368:. The main lake was provided with a large boathouse and wood covered slipway. It housed not only a fleet of large, clinker-built rowing boats and skiffs but also a fine motor launch, the Archie Littlemore, which gave rides during the summer months. 'Twice Around the Island'. At some point over the following five years, a half-acre, kidney-shaped paddling pool was constructed, on the Hart Road side of the main lake. On the side of the paddling pool away from the Main Lake, two further model boating lakes were constructed. The largest was the home of Platt Fields Model Yacht Club, which had a large, veranda fronted boathouse adjacent to the lake. Alongside was the children's boating lake. This shallow, circular lake was constructed entirely above ground, with raised concrete sides. This meant that children could safely sail, without any danger of falling in. Moving away from the model lakes, towards the Hart Road entrance, the long, narrow field on the right-hand side of the path was home to the local model engineering society, which installed a triple gauge track for large model railway vehicles, including 'live steam' locomotives. The track was raised above the ground on concrete pylons, drivers and passengers riding astride the track. In the centre of the circuit of track stood a wooden clubhouse. Moving on from this point, anti-clockwise around the main lake brought you to the Platt Fields Lido. A 25-yard (23 m) long, open-air swimming pool, with changing facilities. The plunge depth was 3 to 6 feet (0.91 to 1.83 m). In later years the Lido was closed, the plunge filled with soil and surrounded by a fence. This became a rabbit warren, the centrepiece of a Pet's Corner. The changing and ancillary buildings were converted into cages for small animals and birds. In later years, all traces of the former Lido have been removed and the area landscaped. The park was used for a variety of sports, including
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409:. Provisional permission was granted, on the conditions that those attending be well behaved, kept the park tidy and created no disturbance to the local residents. And so, following an inaugural meeting at the nearby Methodist Church, The Platt Fields (silent) Model Boat Club was born and an enormously successful event held. Catering for all classes of model electric, steam and sailing boats, the club, now renamed South Manchester Model Boat Club, continues to meet at the lake on Sunday mornings and is a major attraction to the park.
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352:, though the estate was gradually surrounded by ever-increasing housing, causing Elizabeth Tindal-Carill-Worsley to put the estate on the market in 1907. It soon became apparent that the park was at grave risk of being sold for development and there was even mention of tearing down the hall and using the bricks for housing. William Royle was prominent in mobilising support for the corporation to purchase the estate in order to save the park and house for future generations. This led to the
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was sunk into the ground. At its centre, a stage, with covered bandstand, was surrounded by terraced seating. No trace of this installation remains today, unless you consult an aerial photograph. The position of the amphitheatre is now clearly delineated by a ring of trees which have grown up around
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During a time of high unemployment during the winter of 1908 and 1909, over 700 men relaid the park, including planting banks with shrubs and trees, diverting the Gore Brook and creating a lake and island covering just over 6 acres (24,000 m). The park, named Platt Fields Park, was formally
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There are three dedicated show fields in the park, which have the infrastructure to host large and small scale national and local events. Events hosted in the park have included the
Manchester Mela and Eid Festival, as well as annual fireworks and bonfire displays. Until 2003 the site hosted the
384:. More work was carried out during another time of high unemployment, between 1919 and 1925, when the park and playing fields were levelled, and bowling greens and tennis courts were constructed. Beside the path which leads from the corner of the Main Lake, towards Platt Hall, a large circular
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The park had a tennis pavilion, which was built in 1926, but was demolished in
January 2006 after being empty for several years while waiting to be converted for use by disabled children by the Social Services Department. The park also used to have a Pets Corner and Animal Park, as well as a
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In 1980, with both model boating lakes long removed, two brothers, Stuart and Paul
Yearsley, who had known the park since childhood, decided to see if it might be possible to reintroduce model boating to Platt Fields. They contacted the authorities, seeking permission to hold an exploratory
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by "Matthew, Son of
William". Gore Brook is mentioned as being present at the time. The Platt family obtained the estate in 1225, and owned the land for the next 400 years. In 1625 it passed to the Worsley family, and was then a country park bordering on the
477:, and from 2021 it was removed from Platt Hall and put into storage, prior to being relocated in a new space at the main gallery on Mosley Street. The future use of Platt Hall is uncertain as it is currently being "re-imagined".
