Hedgemead Park Revealed
You might not be quite sure about this caption but read on for an explanation! The exhibition at the Museum of Bath at Work on Julian Road and the programme of guided tours in the park does sound fascinating – especially the tour of the pubs!
The Exhibition, to be shown in the ‘Hudson Gallery’ will use images both historical and contemporary collated by the ‘Friends of Hedgemead Park’ and will be a celebration of this often-overlooked city centre park. The title of the Exhibition has been taken from farsighted remarks made by the speakers at the opening of the Park in 1889.
The Park, initially called ‘The Hedgemead Pleasure Gardens’ is one of Bath’s most intriguing stories and while this exhibition will contain much on this history, it will also contain many more contemporary images of the park as it is today; from its listed structures to its nationally ‘Notable’ Trees and the Anniversary Fete held in 2019.
To accompany this Exhibition a series of walks are planned around the Park. The charge is £5.00 per person. (If the dates need to be changed owing to government restrictions, we will let you know.)
Saturday July 17 – Before the Park
A Guided Walk exploring the Heritage of the Grounds, by Stuart Burroughs and Stephanie Stuart.
Meet at Bandstand at 11.00 a.m.
Saturday July 24th – The Public Houses of Hedgemead and Walcot
A Guided Walk exploring an aspect of commercial life in Hedgemead before and after the landslips, by Dr Andrew Swift.
Meet at Bandstand at 11.00 a.m.
Saturday July 31st – The Park and its Development
A Guided Walk exploring the design and development of the park from 1888 to the present day, by Nigel Pollard.
Meet at Park Gate opp. St Swithin’s Church at 11.00 a.m.
To book:
Make payment online to:
Account Name: Bath Industrial Heritage Trust Limited
Bank: Barclays Bank, Southgate Street Branch
Account: No 20141615
Sort Code: 20-05-06
Or send cheque to Museum of Bath at Work, Julian Road, BATH, BA1 2RH, made out to ‘Bath Industrial Heritage Trust.’
To coincide with the Exhibition the ‘Friends of Hedgemead Park’ have also published a book – The History of Hedgemead Park by Nigel Pollard, and also Treasurer of the CRA.
Initially an area of dense artisan housing, following a series of landslips in the mid to late 19th century, the then Bath Corporation was compelled to pull down the housing as unsafe. But what was to be put in its place?
This fully illustrated book, researched from the original Council records and local Newspaper reports, puts together the story of the people who championed the idea of the area as an ‘open space’, designing, creating, and later extending it to become the park we know and appreciate today.
It is available from both the MoBaW shop, and at Mr B’s Emporium, 13-15 John Street, Bath, BA1 2JL, priced at £15.99.