Rock Park

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Rock Park
Rock obelisk Barnstaple.jpg
Obelisk at the entrance to Rock Park
TypeUrban Park
LocationBarnstaple, Devon, England
Coordinates51°04′25″N 4°03′22″W / 51.0736°N 4.0561°W / 51.0736; -4.0561Coordinates: 51°04′25″N 4°03′22″W / 51.0736°N 4.0561°W / 51.0736; -4.0561
Created1879
Operated byBarnstaple Town Council
OpenAll year
WebsiteBarnstaple Town Council

Rock Park is an urban park in Barnstaple, Devon, England.[1] The park was donated to the public by William Frederick Rock and opened in 1879. It has a number of listed structures including an obelisk at the entrance to the park, a lodge and a range of historic lamp posts.

History[]

The park was donated to the public by William Frederick Rock and officially opened 12 August 1879.[2] It was designed and laid out by RD Gould.[3] The opening was commemorated with an obelisk at the entrance to the park which is a listed structure with Historic England.[4] William Rock was born in Barnstaple and educated at Christ's Hospital London, he started a successful printing business and became wealthy. He became a benefactor to the town founding the literary and scientific foundation in 1845, Rock Park in 1879 and North Devon Athenæum in 1888.[1]

Landmarks[]

The park contains a number of structures listed with Historic England. These include Rock Park Lodge which was built in Queen Anne style.[5] There are a number of historic lamp posts with one erected around the time of the park's opening designed in a Free Baroque style.[6] There are a pair of lampstands with pedestal bottoms dating to the same time at the entrance to the park.[3]

Facilities[]

There is a children's play area, tennis, crown green bowling, basketball, football, a skatepark, footpaths and walking along the River Taw, an outdoor gym and refreshment kiosk.[1] Barnstaple Parkrun takes place in the park every Saturday morning at 9am, it is 5 km in length and run on the park's footpaths.[7]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "Rock Park". www.barnstapletowncouncil.co.uk.
  2. ^ "Rock Park". www.barnstapletowncouncil.co.uk.
  3. ^ a b Historic England. "LAMP POST AT JUNCTION OF NEW ROAD AND PARK TERRACE, Barnstaple (1385221)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  4. ^ Historic England. "OBELISK AT NORTH ENTRANCE, Barnstaple (1385312)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  5. ^ Historic England. "ROCK PARK LODGE, Barnstaple (1385223)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  6. ^ Historic England. "PAIR OF LAMP STANDARDS WITH PEDESTALS AT NORTH ENTRANCE OF ROCK PARK, Barnstaple (1385313)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  7. ^ "Course | Barnstaple parkrun". parkrun.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
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