Manor Park
Historical contribution by Kate Raine, Historian and a Director of Glossop Heritage Trust.
The history of Manor Park goes back hundreds of years. There are plenty of clues to discover in the park that reveal the stories of the Glossop Hall estate of the Dukes of Norfolk and a treasured place of recreation of the people of Glossop.
This area has been in use since the earliest days of Glossop (which is now the village of Old Glossop). The corn mill, which gave Milltown its name, supplied the inhabitants of Glossop with flour. There were also fishponds and ancient ways well used by locals.
Royle Hall
It later became the site of Glossop Hall. This story begins with the grandson of the 6th Duke of Norfolk and his second wife, Jane Bickerton. Ralph Standish Howard inherited the Glossop-Dale Estate through his mother, Lady Phillipa Howard. He built Royle Hall on Royle Fields around 1729, as a home for himself, his wife Mary and his infant son. Within a few years tragedy struck and all three had passed away and the estate reverted to the 9th Duke of Norfolk.
The 9th Duke installed agents to live at the Hall and run the estate. First the Eyres, followed by the Calverts and Ellisons.
Glossop Hall Rebuilt
In the 1850s the 13th Duke of Norfolk commissioned Matthew Ellison Hadfield to extensively remodel, enlarge and beautify the Hall including an Italian Garden, stables around a courtyard, an ice house and a large high wall surrounding the Hall and the grounds.
After the death of the 13th Duke, the Glossop-Dale Estate went to the Duke’s second son. The 1st and 2nd Lord Howards of Glossop added many extensions and storeys to the Hall creating a large and rambling building of over 60 rooms.
Kingsmoor
The Glossop-Dale Estate was put up for sale in 1925. The Hall and grounds were purchased by Glossop Borough Council in 1927 and the Hall was leased to Kingsmoor School, a private boarding school.
Kingsmoor had fluctuating fortunes, purchasing the Hall from the Council in 1949, but going into liquidation in 1956. Unfortunately, a new use could not be found, and Glossop Hall was sold to housing developers by the liquidators and demolished.
All was not lost, as traces of the Glossop Hall estate can be seen throughout the park with the ruins of follies, wells, steps, walls, lodges and The Farmery.
Manor Park
Glossop Borough Council purchased and opened the grounds in 1927. They immediately went about transforming the grounds from the privileged place of days gone by to a recreation ground for the people, not to be rivalled by any park in Manchester.
Over the next few years, the park had been laid out with tennis courts, a putting green, a pavilion with a tea room, bowling greens and a playground.
There were riverside walks and the old kitchen garden of Glossop Hall had been transformed into a rose garden by the Glossop Branch of the Royal British Legion in remembrance of those who had lost their lives in World War One.
A Place of Leisure
Many will have fond memories of Manor Park over the years. The playground was expanded in the 1950s. An aviary was set up in 1955, which had many exotic residents including peacocks, myna birds and a monkey. Children and adults alike enjoyed the paddle boats on the lake on a summer’s day.
The Park has evolved with the changing years. The pavilion, bowling greens, tennis courts and rose garden are still providing enjoyment over 90 years on. The playground area caters for children of all ages including a skate park. The sensory garden, which was opened in 1960 as a garden for the blind continues to be a lovely and aromatic area to relax.
Since its opening, the park has become the site of large celebrations and events involving the whole community.
If you wish to learn more about the history of Glossop Hall and Manor Park you can follow the Manor Park Walk on Glossop Heritage Trust’s website https://glossopheritage.co.uk/ghtarchive/manorparkwalk
Manor Park Today
Now owned and run by High Peak Borough Council, Manor Park continues to provide a place of recreation for the enjoyment of the residents of Glossop and beyond.
Getting here:
There is a car park at Corn Mill. On street parking is available nearby and the park is serviced by bus stops at The Commercial Inn on Manor Park Road and on the main A57. Manor Park is just a 15 minute walk away from Glossop Train Station
Facilities:
The park has a pavilion with toilets and cafe, formal landscaping including a lake and semi natural woodland with paths.
Activities:
There are a range of family friendly activities and facilities available at Manor Park, including: bowling greens, skatepark, a play area for children aged 0 to 12, tennis and basketball courts, a miniature golf course (no club or ball hire), an informal sports area, 5 a side kickabout area, sensory garden.
Manor Park’s miniature railway is run by Adrian Sowden. Weather permitting the train runs between 11am and 4pm during school holidays and at weekends between April and September. Contact Adrian on 07779 601180 to book or check if the train is running.
There is an active friends group involved in organising and running events in the park. They arrange planting activities, work with schools in the park, and carry out fundraising to improve the park. Visit Friends of Manor Park on Facebook to join the group and find out how you can help improve Manor Park.
Manor Park Bowling Club are a committed group of bowlers who manage the bowling greens. They have secured funding to improve the greens, install fencing and purchase equipment for their young bowlers coaching programme. Visit Manor Park Bowling Club's website to find out more or join the club.
