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| Grove Park, Weston-super-Mare |
Following on from yesterday’s
rather dismal discovery of boarded up toilets in Ashcombe
Park it was a pleasure to find the
newly refurbished toilet block in Grove
Park. Gleaming railings leading up to 3 brightly
painted doors where a charge of 20p is made for use of the facilities. According to the Bristol
Post (2nd. April 2014) these refurbished units come with underfloor
heating. I could well be testing these
out later in the year when the temperature plummets!!
The Grove was acquired for the
town of Weston in 1890 when private
pleasure grounds were converted into a public park. The Corporation built a bandstand, urinals,
paths and seats at the cost of £1095.
The ponds at the rockery are built over the site of a small quarry and
the road around it was re-routed. The
park was opened on 20th. June 1891.
(Parks and Gardens UK: http://www.parksandgardens.org/places-and-people/site/1551/history
) The park is now home to the charming Mayor's Parlour:
As a newcomer to the area I am
still “playing the tourist” and it was an absolute delight to find “Jill’s
Garden” situated within Grove Park.
There will be few in the UK
who do not remember the TV presenter Jill Dando and of her murder in Fulham in
1999. In July 2001 the Ground Force Team
landscaped an area within Grove Park
to the memory of Jill who was born and raised in Weston. As I wandered through
the garden the heady fragrance of honeysuckle filled the air and bees harvested
on this summer feast. A tranquil spot in
which to relax and let the world go by.
My only disappointment was the
fact that the Grade II listed bandstand in the park was in the process of
restoration. A notice proclaims that the
work will be finished in mid-August. I
look forward to visiting again to listen to one of the free music concerts
sponsored by The Café in the Park.
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