Stratford Park

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Stratford Park is a green flag awarded area of Stroud in Gloucestershire, south west England. With a big park with a lake and a really well achieved leisure centre Stratford Park is a major tourist area for Stroud. It is located on the outskirts of Stroud near Paganhill and Whiteshill.

[edit] History

Edward Stratford was the last member of a family that had owned the piece of land which had been recorded as part of Stroud since 1307. He sold it to a Stroud mercer called Nathaniel Gardner in 1653 after the civil war, and the house still has a stone with the initials C.G.1674 for his son Giles Gardner. Joseph Watts, a Stroud brewer who died in 1855, owned the house from 1819. However, his grandson Joseph Watts Hallewell M.A, J.P, D.L., focused his interests of the extensive grounds, and changed the estate's name from Stratford House to Stratford Park - hosting the 1870 Agricultural Show. Following the death of then owner G.F.Ormerod in June 1935, his executors, following his wishes and sold the 56 Acres to Stroud Urban District Council to ensure that the people of Stroud could access and enjoy the parkland permanently. In 1936 the outdoor swimming pool and the Stratford Park bowling green, were opened, both of which are still in use today.

[edit] Today

In 1975 the Leisure Centre building was opened within the grounds of the park to provide a whole new range of leisure provisions for the people of Stroud. The leisure centre offers plenty of sports including a gym, 25 metre indoor swimming pool with viewing area, trampolining, 3 sports halls, outdoors astro turf all weather pitch. Hard court tennis courts and bowls pitch. With squash courts and badminton courts as well. Social events are also held at the leisure centre.

The park includes an old Victorian bandstand and is very old fashioned with a footpath and plenty of space for dog walking or just walking by yourself. In the park there is a lake which is often used for angling competitions. The lake contains lots of fish and ducks and swans take advantage of the surface. There is a 6inch scale model railway track which skirts the lake.

There is also a museum in the park, and it is free for use with lots of information about the local area inside. Schools can also use some of the activities and resources it has to offer.