Palmer Park, Reading

Palmer Park
Palmer Park
	View across the middle of the park
	Location within Reading
Type	Public
Location	Reading, Berkshire, UK
Coordinates	51°27′07″N 0°56′20″W / 51.452°N 0.939°W

Palmer Park is a public park in Reading, England. The land for the park was given to the town by the proprietors of the Huntley & Palmers biscuit firm and it contains a statue of George Palmer. The park in turn gives its name to Park ward of the Borough of Reading, which surrounds it.^[1]

In 1882, the land was used for that year's Royal Agricultural Show, on one of its two visits to the town. In 1889, the initial 21 acres (8.5 ha) of land was transferred to the town by the proprietors of Huntley & Palmers. It was extended to 49 acres in 1891, and the full park was opened on 4 November 1891. The park and pavilion were designed by architect, William Ravenscroft.^[2]^[3]

The Park was the venue for the 1927 WAAA Championships, held on 9 July 1927.^[4]

Popular with local residents for various activities, it often hosts religious festivals, sports tournaments and small special events. In the past, Carter's Steam Fair visited the park every year. However, they had to suspend the annual event due to the discovery of ground subsidence in the park in 2001.^[5] Chalk mines were found underneath the park and the weight of the fairground rides posed a great danger. The areas affected have now been shored up and compacted to stop any incident from occurring and the Fair is visiting again.

Park facilities

The park also contains Palmer Park Stadium, a velodrome and athletics stadium.^[6] Included in the park are Palmer Park Library,^[7] Palmer Park Bowling Club,^[8] two playgrounds,^[9] a community cafe^[10] and a number of football pitches which are used every week for local matches. During the summer months, some of the goal posts are removed to make way for a cricket pitch.

References

^ Election Maps (Map). Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
^ "1882 Royal Agricultural Show". Grace's Guide. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
^ "Error".
^ "Women's Amateur Athletic Association Championships in Reading". Reading Standard. 16 July 1927. Retrieved 14 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^ "The mystery of Palmer Park's underground holes deepens". Get Reading. 8 November 2001. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
^ Palmer Park Stadium Archived 28 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Reading Borough Council, UK.
^ Palmer Park Library, Reading Borough Libraries, UK.
^ Palmer Park Bowling Club, BowlsClub.org.
^ Palmer Park Reading Playgrounds Reopen after £146,000 Facelift Archived 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Reading, Berkshire, UK, 26 March 2010.
^ Chalkboard Cafe impresses Reading MP Rob Wilson.

External links

Palmer Park Sports Stadium

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[osem-1] Election Maps (Map). Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 16 June 2022.

[2] "1882 Royal Agricultural Show". Grace's Guide. Retrieved 9 January 2021.

[H&P_archive-3] "Error".

[4] "Women's Amateur Athletic Association Championships in Reading". Reading Standard. 16 July 1927. Retrieved 14 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.

[5] "The mystery of Palmer Park's underground holes deepens". Get Reading. 8 November 2001. Retrieved 3 February 2018.

[6] Palmer Park Stadium Archived 28 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Reading Borough Council, UK.

[7] Palmer Park Library, Reading Borough Libraries, UK.

[8] Palmer Park Bowling Club, BowlsClub.org.

[9] Palmer Park Reading Playgrounds Reopen after £146,000 Facelift Archived 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Reading, Berkshire, UK, 26 March 2010.

[10] Chalkboard Cafe impresses Reading MP Rob Wilson.

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