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The chapel is on
Wilmslow Road south of Grangethorpe Road; the present structure is a rebuilding of 1790, then modified in 1874–75. It was a family chapel of the Worsleys of Platt Hall built in 1699, and was constructed for
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and courts for basketball, five-a-side, roller hockey, tennis, as well as a mini soccer pitch, cycle pathways and a skate park. A new BMX track was completed at the South end of the park in the summer of 2008.
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garden located in the
Ashfield part of the park in the south-east corner that was designed to have only plants mentioned in Shakespeare's works. The Ashfield area also has an arch from the nave of
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In the north-eastern area of the park, near Platt Hall, stands the Queen
Elizabeth Coronation fountain. This was moved to Platt Fields in 2002. The fountain had originally stood at the centre of
498:, who had lost the use of the Birch Chapel where he had been installed by the Parliamentarian office Thomas Birch in 1672. The congregation began as Independents (Congregationalists) and became
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children's playground, a café, and rose gardens and herbaceous borders. Part of pets corner was actually set in a rectangular sunken area. This area was originally the open air swimming pool.
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Since it ceased to be used for worship in 1970 it has been used by various local societies (since 1977). The graveyard, which used to be larger, is surrounded by Platt Fields Park.
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The old boathouse is now the location of Platt Fields Bike Hub, a community project involved in bicycle repairs, bike hire and other cycling-oriented projects activities.
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The
Friends of Platt Fields Park is a voluntary organisation and a registered charity dedicated to maintaining and promoting Platt Fields Park.
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up to age 5, with the other for kids up to the age of 9. Both are located near to the
Lakeside Centre. Sports facilities include a pair of
1163:"Lancashire nonconformity, or, Sketches, historical & descriptive, of the Congregational and old Presbyterian churches in the county"
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for a time. Ashfield was added to the park at a later date: it was formerly the site of
Ashfield House and was donated to the city by
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Manchester Flower Show. Facilities-wise, the site has a car park with disabled parking and toilets. The site also has a park office.
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clothes collection and the display spanned the era from the 17th century to the present day. The collection is owned by the
360:, at which it was decided to purchase the estate for public parkland, leading to its purchase in 1908 at a cost of £59,975.
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The Force of Fashion in Politics and Society: Global Perspectives from Early Modern to Contemporary Times
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The first known mention of the area is from 1150, at which time the "lands of Platt" were given to the
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during the early 19th century. The ministers succeeding Finch were Robert Hesketh, John Whitaker,
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195:. The pond has an island sanctuary in the middle, as well as a pondside visitors' centre and a
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Between 1947 and 2021, Platt Hall was home to the Gallery of Costume. It originated as the
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1108:"Townships - Rusholme | A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 4 (pp. 303–309)"
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There are gardens of different kinds, including community orchard gardens, which contain
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runs along its eastern edge. Its north-eastern corner is close to the start of the
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Georgian building, was built by John and Deborah Carill-Worsley to the designs of
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The centrepiece of the park is a large pleasure pond, which was once used for
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1239:. Manchester, University Press. 7 October 1908 – via Internet Archive.
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Jubilee gardens and an Eco Arts garden near to the boating pond. There is a
226:. There is also an educational garden and an environmental area, as well as
988:"Manchester City Galleries — The Collection — Gallery of Costume"
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Bostock, T (2004–2005), "Oulton's Historic park and garden",
1078:"Platt Hall Inbetween - re-imagining the museum in the park"
199:. The park also contains part of Gore Brook and part of the
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opened on 7 May 1910 by the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Sir
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817:"Platt Fields Bike Hub Workshop Open: Tool Club / Social"
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in 1768. The Worsley family owned the estate until 1907.
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891:"Friends of Platt Fields — Parks and Platt Fields"
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A panorama of the pond and the central island sanctuary
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1764, home of the Manchester Costume Museum 1947–2020
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and picnic area, a veterans' pavilion and children's
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Queen Elizabeth Coronation Fountain, originally from
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535:Grade II* listed buildings in Greater Manchester
912:"Friends of Platt Fields - History of the Park"
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282:in its original position in the sunken garden.
665:"Friends of Platt Fields — Park Features"
788:
775:"Friends of Platt Fields — A BMX Track?"
