Heaton Park first opened in 1879 when the corporation acquired 22.5 acres of the Heaton Hall estate from Addison Potter at a cost of £12,562. Sir William Armstrong then donated neighbouring Armstrong Park and Jesmond Dene to the city meaning the three parks form a green corridor through east Newcastle following the Ouseburn.
At the southern end of the park once stood an 18th century garden temple which was removed in the early C20. A lake which is shown on the 1859-64 OS map was c100m north-east of the temple was drained in the mid C20.
In the north-east corner of the park are the remains of a C12 tower house (listed grade II) called Adam of Jesmond's Camera more commonly known as King John's Palace.
The north-west side of the park was the site of a bearpit, which was infilled in 1891.
Today Heaton Park is a much valued space by the local community although it has suffered considerably due to 'austerity' in recent years. General maintenance including disappearing floral areas and regular overflowing litter bins are the result and the once pristine bowling green has gone.
Text adapted from Sitelines.
30th April 2024
9th August 2023
Heaton Park View Entrance.
There doesn't seem much point in directing the new cycle lane markings through the gates if they are locked.
14th July 2023
Ouseburn Road Entrance.
Does anyone know what that is to the left of the gateway?
15th June 2023
The Pavillion.
The Old Bowling Green.
Now to become a pollinator friendly lawn.
South West Corner.
South West Gates.
Panoramic Photos.
Goal Trees.
When my son was young these two trees formed goalposts for me to go in. I rarely fared well.
The Main Path.
A Fenced Off Area For Dogs.
30th June 2022
5th May 2022
Decorative Gateway, Ouseburn Road.
18th C. Steam Pumping Engines Sign.
In the north west corner of the park where Jesmond Vale Lane meets Ouseburn Road is a sign saying 'Three Newcomen pumping engines drained Heaton Banks Colliery in the 1700's. Part of the greatest concentration of steam power in the world at the time'.
4th May 2022
Storm Damage.
Recent storms have toppled quite a few trees in Heaton Park.
7th February 2022
Storm Damage.
Play Area.
25th November 2021
25th July 2021
The Pavillion.
The original pavilion is at Beamish Museum. The present pavilion is the second replica, built in the 1980s. The associated terrace and balustrading is built of concrete faced with mock stone. There was originally a fountain on the terrace at the top of the steps.
Source: Sitelines.
Heaton Park Road Entrance.
Original ornamental gates and piers into Heaton Park from Heaton Park Road/Heaton Park View junction.
Repaired Play Area.
The repaired play area after mindless damage by vandals. Residents around Heaton raised £21,000 of the £25,000 needed remove the damaged apparatus and install new pieces. Donations were also received from Primula, LGA Foundation, Muckle, Procter and Gamble, Friends Heaton and Armstrong Parks, Friends of Paddy Freemans, Jon Foley and Son Ltd, and the local Ward Councillors.
8th January 2021
14th December 2020
1st December 2020
Tree Work.
The Pavillion.
28th November 2020
25th November 2020
Squirrels in Heaton Park.
24th November 2020
The Pavillion.
17th November 2020
Autumn colours in Heaton Park.
16th November 2020
Decorative gateway on to Ouseburn Road.
4th November 2020
The Pavillion.
2nd November 2020
Fenced-off Play Area.
Autumn colours in Heaton Park.
19th October 2020
2nd October 2020
The Pavillion.
18th September 2020
The Pavillion.
Mindless damage to the kids playpark by vandals.
17th December 2018
Squirrels in Heaton Park.
1st November 2011
Autumn colours in Heaton Park.
30th August 2011
Regeneration of the N.E. corner of the park is complete.
6th April 2011
28th March 2011
Ongoing regeneration of the N.E. corner of the park.
2nd March 2011
Regeneration of the N.E. corner of the park begins.
30th November 2010
9th January 2010
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22nd October 2009
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17th September 2009
24th July 2009
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7th May 2009
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The pristine Bowling Green.
20th April 2009
The magnificent Pear Tree.
The Bowling Green and Pavillion.
2nd February 2009
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22nd November 2008
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20th October 2008
7th March 2008
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4th March 2008
3rd March 2008
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26th February 2008
The run down north east corner of the park.
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29th October 2007
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19th September 2007
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13th March 2007
North east corner.
The old bowling green and shed in the north east corner of the park near the Heaton Road entrance.
6th March 2007
5th May 2006
3rd May 2006
28th April 2006
5th April 2006
3rd April 2006
8th February 2006
4th January 2006
30th December 2005
28th December 2005
8th December 2005
25th October 2005
18th October 2005
30th September 2005
North east corner.
The old bowling green and shed in the north east corner of the park near the Heaton Road entrance.
Drone Footage of Heaton Park.
More Information:
- Sitelines - Heaton Park and Armstrong Park
- Urban Green Newcastle - Heaton Park
- Historic England - Heaton Parks
- Sitelines - Heaton Park, architectural fragments
- Sitelines - Heaton Park, Heaton Road, gates, piers and walls
Historical interest in Heaton Park:
- Sitelines - Heaton Park, drinking fountain
- Sitelines - Heaton Park, bear pit
- Sitelines - Heaton Park, temple
- Sitelines - Heaton manor
- Sitelines - Heaton Hall
- Sitelines - Heaton Hall, lake and island
- Heaton History Group - Heaton’s parks remembered
- Heaton History Group - Heaton Park’s Forgotten House
Old mines in and around Heaton Park:
- Sitelines - Heaton, Old Mair Pit
- Sitelines - Heaton, Chance Pit
- Sitelines - Heaton Colliery (Heaton Banks)
- Sitelines - Heaton Park, Fortune Pit
- Sitelines - Heaton Park, Whin Pit
- Sitelines - Heaton Park, Dyke Pit
- Sitelines - Heaton Park, Engine Pit
- Sitelines - Heaton Park, Meadow Pit
- Sitelines - Heaton Park, Corn Pit
- Sitelines - Heaton Park, Cragg Hall Pit
- Sitelines - Heaton Park, Haderwicks Mill Pit
See my other photos around Heaton Park:
- Heaton Park - House of Adam
- Heaton, High - Paddy Freemans Park
- Old photos of Armstrong Bridge & Craft Fair
- Armstrong Bridge
- Armstrong Park
- Armstrong Park - The Shoe Tree
- Jesmond Dene
- Jesmond Dene - Fishermans Lodge Restaurant Fire
- Jesmond Dene - Pets Corner
- Jesmond Dene - St Mary's Chapel
- Jesmond Dene Banqueting Hall
- Jesmond Vale
excellent pictures of Newcastle, you have really captured the sights as they would be seen by a local, a refreshing point of view.
ReplyDeleteNext time you are in heaton park, have a look for the shoe trees, some trees that have been adorned with hundreds of pairs of old trainers,not too far from the bowling green. They are ideal for interesting photography.
I suspect that you mean Armstrong Park. Take a look around this site and you will see it. A lot of the branches on the original shoe tree have been cut down by the council as they were beginning to snap under the weight.
ReplyDeleteWe regularly chuck our old shoes up there.
Oh and thanks for the compliment. :)
ReplyDeleteKeep an eye out as there is plenty more photos and areas to come. It's just finding the time to upload them all.
I didnt realize Heaton Park became Armstrong Park at that point, you can tell im not a local! The shoe trees are a fantastic sight, altho they are very hard to photograph to get any real sense of perspective, although your pictures illustrate the trees and obsolete footwear in a most excellent eerie silhouette.
ReplyDeleteI do plan to go back to the shoe tree and get some more pics this week sometime and i'll give them a page of their own.
ReplyDelete