Philips Park, Clayton

Philips Park lies in the valley of the River Medlock, in Beswick and the lower part of Clayton, a district of Manchester, England.Philips Park offers 31 acres of parkland on the doorstep of Beswick and was awarded Green Flag status by the Civic Trust in 2005.Located in the heart of east Manchester and within the Medlock Valley, it provides a unique mix of woodland, wild grassland, water and rolling hills. The park’s other facilities include a Visitor Centre, park warden service, toilets, children’s play area, hard standing ball court, junior football pitch, allotments, community orchard, bowling green and pavilion, a show-field for events, picnic area, seating and quiet areas along with a pond and dipping platform.The park has a thriving friends group who, alongside the wardens, help organise environmental and educational activities as well as health walks.Philips Park is well used by the local community and visitors to the area, and is particularly popular for annual events such as Party in the Park, which takes place in the summer as well as hosting one of Manchester’s biggest free firework display in November.Philips Park opened on 22 August 1846 as one of the world’s first municipal parks, intended for free use by the public to encourage (a mixing of the classes). It was established by funds raised by public subscription and purchased from the estate of Lady Hoghton, a local landowner, for £6,200 (approximately £400,000 in today’s money).The formation and opening of the park was largely due to the commitment of Mark Philips, a local MP, who lobbied considerably for the creation of parks for the working people of the city. In 1844, following 7 years of intense campaigning, the ‘Committee for Public Walks, Gardens and Playgrounds’ was set up, and the first three parks were opened on the same day in 1846. The popularity of the park continued for over a century. Many of its original features remain to this day, including the carriage drive, serpentine paths, amphitheatre and the Head Gardeners house. Archaeological finds include a Roman coin, minted in the reign of Emperor Gallienus, and a halberd (a type of spear) from the 16th Century.