Getintothis

Stanley Park an oasis that divides the Blue and Red sides of Liverpool

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By on Opinion

Stanley Park

Stanley Park is a beautiful space that separates the City’s football teams, Getintothis’ Warren Millar had a wander round.  

Stanley Park Liverpool, designed by Edward Kemp and opened in May 1870 by then Mayor of Liverpool Joseph Hubback is a 110 acre park in the North of Liverpool which also holds the Isla Gladstone Conservatory built in 1899.

It was named after Lord Stanley of Preston, a former Mayor of Liverpool. The park has it’s own Evangelical church in one corner.

Its design was unique with it’s large open area incorporating football pitches designed for the working class of the day rather than cricket and tennis courts designed into the popular parks of the time.

The park contains a number of listed structures and buildings by architect E.R. Robinson including bridges crossing the lake and a top terrace walkway with Gothic pavilions and a high screen wall.

The raised terrace offers great views over the park and beyond.

Stanley Park was one of three plots of land bought by the corporation during the 1860s for the very purpose of creating parks around the City for it’s people to enjoy.

The other two plots became Sefton Park designed by Lewis Hornblower and Edouard Andre and Newsham Park, again another park designed by Edward Kemp.

Just like all other Liverpool parks, Stanley Park was used during both World Wars.

During WWI it was a training and parade ground for the newly established “Pals” Regiment.

Its iron railings were used during WWII as well as its land used for growing vegetables. The iron railings were replaced during the park’s restoration in 2007-2009.

Why we love Sefton Park – celebrating Liverpool’s favourite green space

It’s probably better known to local football fans as the park that divides the Blue and Red of Everton and Liverpool football clubs.

It’s always been associated with football being the original home of St Domingo FC (the original Everton Football Club) and, not so long ago, was the site suggested as a joint stadium share between Everton and Liverpool.

https://twitter.com/createspacesco/status/1268937219588403201

As I walked around the park on a lovely Sunday late afternoon taking in the lake, the terrace and the Isla Gladstone Conservatory and the people out in the sunny warm weather all enjoying themselves.

Even with social distancing I was also taken back to my teenage years in the 70s and 80s catching the “football bus” on Saturdays from Runcorn to go and see my beloved Everton play at Goodison Park and my walk down Priory Road to see my idols.

I also remembered some of the pitched battles I had seen (the 70s were prime football hooligan days) in this beautiful spot dividing the Blue and Red Football Homes of this City, never at Derby games though, we all just went to the pub.

Images by Getintothis’ Warren Millar

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