In 1887 Sir William Armstrong donated a large area of land adjacent to Heaton Park, which become Armstrong Park. In 1883 Sir William Armstrong offered Jesmond Dene, the landscaped grounds to his house, to Newcastle City and this was incorporated with Armstrong Park. Heaton and Armstrong Parks have been known under different names over the years. Heaton Park was changed to Armstrong Park when Lord Armstrong donated the adjacent land and since then Armstrong Park is referred collectively as Heaton Park, Armstrong Park and Jesmond Dene.
Later the Council minutes reverted to dividing the sites properly for clarity. Now Armstrong Park is referred to as its original area of land given by Lord Armstrong and Heaton Park is known separately.
The woodland in Armstrong Park had the advantage of being already mature as the grounds were laid out during the 18th century to enhance Heaton Hall (one of those residential estates, like many round the Cities and townships, that have been planted and adorned for best part of a century.) but in contrast to Jesmond Dene the planting was mostly native.
Armstrong Park is home to the famous Heaton Shoe Tree thought to be started by students throwing their shoes up into an old Sycamore tree but nobody is exactly sure. Photos of The Shoe Tree can be seen found on this page Armstrong Park - The Shoe Tree.
30th April 2024
A Seed Collection Experiment.
15th June 2023
Armstrong Park Windmill.
The windmill was probably built in the early 18th century and may be the one recorded on a View Of Newcastle in 1743. It was used for grinding corn for flour and meal for animal feed. An advertisement in the Newcastle Courant in July 1760 gives the tenant as one Jonathon Hutchinson and advertises it to be let. In 1800 the ownership is shown as Matthew White Ridley but by 1844 is was in ruins.
The tower of the former windmill stands to a height of circa 20 feet on a prominent position in Armstrong Park. The base has been cement rendered and the entrance blocked by stone or brick under the render. The position of the entrance is identifiable from the stone lintel above the level of render. There are three small windows at a higher level. The ruins were upgraded in 1992.
Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.
15th February 2023
Damaged Wall on Ouseburn Road.
Looks like it was a fallen tree.
Jesmond Vale Lane.
The appearance of spring bulbs are always a heart warming sight.
27th November 2022
25th November 2021
Northern entrance on Ouseburn Road.
Southern entrance on Ouseburn Road.
Collapsed perimeter wall on Ouseburn Road.
New outdoor gym at the basketball courts
The 'Cattle Run'.
According to an interpretation panel in the park, the 'cattle run' was sunk by Victorian industrialist Lord Armstrong for leading cows to pasture. After much investigation the Heaton History Group suggest it was to drain water from marshy land on which prestigious housing was to be built.
Read the full story here For People Not Cows: Armstrong Park’s ‘cattle run’.
22nd September 2021
Tennis Courts.
Great to see the tennis and basketball courts have had a revamp.
Armstrong Park Windmill.
1st December 2020
Wild Ring-Necked Parakeets.
After many months of hearing them and quick glimpses I finally photographed a few of the Wild Ring-Necked Parakeets living in Armstrong Park.
Armstrong Park Windmill.
Birds on a bird feeder.
2nd November 2020
Tree work in Armstrong Park.
Tree work near the southern entrance to Armstrong Park from Ouseburn Road close to the White Bridge.
The Cattle Run.
Birds on a bird feeder.
19th October 2020
Autumn in Armstrong Park.
2nd October 2020
Southern entrance to from Ouseburn Road.
Stone Columns.
Three stone columns opposite the "shoe trees". The columns are architectural fragments from the Royal Arcade on Pilgrim Street, which was demolished in the 1960s. The pieces were stored at a council depot near Warwick Street until the 1970s then deposited in Armstrong Park.
A stone trough/well in Armstrong Park.
Just down the hill from the stone columns is an old stone well/trough, which still runs with water.
Architectural fragments.
Further down the hill from the stone columns mentioned above are more architectural fragments said to be from the Royal Arcade in Pilgrim Street, which was demolished in the 1960's.
King John's Well in Armstrong Park.
The well is not marked on the first edition Ordnance Survey plan map, but is shown on the 2nd edition, some distance north of the camera of Adam of Jesmond.
It has been described as a supposedly medicinal spring, formerly piped into a modern trough, but now dry. Associated with 'King John's Palace' to the south. A photo dated 1888 in the City Library shows a recess in a rockery, and water falling from an entry in the back wall into a trough. Above, and attached by chains to the trough, is a stone lintel inscribed "YE WELL OF KING JOHN".
Source: Sitelines.
The western footbridge over the Cattle Run.
The Cattle Run.
Northern entrance from Ouseburn Road.
Armstrong Park Windmill.
Tennis courts in Armstrong Park.
Bowling green in Armstrong Park.
The lower path in Armstrong Park.
The upper path in Armstrong Park.
10th October 2018
The upper path in Armstrong Park.
A squirrel on a tree in Armstrong Park.
24th October 2015
Armstrong Park Windmill.
30th August 2011
Windmill undergoing renovation.
15th July 2011
Windmill undergoing renovation.
2nd March 2011
Windmill undergoing renovation.
Heaton Road entrance undergoing renovation.
