If you wish to know more about Leazes Park contact:

Adam Greenwold
Leazes Park Manager
Phone: 0191 261 7231
Fax: 0191 261 7231
Email: Adam Greenwold

Click here for accessibility information about Leazes Park from DisabledGo.

The Friends of Leazes Park

The Friends are an active group who campaigned and supported the restoration of the park. They help maintain the park through regular volunteer mornings and organising guest visits.

For the Friends of Leazes Park please contact Rosie Serdiville phone 0191 230 3797.

Vehicle Access to the Park and Parking

No unauthorised vehicles are allowed access to the park without prior arrangements being made with the Leazes Park Manager.

Rowing Boats.

Rowing Boats are available for hire at weekends and school holidays only.

Wedding Photos

If you would like to use Leazes Park for taking wedding photos, you are very welcome.  However if you would like to bring a vehicle in or ensure an hours access to photographic areas i.e. the Bandstand or the Terrace, you will need to book in advance and there will be a small fee to cover staff time.

Leazes Park Angling Association

The LPAA has been active in the park since the 1970's.  There are approximately 200 members and both senior and junior membership.  They manage the fish stocks and organise competitions around the lake. 
More information please go to Leazes Park Angling Association.

Leazes Park Tennis Club

For information go to  Leazes Park Tennis Club http://www.ne1fortennis.com

Springbank Bowls Club

The Springbank Bowls Club play throughout the summer in the park.  For more information contact Tom Bell on 0191 2749980.

History

The creation of a public park for the people of Newcastle was a drawn out affair. The political comings and goings went on for over 30 years. In September 1857 3,000 working men petitioned Newcastle Council for ‘ready access to some open ground for the purpose of health and recreation’ and a year later a special committee was set up to try and find a location for a park. Aldermen Harle and Hamond took up the challenge and campaigned for a park and eventually succeeded in having Leazes Park created on a part of the Leazes Town Moor.

On the 23rd of Dec 1873 Leazes Park was officially opened by Alderman Sir Charles Hamond. It became the first public or people's park created on Tyneside for the purposes of exercise and recreation. The Council minutes show that the park was laid out over a number of years and had features added until the 1890's when the park could be considered complete.

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The Design of Leazes Park

John Fulton, the Town Surveyor, laid out Leazes Park in a manner which was very much in keeping with other parks being built elsewhere in Britain at that time. The layout centres around the lake which was created on the line of the Lort Burn. The Bandstand and Terrace were added and later the whole park was surrounded with metal railings.

The grand Jubilee gates were added to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria and a Palm House was built. In 1905 a bust of Alderman Sir Charles Hamond was erected as the centrepiece to the Terrace and the park was then complete.

The park continued to develop with deer, aviaries, tennis, and croquet until the 1980’s when it it was acknowledged to be in need of refurbishment. With the support of the people of Newcastle this refurbishment became possible when the park was awarded a grant of £3.7 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2001.

Putting it back together

In 1996 the first round of Heritage Lottery Bid proposals were started and on the 19th April 2001 the Heritage Lottery Fund approved the Leazes Park Restoration Project and with Newcastle Council provided £4.9 million to restore the park.

A restoration plan was drawn up based on historic research. 

The specific elements of the project are as follows:

• Reintroduction of two major ornate gateways into the park based on original designs, including the Jubilee Gates. These were originally installed to commemorate the 60th year of the reign of Queen Victoria
• Reintroduction of approximately 950m of cast iron boundary railings, based on the original designs
• Restoration of the approximately 16,500m2 lake, including drainage improvements, de-silting works, repairs to the lake edge and introduction of a new timber jetty
• Construction of new footpaths and improvement works to existing routes
• Resurfacing of the existing car park and provision of a new access road to it from Richardson Road
• Installation of a replica bandstand
• Reintroduction of original features including a flagstaff and the listed bust of Alderman Hamond who was instrumental in founding the park
• Refurbishment of the terrace including restoration of the original ballustrading, replica urns and statues
• Substantial soft landscaping works including tree and shrub planting, lake planting and a new memorial garden for the 15th/19th Hussars
• Conversion of the Richardson Road Lodge to include an office, refreshment kiosk and public toilets
• External and internal refurbishment of the Moffat and Springbank Pavillions for the bowling, angling and Friends groups
• Conversion of the depot building to include an education centre, meeting room and improved boat storage
• Installation of a replica boat hut
• Demolition of the existing toilet block
• Installation of new park furniture including replica seats, bollards, litter bins and interpretation panels
• Installation of new lighting throughout the park, including lighting to the ornate gateways
• Refurbishment of the existing play area
• Comprehensive drainage works throughout the park
• Contract maintenance
• Tree felling and pruning works has already been completed
  
  Subsequent work has included:
  
• More seats
• Western Lodge external refurbishment
• Interpretation and signage
• Additional railing near Barrack Road

 

If you wish to know more about Leazes Park contact:

Adam Greenwold
Leazes Park Manager
Phone: 0191 261 7231
Fax: 0191 261 7231
Email: Adam Greenwold

Click here for accessibility information about Leazes Park from DisabledGo.

