Stanley Park Blackpool, Britain's top holiday destination, is unashamedly brash and noisy. Behind its boisterous exterior, however, lies one of the other faces of our famous resort. Relaxed, rustic, beautiful and only a short car or bus ride away Blackpool's Stanley Park, a lovely 256 acre oasis, offers a calming antidote to fish and chips, candy floss and the exciting hustle and bustle of the Golden Mile and the town centre. It's about 2 miles away from the Promenade between Layton and Marton. North Park Drive runs the length of the northern side and West Park Drive and East Park Drive (where you'll also find Blackpool Zoo) flank the other 2 sides. They meet at South Park Drive which leads to Preston New Road and the motorway to the left or Blackpool's South Shore to the right. The several entrances and gateways all around the perimeter of our huge park each offer a different and intriguing experience. In the year of Blackpool's jubilee Lord Derby (Stanley was the family name) turned a golden key in the lock of the park's huge, ornamental gates and opened what was described in a newspaper report at the time as "one of the most comprehensive park schemes carried out in these islands". You'll find these gates, which have remained unchanged for decades, at the north end of West Park Drive. Opened in 1926 our purposely-designed Stanley Park is one of the largest of its kind in the whole of the country. At the time of it's development Blackpool was a rapidly-growing, prosperous town. There was great civic pride in the resort and this magnificent park is a permanent reminder of that period. Stanley Park, roughly one kilometre from side to side (whichever side you're on) was carved from a vast, windswept area which was part shanty town and part agricultural wasteland. Before work could be started the many ramshackle dwellings on the land had to be cleared - not without many run-ins between the angry inhabitants and the corporation. The timing was unfortunate because, in October that year, the on-going battle between the rich and poor had exploded into the General Strike! The corporation had also recieved between 2 and 3 thousand applications for planning permission to build houses on the designated site. These were overruled. The large, calm municipal park, as a necessary contrast to the busy seaside holiday area, was thought to be far more important to Blackpool's growth. The much-sought-after houses that were built in that area eventually (mainly as windbreaks for the park!!) were designed to blend with their most elegant surroundings. The clever layout of Stanley Park provides the visitor with an ever-changing round of interest. The formal treatment of the tennis courts and the many other recreative grounds contrasts with both the Italian (and other) gardens, the rolling lawns, the areas of woodland and shrubberies and the enormous lake - different from every angle, with its free, natural lines. The original plans for the park included: · A 26 acre lake for boating and yachting. · A social centre with a restaurant. · An 18 hole golf course with a club house as a wing of the restaurant. · A bandstand and seating accommodation for 2,500. · An 18 hole putting course. · A cricket ground with a grandstand and other seating accommodation. · 24 grass and 8 hard tennis courts. · 6 bowling greens with club accommodation in a wing of the restaurant. · 17 junior football and cricket fields. · 2 childrens' playgrounds. · A childrens' model yacht pond. · A park nursery and botanic gardens with a central 'winter garden' and a range of glass houses. · A rock garden. · Plantations, avenues and groups of shrubs giving a wide variety of pleasant walks. · An Italian Garden, a long rose pergola, a semi-circular rose garden, long herbaceous borders and rose walks. The now mature and beautiful Stanley Park is still much the same. There have been a few subtle changes over the years but many of the main features still remain. Some other interesting attractions have also been added. THE LAKE Covering between 26 and 27 acres Stanley Park's beautiful, picturesque lake, built for both its scenic effect and as a recreational facility, is one of the largest park lakes in the whole of England. The ideal position for the lake was easily chosen both from an aesthetic and a financial point of view. The land on the east side of the site formed a hollow - a natural depression and it seemed that excavation would be relatively easy. The borings, though, revealed that the hollow had once been a river bed. It was covered by many feet of peat and the foundations for the bridges had to be dug much deeper than was at first expected. Much of the displaced soil, used to create slopes and mounds around the edge of the lake, was planted with trees and shrubs to give a completely natural appearance. The retaining 'walls' of the lake are made of concrete as are the two 'Italianate' arched bridges one of which gives access to one of the two wooded islands. The parapets are made of delicately detailed stone balusters. There are excellent, and different, views from both bridges. Two water mains belonging to the Fylde Water Board had to be rerouted across one of the concrete bridges. They used to pass across what is now the bed of the lake. Stanley Park lake has an average depth of almost 2 metres (about 6 feet) and, because of possible erosion, huge boulders of real stone which would stand the test of time, were dropped into position on the northern 