Queen's Park, Heywood
Queen’s Park
Queen’s Park Road, Heywood
Open: 24 hours – 7 days a week
Park warden: 07976 059534
Friends of Queen’s Park
Like other ‘friends of’ groups at other parks across the
borough, the Friends of Queen’s Park are involved in helping to
improve its facilities and set up events to attract the community
to the area. To find out more call park warden 07976
059534.
Friends of Queens
Park
History
In 1873 Martin J Newhouse, a wealthy Heywood merchant, died
without making a will. A sum of £10,000 was then passed to Queen
Victoria who gave the money to the people of Heywood. After much
deliberation, the Heywood board decided on a park for the town and
Queen’s Park was created. The original park was restricted to 20
acres, known locally as the ‘top part’, and down the banking as far
as the Serpentine Lake. The Boating Lake and the bottom field areas
came much later.
The Queen’s gardeners designed the layout of the gardens,
including the circular bandstand, café and fountain and local
people were employed to build them.
At the grand opening in 1879 local traders, mills, schools,
churches and Sunday schools took part in the parade which, due to
its size, took 1½ hours to reach the park!
In 1911 the bowling club opened. The green is the largest in the
North West of England and the second largest in Great Britain.
After World War I the town obtained government grants to
build a boating lake using unemployed labour. On 18 May 1921, at
least 90 men started breaking the soil for the lake and by 25 March
the following year 150 were working on the lake, which gives an
indication of how high unemployment was in Heywood at this
time.
In August 1921 the council agreed to appoint a boatsman and the
lake was officially opened on 14 April 1922. The grounds were
extended over a further 20 acres in 1923.
In June 1989 the Queen’s Park Restoration Group was established.
After funding from the council and the Heritage Lottery Fund, the
park is now regarded as one of the best – having had over £1
million invested in its restoration. Many of the historic features
including the unique 1950s open air theatre, the original lodge
building (housing a new visitors’ centre) and the Victorian
fountain have all been renovated. The grant also funded a face lift
for the café and major improvements to landscaping, footpaths and
play areas. In 2007 it was given Green Flag status and an
excellence award from the National Civic Trust.
Features
- Lake and river bank
- Orienteering courses
- Toddlers play area
- Activity Centre
- Cycle racks
- Grassland areas
- Cafe
- Visitor centre
- LEAP standard play area.
- Multi use events area
- Tennis courts
- Free car park
- Wetland and wildlife areas
- Wildlife walk
- Crown green bowling greens and pavilion.
- Toilets
- Site based park warden
- Secure fully fenced site
Visitor centre
The visitor centre is open daily during the week and at weekends
when there are events, an audio visual display is the highlight,
static displays give a brief insight into the history of the park,
other seasonal ones are updated on a regular basis.
Cafe
Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the café for drinks, ice
creams, sandwiches or snack meals! The café is open daily from
10am.
If you would like to book somewhere different for a group
evening meal (minimum 10 people ) or follow on from an evening
guided tour, the café changes it’s “covers” and provides excellent
meals, contact the warden in the first instance.
Lake, river bank and bird life
The lake area and river bank was made an area of special
biological interest in 2004. This was due to the large flock of
herons that colonise the island and the sand martins that live in
the river bank, other birds that are often seen around the lake
include kingfishers, goosanders, tufted ducks and the occasional
grebe. Join a bird walk and see the rest of the birdlife in the
park – call the park warden for details.
Orienteering courses
The orienteering courses have now been revamped and range from
difficult to easy, but also include one specifically for schools, a
disabled course and a buggy course. Maps are available from the
Wardens office and cost £1.
Weddings
If you are looking for that special place to take your wedding
photos please ring the warden. Come and have a look!
Filming
Queen's Park has been the choice of TV producers to provide the
backdrop of their filming projects. If you want to recce the park
for TV filming purposes call 0845 226 1800 or email environmental.management@rochdale.gov.uk
How to get to Queen's Park
Bus services
- 461 Rochdale/Heywood (circular every half hour)
- 471 from Rochdale to Bury
Cyclists
The park provides cycle racks for safe storage facilities if you
want to cycle here.