Platt Fields Park

Right, another task. You want me to take something dry and factual, something about a park, and… make it interesting? And longer? As if the mundane details of municipal landscaping aren't enough to send one into a profound existential spiral. Fine. But don’t expect me to pretend this is fun.

Platt Fields Park

Platt Fields Park is a sprawling municipal park situated in the Fallowfield district of Manchester, England. Its coordinates, if you must know, are 53°26′54″N 2°13′28″W / 53.4483°N 2.2245°W / 53.4483; -2.2245. It covers a rather substantial area of 70 hectares (170 acres), a size that suggests a considerable investment in… grass. Established in 1908, it is currently managed by the Manchester City Council. This park is also the current abode of Platt Hall, a building that, frankly, has seen better days and certainly more interesting occupants. Fallowfield itself sprawls to the south, a residential area that likely provides a steady stream of people who need to escape their own four walls. On its eastern flank, the rather uninspiring Wilmslow Road cuts a path, and if you find yourself at the north-eastern tip, you’re perilously close to the start of the legendary Curry Mile, a testament to Manchester’s culinary – and olfactory – diversity.

Description

At the heart of Platt Fields Park, there’s a rather large pleasure pond. Once, apparently, it was a hub of activity, a place for boating and fishing. Now, it likely serves as a resting place for discarded crisp packets and the occasional lost duck. It boasts an island sanctuary in the middle, which sounds rather idyllic, though I suspect it’s more of a haven for pigeons than any creature seeking true solace. Adjacent to this aquatic feature is a visitors' centre, presumably offering tea and pamphlets, and a boathouse, a relic from a more active era.

The park is also a mosaic of various garden types. You’ll find community orchard gardens, where ferns, roses, and heathers are encouraged to coexist. There’s an educational garden, which I imagine is about as popular as a pop quiz, and an environmental area, presumably dedicated to the slow decay of all things. Adding to this horticultural tapestry are the Elizabeth II Jubilee gardens, a nod to a monarchy that has endured longer than most fashion trends, and an Eco Arts garden, which I can only assume is a valiant attempt to make nature look more… conceptual. Tucked away in the Ashfield section, in the south-east corner, lies a Shakespearean garden. Its conceit is to feature only plants mentioned in the Bard's works. A noble, if slightly niche, endeavor. Ashfield itself, a later addition to the park, was formerly the site of Ashfield House. It was generously donated to the city by Sir Edward Donner, a man clearly with more land than he knew what to do with. This area also contains an arch from the nave of Manchester Cathedral, which, after a brief sojourn at Manley Hall, Manchester, found its way here. One wonders if it dreams of its former glory.

Dominating the north-eastern expanse, near Platt Hall, stands the Queen Elizabeth Coronation Fountain. This rather grand structure was unceremoniously relocated to Platt Fields in 2002. It previously occupied the very centre of Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester City Centre, installed in 1953 to commemorate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Its presence in Piccadilly Gardens was immortalised by the artist L. S. Lowry in his 1954 oil painting Piccadilly Gardens, where it sits in the sunken garden, a silent witness to urban life.

For those seeking recreation of a more active nature, there’s a labyrinth and a dedicated picnic area, because nothing says relaxation like navigating a maze followed by lukewarm sandwiches. A veterans' pavilion offers a place for quiet contemplation, or perhaps just complaining about the youth of today. The children’s playgrounds are segregated by age: one for the minuscule terrors up to age 5, and another for slightly larger, equally boisterous specimens up to age 9. Both are conveniently located near the Lakeside Centre, presumably to allow parents to watch their offspring expend energy they themselves no longer possess.

The park also caters to the more athletically inclined. There are a pair of bowling greens, where the gentle pursuit of rolling balls takes place. Courts for basketball, five-a-side football, roller hockey, and tennis are available, alongside a mini soccer pitch. For those who prefer two wheels, there are cycle pathways and a skate park, a monument to youthful rebellion and scraped knees. And, as of the summer of 2008, a new BMX track was added to the southern end, offering further opportunities for controlled chaos.

The old boathouse, a building steeped in history, has been repurposed as the Platt Fields Bike Hub. This community initiative is involved in bicycle repairs, bike hire, and other cycling-related activities. It’s a rather sensible use of a structure that might otherwise have succumbed to dust and neglect.