'shore' to form a very natural effect. These were shipped from Appley Bridge between Chorley and Wigan. The lake holds around 28 million gallons of water most of which is supplied from Whinney Heys Dyke not too far away. A pumping house was sited at the northern end of the lake so that its water is usually completely changed once a year - depending, of course, on weather conditions. Huge concrete pipes pass under the bed of the lake to take any surplus water away. The massive lake is home to many species of wildfowl including Chinese geese, Canada geese, Muscovy ducks, Canada ducks, East India ducks, Mallards and swans. Two of the several islets here are utilised as bird sanctuaries and many rare feathered visitors have either arrived to stay or visit annually. Stanley Park lake, a paradise for bird enthusiasts, is used by both tourists and locals for quiet motor or rowing boat cruises during the holiday season or for all-year-round fishing. THE ITALIAN GARDEN Situated at the very heart of the park the Italian Garden, with its lawns, flower beds, sculptured features and its fountain, follows the traditions of many continental parks with its Italian-style design and influence. The circular part of this outstanding masterpiece is about 90 metres in diameter and the path round it, raised above the inner part of the garden, is around 11 metres wide. All Stanley Park's major routes of access meet at the Italian Garden. Like most of the park's attractions it has to be seen to be believed! STANLEY PARK CAFE The large cafe/restaurant has been scrupulously maintained over the years and blends well with its majestic surroundings. Its roof, like many of the other roofs on the buildings in Blackpool's Stanley Park is of Westmorland slate. The cafe's raised terrace is about 6 metres wide and provides excellent views of the Italian Garden and, to its right, of the golf course. Behind it you'll find the cricket ground and grandstand. There are steps down from the cafe to the Italian Garden and to the left and right of them on, the first flagged terrace, you'll see two semi-circular alcoves. These were designed as, and once used as, small bandstands. Where the steps meet the Italian Garden there are two impressive statues of lions (favourites with the children) standing on large stone pedestals. They're thought to date back to the times of Pope Leo X (1475 - 1523) and were donated to Stanley Park by John Magee of the brewers Magee Marshall and Co. Ltd. THE CLOCK TOWER The Cocker Memorial Clock Tower, to give it its full title, is dedicated to Dr. William Cocker - the first mayor of Blackpool in 1876. It gives a focal point from various points in the vicinity and from within our famous park itself. The clock tower is 26 metres high and built of 'bricks' of light-coloured stone. Beneath the highly-visible clock's face which is over 2 metres in diameter there's a viewing plaform. This, unfortunately, is no longer in use. This monument's architectural features, all classical, include consoles, pilasters, a cornice, a pediment, a segmental pediment, a finial and brackets. The drinking fountains are incorporated within two bronze lion heads. In 1926 Blackpool Corporation invited architects to submit designs for a special monument for Stanley Park. The plans for the clock tower were created by L. B. Budden the then assistant professor of architecture at LIverpool University. THE BANDSTAND The bandstand and huge, open-air auditorium (an amphitheatre) were designed in keeping with the ever-beautiful Stanley Park. They were planned by Mr E. Prentice Mawson of Messrs. T. H. Mawson and Sons who designed the park and the effect is similar to that of the Temple of Aphrodite in the gardens of Versailles. The circular bandstand is about 25 feet (7 and a half metres approximately) in diameter. The pillars and cornice are made of stone and the striking dome is made of copper. The amphitheatre overlooks, and spreads away from, the lake and the landing stage for the boats and is designed to seat 2,500 - 3,000 people. The terraces are semi-circular. They're made of concrete and the steps are made of rustic brick. The first concerts given in Stanley Park's bandstand (finished in 1927) were by The Culcheth (Manchester) Millitary Band. It's still used from time to time today. These really are just a few of the attractions that Blackpool's fabulous Stanley Park has to offer not only during the summer but throughout the changing seasons. There are the huge conservatories complete with three strict temperature zones and full of amazing tropical flowers; the scented rose gardens; the tennis courts; the playing fields; the huge golf course; crazy golf courses; the putting greens; the sports stadium; the childrens' playground etc. etc. etc....... and there's the new Planet Extreme roller blading area. So whether you're feeling sporty or you'd just like a happy, lazy day out try and visit this quiet side of Blackpool. You can use the cafe or you can bring a picnic and eat it by the shiny, rippling waters of the lake (or almost anywhere in the park) if you like. The wooded areas are home to (amongst other wildlife) little grey squirrels who are sometimes cheeky enough to come and take treats from your fingers - if you're patient. Make sure you visit and book into the ocvavia guest house, the best choice for accomodation in Blackpool. Make sure you visit and book into the ocvavia guest house, the best choice for accommodation in Blackpool.