If you wish to know more about Leazes Park contact:
Robert Delap
Parks Development Manager
Allendale Road
Byker
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE6 2SZ
Phone: 0191 2783080
Fax: 0191 2783101
Email: robert.delap@newcastle.gov.uk
Click here for accessibility information about Leazes Park from DisabledGo.
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.
No unauthorised vehicles are allowed access to the park without prior arrangements being made with the Leazes Park Manager.
Rowing Boats are available for hire at weekends and school holidays only.
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.
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 http://www.leazesangling.com/ or write to them at
Leazes Park Angling Association
P.O. Box 272
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE6 4WX
For information go to Leazes Park Tennis Club http://www.ne1fortennis.com
The Springbank Bowls Club play throughout the summer in the park. For more information contact Tom Bell on 0191 2749980.
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.
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.
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:
Subsequent work has included:
Page last updated: 5 June, 2013
