NHER 26417 (Designed Landscape record) - Wensum Park

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Summary

One of five parks laid out by Captain A. Sandys Winch from about 1920 to 1935. The park is entered by a colonnade at the top of a terraced slope to a central circular building flanked by two other circular areas. Below is a paddling shore along the river and the former Norwich Open Air Baths, now filled with rubble and fenced off. The park began as paddling and swimming pools in 1907 but was converted to a park from 1921 to 5 to prevent tipping. The original centre rose garden with fountain has been converted to a flower bed and the original flower garden is now a paddling pool. During World War Two a series of air raid shelters were constructed within the park, several of which are visible on aerial photographs.

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Map sheet TG20NW
Civil Parish NORWICH, NORWICH, NORFOLK

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Historic Garden Grade II.
One of five parks laid out by Captain A.Sandys Winch from about 1920 to 1935.
The park is entered by a colonnade at the top of a terraced slope to a central circular building flanked by two other circular areas. Below is a paddling shore along the river and the former Norwich Open Air Baths, now filled with rubble and fenced off. This park began as the paddling and swimming pools in 1907 but was converted to a park from 1921-5 to prevent tipping. The original centre rose garden with fountain has been converted to a flower bed; the original flower garden is now a paddling pool.
Information from (S1).
E. Rose (NLA), 18 April 1994.

The main gates, terrace, steps and pergola were listed grade II in 1995.
E. Rose (NLA) 24 April 1995.

Press cuttings (S2) in file.
T. Sunley (NLA) 30 October 2007.

July 2010. Norfolk NMP.
World War Two air raid shelters are visible on aerial photographs (S3-S5) within Wensum Park. A series of rectangular and curvilinear slots, which would have been the entrances to below-ground air raid shelters are visible in 1942-5 (S3-S5).
S. Horlock (NMP), 01 July 2010.

  • --- Designation: English Heritage. 1990-2013. English Heritage Listing Notification. Notification. DNF7676.
  • --- Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2012. The captain who gave city park its character. 20 August.
  • --- Secondary File: Secondary File.
  • <S1> Designation: English Heritage. Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England..
  • <S2> Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1994-1999. [Articles on the plans and restoration of 5 parks in Norwich].
  • <S3> Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1942. RAF HLA/447 2139-40 30-APR-1942 (NMR).
  • <S4> Vertical Aerial Photograph: USAAF. 1944. US/7PH/GP/LOC258 5010-1 28-MAR-1944 (NMR).
  • <S5> Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1945. RAF 106G/UK/1007 6291-2 15-NOV-1945 (NMR).

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Record last edited

Jun 3 2020 4:45PM

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