740:Bradburn, Jean & John (15 January 2016).
1303:Historic house museums in Greater Manchester
1237:"Register of graduates up to July 1st, 1908"
1135:(online ed.). Oxford University Press.
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1203:. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
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344:By the early 20th century, the site was a
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1251:Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East
961:. Manchester City Council. Archived from
638:. Manchester City Council. Archived from
601:. Manchester City Council. Archived from
1298:Grade II* listed buildings in Manchester
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547:, opposite Platt Fields on Wilmslow Road
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1132:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
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393:was once located near to the adjacent
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272:in 1953. The fountain can be seen in
1088:from the original on 19 January 2021
1257:) New Haven: Yale University Press
1129:Whitehead, David. "Birch, Thomas".
1058:from the original on 10 August 2021
1013:Lemire, Beverly (5 December 2016).
441:for 300 years. The current hall, a
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695:John Cassidy - Manchester Sculptor
540:Listed buildings in Manchester-M14
238:, which was previously located at
16:Public park in Manchester, England
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819:. Manchester Friends of the Earth
599:"Facilities in Platt Fields Park"
1200:Dictionary of National Biography
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565:"Platt Fields Park - Manchester"
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429:Platt Hall by Thomas Lightoler,
270:Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
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691:"'Adrift' - City of Manchester"
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437:Platt Hall was the home of the
1249:Hartwell, Clare et al. (2004)
934:"Friends of Platt Fields Park"
796:"Manchester BMX track updates"
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636:"History of Platt Fields Park"
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1:
914:. Plattfields.org. 7 May 1910
716:"Piccadilly Gardens | Art UK"
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1149:UK public library membership
413:Friends of Platt Fields Park
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938:friendsofplattfields.org.uk
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183:Platt Fields BMX track 2008
155:, England which is home to
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839:"About Platt Fields Park"
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465:Former Gallery of Costume
395:Holy Trinity Platt Church
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389:the buried structure. A
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293:. One playground is for
109:70 hectares (170 acres)
843:Manchester City Council
240:Manley Hall, Manchester
133:Manchester City Council
1141:10.1093/ref:odnb/66520
1052:Manchester Art Gallery
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201:Nico (Mickle) Ditch
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262:Piccadilly Gardens
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143:is a large public
90:53.4483°N 2.2245°W
1147:(Subscription or
1026:978-1-351-88969-8
994:on 5 October 2006
753:978-1-4456-4954-2
671:on 28 August 2008
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291:playgrounds
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274:L. S. Lowry
175:Description
161:Fallowfield
149:Fallowfield
93: /
68:Coordinates
56:Fallowfield
1287:Categories
1151:required.)
801:9 February
780:9 February
552:References
421:Platt Hall
356:calling a
169:Curry Mile
157:Platt Hall
153:Manchester
78:53°26′54″N
60:Manchester
1092:10 August
1062:10 August
1032:10 August
943:23 August
720:artuk.org
574:5 October
500:Unitarian
453:, one of
287:labyrinth
197:boathouse
81:2°13′28″W
62:, England
1265:; p. 469
1221:25 March
1168:25 March
1114:25 March
1086:Archived
1056:Archived
998:18 April
969:18 April
918:25 March
896:19 April
853:18 April
759:7 August
725:7 August
700:6 August
675:19 April
646:18 April
609:18 April
513:See also
455:Cromwell
374:football
295:toddlers
224:heathers
52:Location
1191::
876:: 48–61
407:regatta
382:cricket
378:bowling
350:mansion
348:with a
313:History
193:fishing
189:boating
119: (
114:Created
1261:
1145:
1023:
750:
370:tennis
220:roses
216:ferns
1259:ISBN
1223:2012
1170:2012
1116:2012
1094:2021
1064:2021
1034:2021
1021:ISBN
1000:2008
971:2008
945:2024
920:2012
898:2008
855:2008
825:2016
803:2009
782:2009
761:2021
748:ISBN
727:2021
702:2021
677:2008
648:2008
611:2008
576:2020
380:and
222:and
191:and
145:park
121:1908
117:1908
106:Area
42:Type
1253:. (
1197:".
1137:doi
264:in
147:in
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1080:.
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979:^
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882:^
874:44
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656:^
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431:c.
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