Piccadilly Gardens – Manchester, UK
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 53° 28.861 W 002° 14.265
30U E 550584 N 5926052
Piccadilly Gardens is the largest open public space in Manchester with a large splash fountain in the middle of it.
Waymark Code: WMECTA
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 05/08/2012
Views: 6
Manchester's Piccadilly Gardens was, from 1755 to 1910 the site of the Manchester Royal Infirmary. The esplanade in front of the hospital had been used as a site for public sculpture since the 1850s.
After the hospital moved from here in 1910 Manchester Council was unsure what to do with the site but eventually decided to leave it as an open public space. Although some of the site now contains offices it is still the largest public open space in the centre of Manchester.
After the hospital was demolished formal gardens were installed. Because they excavated down to the basement level the gardens were sunken compared to the surrounding area, and this is still true today.
Until the 1990s a traditional stone fountain formed a central focus to the gardens. After a large terrorist bomb exploded large parts of Manchester were re-developed.
The formal gardens here were replaced with an area that is mainly paved, but includes a splash fountain as the centre piece to the area. In the warmer weather the fountain is popular with both children and adults alike.
On the western edge of the gardens is a war memorial to all the citizens of Manchester who died during World War II. It is a modern memorial dating from 2005 and is in the form of a 11 metre high tree. The trunk is made from bronze and the canopy of the tree stainless steel.
Inscribed on the trunk of the tree are the names of all the people to whom the memorial is dedicated.
On the northern edge of the park is the series of memorial statues to The Duke of Wellington, Queen Victoria, Sir Robert Peel and James Watt dating from the 1850s. All four statues became English Heritage Listed Buildings in October 1974.
Next to the park is a combined tram and bus interchange so it is easily accessible.
Name: Piccadilly Gardens
Street Location: Parker Street
Local Municipality: City of Manchester
State/Province, etc.: Greater Manchester
Country: United Kingdom
Web Site: [Web Link]
Date Established: 1914
Recreational Facilities:
Children's Playground
Monuments/Statues: World War II citizens Memorial, Queen Victoria, Duke of Wellington, Sir Robert Peel, James Watt
Fountains: Splash Fountain
Memorial/Commemoration: Not listed
Picnic Facilities: Not listed
Art (murals/sculpture, etc.): Not listed
Ponds/Lakes/Streams/Rivers/Beach: Not listed
Special Events: Not listed
Traditional Geocaches: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
One photo of the park that is a different view from the one on the page, and give the date and description your visit.
Add any additional information that you may have about this park. A GPSr photo is NOT required.