A plaque at the entrance to the park states
that the land was presented to the town by Rebecca Davies in memory of her late
husband, Henry Davies in October 1882.
The park itself was apparently named Clarence after Prince Albert
Victor, Duke of Clarence and second in line of succession. It was on Queen Victoria’s 71st.
Birthday, 24 May 1890, that Albert was created Duke of Clarence and Avondale
and Earl of Athlone.
"Albert Victor late
1880s" by Alexander Bassano -
National Portrait Gallery's collection of
photographic negatives (website).
Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia
Commons -
Prince Albert was a colourful
member of the Royal Family implicated in all sorts of scandals and affairs –
although nothing was ever proved. The
most notable rumour was that Prince Albert was Jack the Ripper however this
could not have been the case because on the days of the various murders the
Prince was elsewhere. On 31st.
August 1888 when Polly Nicholls was murdered Prince Albert was at Danby Lodge
in Yorkshire; on 8th. September 1888 when Annie Chapman was murdered
the Prince was at the Cavalry Barracks in York; on 30th. September
when Elizabeth Stride and Catharine Eddowes met their fate Prince Albert was at
Albergeldie in Scotland; and on 9th. November when Mary Jane Kelly
was murdered the Prince was at Sandringham. (The Jack the Ripper A-Z by Paul Begg, Martin Fido and Keith Skinner)
1889 brought its fair share of
scandal when the Metropolitan Police uncovered a male brothel in London’s
Cleveland Street. Once again Prince
Albert was rumoured to be involved but nothing was ever proven.
A wife had to be found for the young prince
but this was not easy. He had fallen in
love with Princess Helene d’Orleans, daughter of the pretender to the French
throne but she was Catholic so unacceptable.
Queen Victoria wanted the prince to marry one of her granddaughters, Princess
Alix of Hesse but she married Tsar Nicholas II instead and in 1918 she was
executed along with other members of her family. Finally it was arranged that Prince Albert
should marry his distant cousin Princess Mary of Teck. They became engaged in December 1891 and the
wedding was set for May 1892. However
that winter an influenza pandemic swept through Britain and Prince Albert died
one month before his wedding.
 |
| Cricket Pavilion, Clarence Park |
The cricket pavilion dates back
to the turn of 19th./20th. centuries and August 1914 saw Somerset playing their last two games here
before the Great War. The third was
cancelled as the country had by then been mobilised. The pavilion is now boarded up and looking
very sorry for itself.
 |
| The Lodge, Clarence Park |
The lodge, originally provided as
the Park Keeper’s residence, looks as good as ever and just opposite is a
delightful café.
 |
| Cafe in the Park, Clarence Park |
A few weeks back the flower
display, as I mentioned in an earlier post, was a delight to behold – a sea of
poppies fluttering in the breeze.
The old toilet block has recently
been refurbished by Weston Town Council and you may “Spend A Penny”
if you put
20p in the slot
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