The bowling green.
5th January 2011
Fallen tree.
A huge fallen tree blocks the path round to the shoe tree.
30th November 2010
Northern entrance from Ouseburn Road.
Lower path in Armstrong Park.
Fallen tree.
A huge fallen tree blocks the path round to the shoe tree.
18th November 2010
Northern entrance from Ouseburn Road.
Armstrong Park Windmill.
9th November 2009
Western footbridge over the cattle run.
29th October 2009
The upper path in Armstrong Park.
2nd February 2009
The upper path in Armstrong Park.
Small football pitch and Windmill.
Snow covered Tennis courts.
Jesmond Vale Lane.
The lane that seperates Heaton Park from Armstrong Park.
18th November 2008
Snowfall at the tennis courts.
The lower path through Armstrong Park.
10th November 2008
King John's Well.
The small football pitch and Windmill.
Tennis courts in Armstrong Park.
Bowling green in Armstrong Park.
Heaton Road entrance to Armstrong Park.
7th November 2008
The upper path in Autumn.
3rd November 2008
The upper path through Armstrong Park.
30th October 2008
The upper path in Armstrong Park.
3rd March 2008
The upper path in Armstrong Park.
Armstrong Park Windmill.
The cattle run.
King John's Well.
A fallen tree on the lower path.
26th February 2008
Jesmond Vale Lane.
9th January 2008
Footbridge over the cattle run.
16th November 2007
An autumnal Armstrong Park.
1st November 2007
An autumnal Armstrong Park.
15th October 2007
The hill up to the Shoe Tree.
2nd May 2007
The upper path in Armstrong Park.
27th April 2007
Football pitch and tennis courts.
20th March 2007
Armstrong Park Windmill.
6th March 2007
Footbridge over the cattle run.
The hill down to the lower path in Armstrong Park.
Near the Heaton Park entrance.
22nd September 2006
Tennis courts in Armstrong Park.
The bowling green.
22nd June 2006
Armstrong Park Windmill.
9th January 2006
King John's Well.
28th December 2005
A dusting of snow in Armstrong Park.
5th December 2005
Setting sun in an autumnal Armstrong Park.
18th October 2005
The upper path in Armstrong Park.
Jesmond Vale Lane.
30th September 2005
Armstrong Park Windmill.
King John's Well in Armstrong Park.
More Information:
- Sitelines - Heaton Park and Armstrong Park
- Urban Green Newcastle - Armstrong Park
- Co-Curate - Armstrong Park
- Sitelines - Armstrong Park, well
- Sitelines - Armstrong Park, waterfall
- Sitelines - Armstrong Park, footbridge over cattle run
- Sitelines - Armstrong Park, cattle run
- Sitelines - Armstrong Park, gate piers
- Sitelines - Armstrong Park, toilets
See my other photos around Armstrong Park:
- Armstrong Bridge
- Armstrong Park - The Shoe Tree
- Old photos of Armstrong Bridge & Craft Fair
- Heaton Park
- Heaton Park - House of Adam
- Heaton, High - Paddy Freemans Park
- Jesmond Dene
- Jesmond Dene - Fishermans Lodge Restaurant Fire
- Jesmond Dene - Pets Corner
- Jesmond Dene - St Mary's Chapel
- Jesmond Dene Banqueting Hall
10 comments:
BRILLIANT SITE MATE, SEEING IM NEWCASTLE THROUGH AND THROUGH, ALL KNOW I DO LIVE ALL THE WAY DOWN IN HERTFORDSHIRE LOL.. matthedger03@hotmail.com
add me asap on msn , ;-) - MATT
I really enjoyed the site, I was born in newcastle but then its been 10 years i moved away to manchester. So please could you put some pictures of high heaton , newton road and benton road i would appreciate it if u could put the whole road in. thankyou very much.
Thanks. High Heaton is one of the ares coming soon. I'm busy preparing 3 other posts at the momemnt and I'll start on High Heaton next. In the mean time you can see Benton Road on the Four Lane Ends and there is also the Library in High Heaton.
Should get some pictures of the white bridge and if you go to the right side of the the bridge (towards jesmond dene) into the trees there is some great messages inscribed on them great site
There are some photos of the white bridge area on my Jesmond Dene page. Where one park starts another finishes is a tricky subject at times I've put the white bridge in Jesmond Dene.
I'll have a look for the messages next time I'm along there. Do you mean on the dirt track that follows the river around opposite the allotments?
Being a Heaton lad I spent many an hour in the parks & Dene. I live miles away now, but still take my dog through there when up home. I showed friends some of these pictures, they visited Newcastle & said the parks & Dene were beautiful.
Some great pictures there.
Thanks.
I spent at least half of my childhood in these parks.
Hello,
Not sure how long ago these comments were posted.
I have seen a CD tree in Heaton park in 2013. I'm now trying to photograph it but I cannot find it and people I talk to have not seen it.
Does anybody know about it? I am sure it wasn't far from the shoe tree!
Thanks.
What is the history of the shoe tree ?
Don’t think anyone knows for certain,
I remember it started years ago,seemingly started by students finishing university and leaving the area tied an old pair of shoes together and flung them into the tree....
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