Miller Park, Preston
Encyclopedia
Miller Park is a public park under the management of Preston City Council. It is located on the banks of the River Ribble
in Preston, Lancashire
in the north west of England
. The park is one of two city centre Victorian era
parks, the other being the adjacent and larger Avenham Park
. It was designed and built in the 1860s and has matured over the last 140 years into one of the most attractive parks in the region. As an English Heritage Grade 2 listed park, it features a number of historical structures including a sundial, a grotto
and a fountain. There is also an impressive statue of the 14th Earl of Derby
who was British Prime Minister 1866 - 1868 http://www.flickr.com/photos/10089490@N06/2568951472/. The two parks are separated by the East Lancashire Railway embankment and access is through the Ivy Bridge and along Riverside Walk. The East Lancashire Railway line closed in the 1970s although the viaduct
across the river, which is a Grade II listed building, remains, as it carries a public footpath across the river. The west edge of the park is bounded by the embankment carrying Preston's main rail link, the West Coast Main Line
.
The park was designed by Edward Milner
as a 'Harmonious Whole' including the adjacent Avenham Park
. This park is more formal than its neighbour and includes beautiful bedding displays, a Rose Garden and the regal Derby Walk, all of which are maintained by Preston City Council's Horticultural Services. It is overlooked by the East Cliff offices of Lancashire County Council
which are spread between the former Park Hotel and the adjacent modern concrete office block which appears quite ugly by comparison.
Apart from this office block, the appearance of the park has hardly changed since it was first laid out; the only other modern construction, a brick toilet block, was demolished in March 2006. A map of 1889 http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/environment/oldmap/towns/preston/prest18m.gif still provides an accurate representation of the park's layout.
ed restoration project, both Avenham and Miller Park will see a facelift over the next few years. The refurbishment will include restoration of all of the historical features (including The Fountain, Derby Walk etc), improved lighting and footpaths, vehicle controls and a new Pavilion in Avenham Park that will have a cafe, better public toilets and will incorporate a police
post as well as being a base for dedicated Parks staff. The old stage, which was removed in early 2006, will be replaced by a small performance area and the facilities to install temporary concert stages like those used at music festivals throughout the country. These improvements will help the park become cleaner, safer and provide more events and activities for the people of Preston.
River Ribble
The River Ribble is a river that runs through North Yorkshire and Lancashire, in northern England. The river's drainage basin also includes parts of Greater Manchester around Wigan.-Geography:...
in Preston, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
in the north west of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The park is one of two city centre Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
parks, the other being the adjacent and larger Avenham Park
Avenham Park
Avenham Park is a public park in Avenham, close to the centre of Preston in Lancashire in the northwest of England, and managed by Preston City Council.The park is located in Preston's Conservation area and leads down to the banks of the River Ribble...
. It was designed and built in the 1860s and has matured over the last 140 years into one of the most attractive parks in the region. As an English Heritage Grade 2 listed park, it features a number of historical structures including a sundial, a grotto
Grotto
A grotto is any type of natural or artificial cave that is associated with modern, historic or prehistoric use by humans. When it is not an artificial garden feature, a grotto is often a small cave near water and often flooded or liable to flood at high tide...
and a fountain. There is also an impressive statue of the 14th Earl of Derby
Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby
Edward George Geoffrey Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby, KG, PC was an English statesman, three times Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and to date the longest serving leader of the Conservative Party. He was known before 1834 as Edward Stanley, and from 1834 to 1851 as Lord Stanley...
who was British Prime Minister 1866 - 1868 http://www.flickr.com/photos/10089490@N06/2568951472/. The two parks are separated by the East Lancashire Railway embankment and access is through the Ivy Bridge and along Riverside Walk. The East Lancashire Railway line closed in the 1970s although the viaduct
Viaduct
A viaduct is a bridge composed of several small spans. The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via for road and ducere to lead something. However, the Ancient Romans did not use that term per se; it is a modern derivation from an analogy with aqueduct. Like the Roman aqueducts, many early...
across the river, which is a Grade II listed building, remains, as it carries a public footpath across the river. The west edge of the park is bounded by the embankment carrying Preston's main rail link, the West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
.
The park was designed by Edward Milner
Edward Milner
Edward Milner was an English landscape architect.-Early life and career:Edward Milner was born in Darley, Derbyshire, the eldest child of Henry Milner and Mary née Scales. Henry Milner was employed at Chatsworth by William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire, as a gardener and porter...
as a 'Harmonious Whole' including the adjacent Avenham Park
Avenham Park
Avenham Park is a public park in Avenham, close to the centre of Preston in Lancashire in the northwest of England, and managed by Preston City Council.The park is located in Preston's Conservation area and leads down to the banks of the River Ribble...
. This park is more formal than its neighbour and includes beautiful bedding displays, a Rose Garden and the regal Derby Walk, all of which are maintained by Preston City Council's Horticultural Services. It is overlooked by the East Cliff offices of Lancashire County Council
Lancashire County Council
Lancashire County Council is the upper-tier local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Lancashire, England. It currently consists of 84 councillors, and is controlled by the Conservative Party, who won control of the council in the local council elections in June 2009, ending 28 years of...
which are spread between the former Park Hotel and the adjacent modern concrete office block which appears quite ugly by comparison.
Apart from this office block, the appearance of the park has hardly changed since it was first laid out; the only other modern construction, a brick toilet block, was demolished in March 2006. A map of 1889 http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/environment/oldmap/towns/preston/prest18m.gif still provides an accurate representation of the park's layout.
Proposed developments
As part of a multi-million pound Heritage Lottery FundHeritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
ed restoration project, both Avenham and Miller Park will see a facelift over the next few years. The refurbishment will include restoration of all of the historical features (including The Fountain, Derby Walk etc), improved lighting and footpaths, vehicle controls and a new Pavilion in Avenham Park that will have a cafe, better public toilets and will incorporate a police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
post as well as being a base for dedicated Parks staff. The old stage, which was removed in early 2006, will be replaced by a small performance area and the facilities to install temporary concert stages like those used at music festivals throughout the country. These improvements will help the park become cleaner, safer and provide more events and activities for the people of Preston.