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Friends of EATON PARK

Norwich

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History of Eaton Park

The years following the first world war were a time of unemployment and hardship. In 1920 the minutes of Norwich Corporation (now City Council) show the concern that high unemployment was having and it sent a resolution to the Government to the effect that all unemployed persons should be paid at a rate that would sustain them in 'health and efficiency' until they found work. Taking advantage of government grants, the Corporation took the bold decision to construct several formal parks as a means of unemployment relief.

The key figure in the construction of Norwich parks was Captain A Sandys-Winsch who was appointed as Parks Superintendent. You can read about him here.

Despite the availability of land at that time (the area of Eaton Park was then among fields and market gardens) it was recognised that a place for recreational purposes was needed. £900 was raised for the piece of land which was enclosed and which we now recognise as Eaton Park. From 1924, Blue Bell Road, then a lane linking Eaton and Earlham, was widened and houses were built north of the park area. For three and a half years over a hundred men were employed to build the bandstand, pavilions, and model boating and lily ponds. Tennis courts (there were over 40), cricket squares, bowling greens, other sports' and leisure areas and gardens were created. In 1928 the Park was officially opened by the then Prince of Wales. A photo above shows the Prince of Wales addressing the crowds in 1928 when he came to open the park.

In 1998 Eaton Park was one of three parks which benefitted from an extensive refurbishment programme funded by a Heritage Lottery grant of £4.2m. Although Norwich City Council invests money in the parks, it could not have afforded the work required to restore the buildings.

Today, Eaton Park is one of 23 parks in Norwich of which Heigham, Waterloo, and Wensum Parks are also 'historic' parks. They are managed by the Green Spaces team. You can read more on the City Council website - search 'historic parks'.

About the photographs: permission has been obtained from Norfolk Record Office and Norwich City Council to reproduce them. The aerial view of the park at the top of the page looks west towards the River Yare and the parkland and University of East Anglia, which was constructed in the 1960s. On either side of the park, there are either fields or allotments. Beween the line of trees (where the photo starts to narrow) and the hedge at the end of the park is now the pitch and putt course.

For more photographs of Norwich before and after the 1930s, see George Plunkett's collection.

Text sources include: The Captain and the Norwich Parks by AP Anderson, The Norwich Society, 2000, price £8, ISBN 0-9524756-1-8, available in Norwich bookshops. You can find out more about The Norwich Society here.

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About Friends of Eaton Park

Sports and facilities

What's on

Railway

Community Centre

Memories of Eaton Park

Links

Getting there

Home	History of Eaton Park The years following the first world war were a time of unemployment and hardship. In 1920 the minutes of Norwich Corporation (now City Council) show the concern that high unemployment was having and it sent a resolution to the Government to the effect that all unemployed persons should be paid at a rate that would sustain them in 'health and efficiency' until they found work. Taking advantage of government grants, the Corporation took the bold decision to construct several formal parks as a means of unemployment relief. The key figure in the construction of Norwich parks was Captain A Sandys-Winsch who was appointed as Parks Superintendent. You can read about him here. Despite the availability of land at that time (the area of Eaton Park was then among fields and market gardens) it was recognised that a place for recreational purposes was needed. £900 was raised for the piece of land which was enclosed and which we now recognise as Eaton Park. From 1924, Blue Bell Road, then a lane linking Eaton and Earlham, was widened and houses were built north of the park area. For three and a half years over a hundred men were employed to build the bandstand, pavilions, and model boating and lily ponds. Tennis courts (there were over 40), cricket squares, bowling greens, other sports' and leisure areas and gardens were created. In 1928 the Park was officially opened by the then Prince of Wales. A photo above shows the Prince of Wales addressing the crowds in 1928 when he came to open the park. In 1998 Eaton Park was one of three parks which benefitted from an extensive refurbishment programme funded by a Heritage Lottery grant of £4.2m. Although Norwich City Council invests money in the parks, it could not have afforded the work required to restore the buildings. Today, Eaton Park is one of 23 parks in Norwich of which Heigham, Waterloo, and Wensum Parks are also 'historic' parks. They are managed by the Green Spaces team. You can read more on the City Council website - search 'historic parks'. About the photographs: permission has been obtained from Norfolk Record Office and Norwich City Council to reproduce them. The aerial view of the park at the top of the page looks west towards the River Yare and the parkland and University of East Anglia, which was constructed in the 1960s. On either side of the park, there are either fields or allotments. Beween the line of trees (where the photo starts to narrow) and the hedge at the end of the park is now the pitch and putt course. For more photographs of Norwich before and after the 1930s, see George Plunkett's collection. Text sources include: The Captain and the Norwich Parks by AP Anderson, The Norwich Society, 2000, price £8, ISBN 0-9524756-1-8, available in Norwich bookshops. You can find out more about The Norwich Society here. top Home About Friends of Eaton Park Sports and facilities What's on Railway Community Centre Memories of Eaton Park Links Getting there
About Friends of Eaton Park
Sports and facilities
What's on
Railway
Community Centre
Memories of Eaton Park
Links
Getting there