The Friends of Leazes Park

The Friends are an active group who campaigned and supported the restoration of the park. They help maintain the park through regular volunteer mornings and organising guest visits.

For the Friends of Leazes Park please contact Rosie Serdiville phone 0191 230 3797.

Vehicle Access to the Park and Parking

No unauthorised vehicles are allowed access to the park without prior arrangements being made with the Leazes Park Manager.

Rowing Boats.

Rowing Boats are available for hire at weekends and school holidays only.

Wedding Photos

If you would like to use Leazes Park for taking wedding photos, you are very welcome.  However if you would like to bring a vehicle in or ensure an hours access to photographic areas i.e. the Bandstand or the Terrace, you will need to book in advance and there will be a small fee to cover staff time.

Leazes Park Angling Association

The LPAA has been active in the park since the 1970's.  There are approximately 200 members and both senior and junior membership.  They manage the fish stocks and organise competitions around the lake. 
More information please go to Leazes Park Angling Association.

Leazes Park Tennis Club

For information go to  Leazes Park Tennis Club http://www.ne1fortennis.com

Springbank Bowls Club

The Springbank Bowls Club play throughout the summer in the park.  For more information contact Tom Bell on 0191 2749980.

History

The creation of a public park for the people of Newcastle was a drawn out affair. The political comings and goings went on for over 30 years. In September 1857 3,000 working men petitioned Newcastle Council for ‘ready access to some open ground for the purpose of health and recreation’ and a year later a special committee was set up to try and find a location for a park. Aldermen Harle and Hamond took up the challenge and campaigned for a park and eventually succeeded in having Leazes Park created on a part of the Leazes Town Moor.

On the 23rd of Dec 1873 Leazes Park was officially opened by Alderman Sir Charles Hamond. It became the first public or people's park created on Tyneside for the purposes of exercise and recreation. The Council minutes show that the park was laid out over a number of years and had features added until the 1890's when the park could be considered complete.

Go to Top

The Design of Leazes Park

John Fulton, the Town Surveyor, laid out Leazes Park in a manner which was very much in keeping with other parks being built elsewhere in Britain at that time. The layout centres around the lake which was created on the line of the Lort Burn. The Bandstand and Terrace were added and later the whole park was surrounded with metal railings.

The grand Jubilee gates were added to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria and a Palm House was built. In 1905 a bust of Alderman Sir Charles Hamond was erected as the centrepiece to the Terrace and the park was then complete.

The park continued to develop with deer, aviaries, tennis, and croquet until the 1980’s when it it was acknowledged to be in need of refurbishment. With the support of the people of Newcastle this refurbishment became possible when the park was awarded a grant of £3.7 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2001.

Putting it back together

In 1996 the first round of Heritage Lottery Bid proposals were started and on the 19th April 2001 the Heritage Lottery Fund approved the Leazes Park Restoration Project and with Newcastle Council provided £4.9 million to restore the park.

A restoration plan was drawn up based on historic research. 

The specific elements of the project are as follows:

• Reintroduction of two major ornate gateways into the park based on original designs, including the Jubilee Gates. These were originally installed to commemorate the 60th year of the reign of Queen Victoria
• Reintroduction of approximately 950m of cast iron boundary railings, based on the original designs
• Restoration of the approximately 16,500m2 lake, including drainage improvements, de-silting works, repairs to the lake edge and introduction of a new timber jetty
• Construction of new footpaths and improvement works to existing routes
• Resurfacing of the existing car park and provision of a new access road to it from Richardson Road
• Installation of a replica bandstand
• Reintroduction of original features including a flagstaff and the listed bust of Alderman Hamond who was instrumental in founding the park
• Refurbishment of the terrace including restoration of the original ballustrading, replica urns and statues
• Substantial soft landscaping works including tree and shrub planting, lake planting and a new memorial garden for the 15th/19th Hussars
• Conversion of the Richardson Road Lodge to include an office, refreshment kiosk and public toilets
• External and internal refurbishment of the Moffat and Springbank Pavillions for the bowling, angling and Friends groups
• Conversion of the depot building to include an education centre, meeting room and improved boat storage
• Installation of a replica boat hut
• Demolition of the existing toilet block
• Installation of new park furniture including replica seats, bollards, litter bins and interpretation panels
• Installation of new lighting throughout the park, including lighting to the ornate gateways
• Refurbishment of the existing play area
• Comprehensive drainage works throughout the park
• Contract maintenance
• Tree felling and pruning works has already been completed
  
  Subsequent work has included:
  
• More seats
• Western Lodge external refurbishment
• Interpretation and signage
• Additional railing near Barrack Road