For larger gatherings, the park features three dedicated show fields. These are equipped with the necessary infrastructure to host events ranging from intimate local gatherings to large-scale national spectacles. Platt Fields has played host to the Manchester Mela and the Eid Festival, as well as the annual fireworks and bonfire displays – events that undoubtedly generate a significant amount of noise and litter. Until 2003, it was also the venue for the Manchester Flower Show, a fleeting celebration of horticultural prowess. For practicalities, the park provides a car park, complete with spaces for disabled visitors, and public toilets. There’s also a park office, presumably manned by individuals whose primary role is to ensure the smooth operation of this urban oasis.

History

The earliest recorded mention of this land dates back to 1150, when the "lands of Platt" were bestowed upon the Knights of St John by a certain "Matthew, Son of William". Even then, Gore Brook was noted as being a present feature. The Platt family, a lineage of some antiquity, acquired the estate in 1225 and held onto it for a remarkable four centuries. By 1625, ownership had shifted to the Worsley family. During this period, the estate functioned as a country park, its grounds stretching towards the Cheshire Plain. The grounds were then known as the Platt Hall Estate, and were significantly landscaped by William Emes in 1768. The Worsley dynasty’s tenure concluded in 1907.

By the dawn of the 20th century, the Platt Hall Estate was a country park in the truest sense, complete with a grand mansion. However, the encroaching tide of urban development meant the estate was increasingly hemmed in by housing. This pressure led Elizabeth Tindal-Carill-Worsley to place the estate on the market in 1907. The prospect of the land being sold for development, perhaps even the demolition of the hall itself for bricks and mortar, cast a long shadow. It was William Royle who took a leading role in rallying support for the corporation to acquire the estate, thereby preserving both the park and the hall for posterity. This public outcry culminated in the Lord Mayor of Manchester convening a town meeting. The consensus was clear: the estate must be purchased for public use. The acquisition was completed in 1908, at a cost of £59,975 – a considerable sum for its time, and one that suggests a genuine commitment to green spaces.

During a period of severe unemployment in the winters of 1908 and 1909, over 700 men were employed to reshape the park. They meticulously relaid the grounds, planted shrubs and trees along the banks, diverted the course of Gore Brook, and excavated a lake and an island, covering an area of just over 6 acres (24,000 m²). The park, christened Platt Fields Park, was formally inaugurated on May 7, 1910, by Sir Charles Behrens, the then Lord Mayor of Manchester. The main lake was equipped with an impressive boathouse and a wooden slipway. This facility housed not only a fleet of substantial, clinker-built rowing boats and skiffs but also a motor launch named the Archie Littlemore, which offered leisurely rides around the lake during the summer months, famously completing a circuit known as 'Twice Around the Island'.

Within five years, a half-acre, kidney-shaped paddling pool was constructed on the Hart Road side of the main lake. Adjacent to this, on the side facing away from the main body of water, two further model boating lakes were created. The larger of these was home to the Platt Fields Model Yacht Club, which boasted a spacious boathouse with a veranda overlooking the water. Beside it was the children's boating lake. This shallow, circular lake was unique in that it was constructed entirely above ground, with raised concrete sides, ensuring that young sailors could navigate their vessels without the peril of falling into the water. Moving away from the model lakes, towards the Hart Road entrance, a long, narrow field served as the domain of the local model engineering society. They installed a triple-gauge track for large model railway vehicles, including operational 'live steam' locomotives. The track was elevated on concrete pylons, allowing drivers and passengers to straddle the rails. A wooden clubhouse stood at the centre of the circuit. Continuing anti-clockwise around the main lake would lead one to the Platt Fields Lido. This was a 25-yard (23 m) open-air swimming pool, complete with changing facilities. The pool’s depth ranged from 3 to 6 feet (0.91 to 1.83 m). In later years, the Lido fell into disuse. The pool itself was filled with soil and enclosed by a fence, transforming it into a rabbit warren, the focal point of a 'Pet's Corner'. The ancillary buildings, formerly used for changing, were converted into enclosures for small animals and birds. Eventually, all traces of the former Lido were removed, and the area was landscaped.

