Lister Park Regeneration - Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK - Grand Opening on Waymarking.com

This extract from Bradford Council's website tells us that "This Grade II Listed Historic Park was originally the grounds of Samuel Cunliffe Lister’s family home, Manningham Hall. In 1870 he donated the area to Bradford on the condition that they maintain the park for the benefit of the people of Bradford. He also paid for the demolition of his house, and the erection of a new art gallery, called Cartwright Hall. The gallery was completed in 1903 and was the centre piece of the Bradford Industrial Exhibition of 1904, which was visited by the Prince and Princess of Wales.

The park is regarded as Bradford's premier public park but by the 1990s it was in need of improvement and restoration. The Park was restored to its original splendour using funds provided by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF, who provided £3.2milion) and Bradford Council (who provided £1million and also designed and carried out the scheme) between 1998 and 2002.

When Simpson and Allen’s original design for Cartwright Hall was published, it specified that gardens would be laid out to provide ‘a visually impressive setting’ for the museum. The symmetrically laid out beds are of a style popular with stately homes in the Victorian and Edwardian eras.

Many similar gardens in the UK have be replaced with easier to maintain simpler layouts. In this park however they were restored to be a centre piece in front of the hall."

When the park was re-opened by the then Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Richard Wightman, the plaque was fixed to a large stone at the front of the flower beds, recognising the part they play in showing off Cartwright Hall. The text of the plaques is as follows.

Lister Park

This plaque was unveiled by The Right
Worshipful The Lord Mayor of Bradford,
Councillor Richard Wightman
on 26th May 2002
to commemorate the completion of the
restoration of the Park (1998 - 2002)

This extract from Bradford College's website tells us that "Richard Wightman held a number of public positions including, President of Bradford Chamber of Commerce and was also a District councillor for over 20 years, including two periods acting as Deputy-Leader of the Council. In 2002 he also served as Lord Mayor of Bradford. He also sat regularly as a magistrate on the Bradford & Keighley Bench of the magistrates court.

He stood down from the council in 2003 and then took a position as leader of Bradford College."

What was opened/inaugurated?: The renovated Lister Park Who was that opened/inaugurated it?: The Right Worshipful The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Richard Wightman Date of the opening/inauguration?: 5/26/2002 Website about the location: [Web Link] Website about the person: [Web Link]

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