History of Avenham & Miller Park
History
Avenham and Miller Parks lie side by side on the north bank of the River Ribble, immediately south of Preston City Centre, and rank among the finest examples of traditional Victorian parkland in the north west of England. Linked through ornate railway arches both parks were designed and created by the renowned landscape architect Edward Milner during the 1860's and are Grade II listed on the English Heritage Register of Historic Gardens. At this time the American civil war was raging and cotton towns in the Northwest, including Preston, were experiencing a cotton famine. The parks were built as public works to keep cotton workers employed and prevent the social and economic problems associated with high unemployment.
Avenham Park is created from a natural amphitheatre and contains Avenham Walk (begun in 1697), the Belvedere and Swiss Chalet, which are listed buildings, and the Boer War Memorial. Later additions to the design of the park include the Rock Garden (also known as the Japanese Garden), which was constructed in the 1930's.
Miller Park is more formal in appearance and contains Derby Walk, an Italianate Terrace and a listed fountain together with the Derby Memorial Statue and is renowned for its summer bedding displays.
The development of the parks
STAGE 1: Avenham Walks
This was the first area to be developed and dates back to 1697, when Preston Council acquired the land and an avenue of trees was planted and a gravel walk with gates and seats created. The Walk consists of rustic stone retaining walls, steps and railings, which form promenades and viewing terraces. This area continues to provide a spectacular viewpoint and remains largely unaltered since its expansion in the 1840’s when the present south facing retaining wall was constructed.
STAGE 2: Avenham Park
This park is situated below Avenham Walk. The park takes in land that formerly formed part of Jackson’s Gardens, which was a private garden open to the public. In around 1830 these gardens were transformed into formal gardens with concentric walks and an orchard. The gardens were purchased by Preston Corporation in 1843 and further land to the west was bought in 1844. In 1862 plans were first drawn up to create new parkland and Edward Milner produced the master plan. Work began on implementing the landscaping schemes between 1864 and 1867. The Park was opened in 1867 and had been designed as a Victorian ‘Romantic Style’’ garden. It included a natural looking landscape with winding paths, groups of trees and rock formations. The design of the Park took advantage of the steeply sloping river cliffs.
STAGE 3: Miller Park
It had been the intention of Preston Corporation to create one large park, but the East Lancashire Railway Line was built and visually severed the land. In 1863 Thomas Miller, a cotton mill owner in Preston bought land between the East Lancashire and North Union Railways and offered it to the Corporation. It was this generosity that gave impetus to the appointment of Edward Milner and the creation of the master plan, which included both Avenham and Miller Parks. Miller Park was created in parallel to Avenham Park and opened at the same time, but it was designed to be distinct and separate from Avenham Park. Miller Park is of a formal ornamental style with a fountain, steps, urns and the Derby Memorial form strong visual composition to the axis of the Park. The Park also contains a sundial, grottos and planting beds.
STAGE 4: Additions to the Parks - 1900’s to 1950’s
In 1903 a bandstand was erected in the middle of Avenham Park, but was removed in 1952 when a new stage was built to the edge of the Park. In 1925 the Boer War Memorial was placed on the Broad Walk to Avenham Park, having moved from the Flag Market to make way for the new Cenotaph. The grass slope was embellished in a mid-Victorian style and the 1920’s also saw the introduction of tarmac to coat the Parks gravel walks where there had previously been white gravel. The current rose garden was introduced to Miller Park in the early 1930’s with a curved crazy paving path and central weeping willow tree. In 1936 the duck pond in Avenham Park with its calm setting of a grass glade between clumps of woodland was drastically altered. Much of the existing woodland and shrubbery was removed and Westmorland Limestone was set around the slopes of the lake to form a rockery. A small bridge was erected over the central isthmus, alpine plants, dwarf shrubs and conifers were planted and narrow paths created to create the Japanese or Rock Garden.
STAGE 5: Further additions to the Parks - 1960’s to 2004
From the 1960’s a number of small changes occurred. Public conveniences had been introduced and one of the West Grotto small pools and a small grotto in Avenham Park had been removed. In 1972 the East Lancashire Railway line, which ran along the embankment which dissected the parks, was closed. In 1989 Lancashire County Council donated a large white metal gazebo, which was erected in the Miller Park Rose Garden. In 1988 the Council commissioned a Master Plan for the revival of the three parks, although the plans were not in keeping with the Parks historic heritage. The Master plan led to the Avenham Walk restoration and enhancement works in 1989. Swing bar gates and bollards were also introduced to control vehicular entry to the Parks.
STAGE 6: Phase 1 of the HLF Restoration 2004 to Present
Following the successful heritage restoration of Grange Park in Ribbleton, and a massive public consultation in 2001, the idea for a heritage restoration of Avenham and Miller Parks was born. After a number of years of background research, further consultation and development of the project, the council (with the support of the Friends and many other organisations) successfully applied for HLF funding. The restoration of the parks began in March 2006 with the demolition of the 1950’s bandstand. These improvements include restoration of the heritage features and buildings, e.g. the Belvedere, Fountain etc, major drainage improvements, restoration of steps, railings and furniture as well as the introduction of a competition winning new Pavilion located in Avenham Park. These works constitute phase 1 of the restoration and were finished in the spring of 2008. Work is currently underway to secure funding for phase 2 of the restoration which will concentrate on the soft landscape features such as trees, shrubs, beds, verges, lawns, and restore some large individual areas such as the Japanese Rock Garden.
For more information about the history of the parks, why not come along to one of our Heritage Guided Tours which take place throughout the year. Please ring 01772 906471 for more information or visit the council website.
Click on the following link for directions to Avenham & Miller Parks.