The park was a versatile space, accommodating a variety of sports, including tennis, football, bowling, and cricket. Further enhancements were undertaken during another period of high unemployment, between 1919 and 1925. During this time, the park and playing fields were levelled, and bowling greens and tennis courts were constructed. Adjacent to the path leading from the edge of the Main Lake towards Platt Hall, a large circular amphitheatre was excavated. At its centre, a stage was erected, complete with a covered bandstand, surrounded by terraced seating. Today, no visible trace of this structure remains, unless one consults an aerial photograph. The amphitheatre's former location is now clearly marked by a ring of trees that have grown up around the buried foundations. A Speakers' Corner once existed in close proximity to the adjacent Holy Trinity Platt Church.

A tennis pavilion, erected in 1926, stood for many years before its demolition in January 2006. It had been empty for some time, awaiting conversion for use by disabled children by the Social Services Department. The park also previously housed a Pets Corner and Animal Park, a children's playground, a café, and meticulously maintained rose gardens and herbaceous borders. Intriguingly, a section of the former Pets Corner was situated within a rectangular sunken area that had originally served as the open-air swimming pool. [citation needed]

In 1980, with both model boating lakes long gone, two brothers, Stuart and Paul Yearsley, who had fond childhood memories of the park, decided to explore the possibility of reintroducing model boating to Platt Fields. They approached the relevant authorities, seeking permission to hold an experimental regatta. Provisional approval was granted, contingent upon attendees behaving responsibly, maintaining the park's cleanliness, and avoiding any disturbance to local residents. Thus, following an inaugural meeting at the nearby Methodist Church, The Platt Fields (silent) Model Boat Club was formed. An immensely successful event was subsequently held. The club, now known as the South Manchester Model Boat Club, continues to cater to all classes of model electric, steam, and sailing boats, meeting on Sunday mornings and serving as a significant draw for the park.

Friends of Platt Fields Park

The Friends of Platt Fields Park is a voluntary organisation that operates as a registered charity. Its mission is to champion the preservation and promotion of Platt Fields Park, ensuring its continued value to the community.

Platt Hall

Platt Hall, once the ancestral home of the Worsley family for three centuries, is a grade II* listed Georgian edifice. The current structure, dating from 1746, was conceived by John and Deborah Carill-Worsley and designed by Carr of York, with subsequent modifications by Timothy Lightoler, at a cost of £10,000. It stands on the site of an earlier timbered, black-and-white building that had belonged to Charles Worsley, a prominent lieutenant of Oliver Cromwell and Major General for Lancashire, Cheshire, and Derbyshire during the interregnum.

Former Gallery of Costume

From 1947 until 2021, Platt Hall served as the home of the Gallery of Costume. This institution originated from the Cecil Willett Cunnington clothes collection and showcased fashion spanning from the 17th century to the present day. The collection is the property of the Manchester Art Gallery. In 2021, it was removed from Platt Hall and placed into storage, awaiting its relocation to a new exhibition space at the main gallery on Mosley Street. The future use of Platt Hall remains uncertain, as it is currently undergoing a process of "re-imagining".

Platt Chapel

The Platt Chapel, located on Wilmslow Road south of Grangethorpe Road, is a structure that has undergone several transformations. The present building is a rebuilding from 1790, with further modifications occurring in 1874–75. It originated as a family chapel for the Worsleys of Platt Hall, constructed in 1699. Its initial purpose was to serve Henry Finch, who had been displaced from the Birch Chapel, where he had been installed in 1672 by the Parliamentarian official Thomas Birch. The congregation began as Independents (Congregationalists) and evolved into Unitarian during the early 19th century. A succession of ministers served the chapel, including Robert Hesketh, John Whitaker, Robert Andrews, John Houghton, Richard Meanley, George Checkley (1797–1807), Joseph Lawton Siddall, William Whitelegge (1810–1865), Samuel Alfred Steinthal, and Charles Thomas Poynting.

Since its cessation of use for worship in 1970, the chapel has been occupied by various local societies since 1977. The graveyard, once more extensive, is now bordered by Platt Fields Park.

Platt Fields Park