Mike Cattell
Bandstand, War Memorial Park, Basingstoke Hampshire
In the winter of 1920/21 the new layout for the park designed by Mr J Arther Smith FRIBA, was implemented.
A gravelled walk was constructed from the Hackwood Road entrance, with its new wrought iron gates, leading to the bandstand, which was moved to the park from the nearby Fairfields Recreation Ground in 1927. To the north of the bandstand, eight lawn tennis courts were constructed and enclosed by fencing. A path ran north from the bandstand, between the two groups of courts, over the ha-ha, alongside a bowling green and finished at the London Road entrance. At the south end of the park a shallow circular pond was constructed for small children to paddle and sail toy boats. Seats were provided to overlook the parkland and an aviary was added in 1940.
The war memorial, designed by L.F Roslyn, was erected at the London Road entrance to the park in 1923.
When the southern part of the Basingstoke ring road was built in the 1970's, part of War Memorial Park was lost. To compensate for the lost land, an area of Basingstoke Common was added to the east side of the park. Football pitches and a cricket square have now been established on this land plus floodlit tennis courts. The John Arlott Pavilion was opened in 1990.
Bandstand, War Memorial Park, Basingstoke Hampshire
In the winter of 1920/21 the new layout for the park designed by Mr J Arther Smith FRIBA, was implemented.
A gravelled walk was constructed from the Hackwood Road entrance, with its new wrought iron gates, leading to the bandstand, which was moved to the park from the nearby Fairfields Recreation Ground in 1927. To the north of the bandstand, eight lawn tennis courts were constructed and enclosed by fencing. A path ran north from the bandstand, between the two groups of courts, over the ha-ha, alongside a bowling green and finished at the London Road entrance. At the south end of the park a shallow circular pond was constructed for small children to paddle and sail toy boats. Seats were provided to overlook the parkland and an aviary was added in 1940.
The war memorial, designed by L.F Roslyn, was erected at the London Road entrance to the park in 1923.
When the southern part of the Basingstoke ring road was built in the 1970's, part of War Memorial Park was lost. To compensate for the lost land, an area of Basingstoke Common was added to the east side of the park. Football pitches and a cricket square have now been established on this land plus floodlit tennis courts. The John Arlott Pavilion was opened in 1990.