Victoria Park, Portsmouth

Victoria Park is a public park located just to the north of Portsmouth Guildhall, adjacent to Portsmouth and Southsea railway station and close to the city centre in Portsmouth, Hampshire. It was officially opened on 25 May 1878 and was the first public park to be opened in Portsmouth. It was designed by Alexander McKenzie.[1] The land had previously been the site of part of Portsmouth's defensive ramparts.[1] It has a total area of around 15 acres (61,000 m2) and is planted with trees, shrubs and flowers. The centre of the park features an enclosed area which houses animals such as birds, rabbits and guinea pigs.[2][3][4][5][6] The park has a brick and rubble lodge.[1] A second lodge didn't survive to the present day.[1]

Victoria Park
Looking east from the centre of the park.
Map
TypePublic park
LocationPortsmouth, Hampshire.
Coordinates50°47′56″N 1°05′38″W / 50.7990°N 1.0940°W / 50.7990; -1.0940
Area15 acres (61,000 m2)
Operated byPortsmouth City Council
StatusOpen all year
Memorials to the east of the park.

The park is also home to a number of monuments, with several of them being listed buildings.[7] These mostly consist of obelisks but there is also one in the style of a Chinese temple[7] in memorial of HMS Orlando.[8]

At the start of December 2022 a £3.2 million redevelopment of the park began with DM Habens as the primary contractor.[9][10] It was supported by £2.4 million lottery grant.[10]

Memorials

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d O’Brien, Charles; Bailey, Bruce; Pevsner, Nikolaus; Lloyd, David W. (2018). The Buildings of England Hampshire: South. Yale University Press. p. 484. ISBN 9780300225037.
  2. ^ "Victoria Park, Portsmouth history". Portsmouth Now & Then. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  3. ^ "History of Portsmouth". Portsmouth City Council. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  4. ^ "Victoria Park, Portsmouth". Welcome to Portsmouth. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  5. ^ "Conservation Area 18 - History" (PDF). Portsmouth City Council. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  6. ^ "Conservation Area 18". Portsmouth City Council. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  7. ^ a b Headley, Gwyn; Meulenkamp, Win (1986). Follies a National Trust Guide. Jonathan Cape. pp. 84–85. ISBN 0-224-02105-2.
  8. ^ "HMS Orlando".
  9. ^ "Work starts to revitalise Victoria Park". portsmouth.gov.uk. Portsmouth City Council. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  10. ^ a b Walker, Tim (30 January 2023). "£3.2m plans for revitalised Portsmouth park to go on display". Hampshire Live. Retrieved 25 April 2023. 
  11. ^ Historic England. "HMS Shah Memorial (1387252)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  12. ^ Historic England. "HMS Orlando Monument, Victoria Park (1387248)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  13. ^ Historic England. "HMS Victoria Monument (1387253)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  14. ^ Historic England. "HMS Powerful Memorial (1387249)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  15. ^ Historic England. "HMS Active Memorial (1387246)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  16. ^ Historic England. "HMS Royal Sovereign Memorial (1387250)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  17. ^ Historic England. "Monument to Admiral Napier (1387255)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  18. ^ Historic England. "HMS Centurion Memorial (1387247)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
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