PARK WATCH #2: ALBERT PARK, Middlesbrough.

Due to the poor weather, an incident with a bike and the railings round the lake and our thirst for finding new parks has meant that we really haven’t spent nearly as much time as we should have in Albert Park this summer. Albert Park has long been a favourite of us here at The Northern Line. Slap bang in the middle of town it is both convenient and magnificent.

Donated to the people of Middlesbrough in 1868 by Henry Bolckow it is named after Queen Victoria’s husband; Albert.  It is a truly beautiful park. It is spacious and bright and a place that all residents of Middlesbrough should be proud of.

It contains statues, well kept gardens, bowling lawns, a fountain, tennis courts and a boating lake with huge swans that you can hire to peddle. There are walks, a band stand, two play areas for

children, a cafe, roller rink and ducks to feed. Beware that these 50p bags of duck food are very appetising to 3 and 5 year old girls!!!! There are designated areas for owners to allow their dogs to run. A clock, a sundial, a cannon from the Crimean war (1853-1856) and a pink granite obelisk built as a memorial to those who died in the South African War (1899-1902).

There is also a special trail that you can follow in remembrance of one Brian Howard Clough. He was born just outside the park at 11 Valley Road. (Given special mention in the recent film The Damned United) When he played for Middlesbrough (1955-1959) he used to walk through the park on his way to matches. There is a statue of him, boots slung over shoulders, which looks like him striding to his next game. The trail encompasses a lot of the features of the park and takes you from one end to the other finishing where once Ayresome Park used to stand; now a housing estate.

The park celebrates Middlesbrough’s past but is also very much part of its future. There are a number of events throughout the year. Jogging and walking routes are marked out and people are encouraged to use them. A healthy and cheap alternative to going to the gym.

All in all a great park and a definite contender for park of the summer. Remember we want your opinions and reviews of parks throughout the North. Which are the best? Which ones should we seek out to visit? Get in touch and let us know; [email protected]

More photos of this great park can be found at The Northern Lines Facebook page;

http://www.facebook.com/thenorthernline?v=photos&ref=ts#!/album.php?aid=210738&id=153421781639

LINKS:

ALBERT PARK  http://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/leisure-and-culture/parks-and-countryside/parks/albert-park/

VISIT MIDDLESBROUGH  http://www.visitmiddlesbrough.com/

DISCOVER MIDDLESBROUGH   http://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/what-s-on/discover-middlesbrough/;jsessionid=9605F860A5AD9A2F03AA8F307BFD0AF6

LOVE MIDDLESBROUGH     http://www.visitmiddlesbrough.com/love-middlesbrough/

MIDDLESBROUGH COUNCIL   http://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/ccm/portal/

HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND  http://www.hlf.org.uk/Pages/Home.aspx

BRIAN CLOUGH  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Clough

By peter on September 6, 2010