park railway". Long Eaton Advertiser. England. 29 April 1976. Retrieved 27 January 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Removal of Park Mini-Railway". Long Eaton Advertiser. England. 21 July 1977. Retrieved 27 January 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Long Eaton: Fireworks show cancelled due to Storm Babet flooding". No. 27 October 2023. BBC News. BBC. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
