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The philanthropists led the way with the earliest
purpose built public park in Britain, Princes Park in
the Liverpool suburb of Toxteth, privately financed
by a local iron merchant and opened in 1842.
In the 1870s Victoria’s favourite Prime Minister,
Benjamin Disraeli, saw through Parliament a
number of new acts designed to improve the
conditions of the urban working-class. The Factory
Act reduced working hours and child-labour; the
Artisans’ Dwelling Act empowered local authorities
to replace slums with modern housing and the 1875
Public Health Act dealt with water supply, sewage
disposal and crucially for our story Section 164
encouraged the acquisition and improvement of land
for recreation.
Public parks run by the council were
born. Section 165 of the same act allowed local
authorities to erect public clocks which further
underlines the big fear of the Victorian ruling class -
that the Devil would make work for idle hands.
Victorian parks were riddled with encouragements
for the civic virtues. Drinking fountains encouraged
temperance at a time when beer and gin were not
only the main alternatives to water but in these times
of cholera were often the safer option. In London
public fountains were financed by the Quaker
Gurney family through their Metropolitan Drinking
Fountain and Cattle Trough Association. The first
public drinking fountain opened outside the church
of St Sepulchre opposite the Old Bailey and
Newgate gaol where Elizabeth Fry of the Gurney
family strived to help the inmates. Park statues of
military heroes and local worthies encouraged duty
and patriotism and a plethora of bye-laws were
designed to encourage civic obedience
.
Keep Off The Grass
To the Victorians public parks provided
an alternative
to the allegedly degenerate working class behaviours of
drinking, gambling and fornicating. Protected from the
realities of its city surroundings by gates and railings,
the public park represented an ideal landscape in which
the air was clean, the spirit was refreshed by contact
with nature and the body was renewed by exercise.
Victorian parks drew their visitors’ attention to
prominently displayed regulations.
Prohibitions against
walking on the grass and picking flowers were
widespread but some of the bye-laws were very
particular. I
n Bolton it is illegal to shake, sweep, brush
or clean any carpet, rug or mat in the park. Queen’s
Park in Longton forbade dancing to the band and in
Alexandra Park in Hastings, skipping, leap-frog and
kiss-in-the-ring were no-nos. In Baxter Park, Dundee
you couldn’t drink, gamble or sit on the wall. In Kent
parks you mustn’t practise gymnastics, drive a
horse-drawn bus, nor, if you happen to be 'infested
with vermin', may you 'lie about by day'.
In the Royal Parks you mustn’t interfere with any
fungus or plant, feed or touch any deer or pelican,
bathe, wade, paddle or wash nor launch any craft.
In Greenwich Park you’re not allowed to "ride any
animal except on the road between Blackheath Gate
and St Mary's Gate in Greenwich Park"; or to "camp
or erect or cause to be erected any tent or enclosure";
or to "organise or take part in any assembly, display,
performance, representation, parade, procession, review
or theatrical event". Unless it’s to hold Olympic and
Paralympic Equestrian events in the park as groups
opposed to the use of the park for the Games found
when they tried unsuccessfully to use these bye-laws to
Southwark Park 1969