| Wicksteed Park | |
|---|---|
| Location | Kettering, England |
| Website | http://www.wicksteedpark.co.uk/ |
| Owner | Wicksteed Trust |
| Opened | 1921 |
| Operating season | March to October |
| Rides | 8 Main Rides total
|
| Slogan | The Perfect Blend of Tranquillity and Excitement |
Wicksteed Park is an amusement park in Kettering, Northamptonshire, England. The park opened in 1921. It is believed to be the oldest amusement park in England;[1] however, the Blackgang Chine theme park on the Isle of Wight is considerably older. It is located 2 miles (3.2 km) from the A14 and is signposted from the M1 & A1 and located near the Midland main line between London and Sheffield.
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The Park's beginnings can be traced back to 1913 when Charles Wicksteed purchased a tract of Northamptonshire meadowland near Kettering with the intention of developing a model village. He wanted to create an open space and safe parkland for local families. Charles Wicksteed also owned an engineering company (Wicksteed Park Leisure) and started to supply park seats and playground equipment to public parks far and wide. This company today still provides this equipment and can be found in many such parks across Europe with some of the products in Wicksteed Park.
The Park's fame spread far and wide and special trains and "Charabancs" brought visitors from an ever-widening area. Wicksteed Park was the first Leisure Park in the UK and has been copied many times since. Upon the death of Charles Wicksteed, the Board of Trustees were determined to continue his good work.
Open all year round, the children's playground is the largest free playground in Europe.[2]
Of historical interest is the Water Chute, which was built in 1926 and, having undergone major renovation (in 2002), it is the oldest working ride in the UK.[3] It has a narrow gauge railway which runs around the lake.[4]
The park is owned by the Wicksteed Trust, a registered charity set up by Charles Wicksteed in 1916 and run by Wicksteed Park Ltd, a company wholly owned by the Trust.
The attractions at Wicksteed Park are divided into 4 themed areas:
1) Playground - Immediately on entering the park, there is a free playground.
2) Fairground - Rides for children up to 13/14; also in this area is the Fun Palace Arcade.
3) Lakeside - Predominantly features rides themed around water, such as the bumper-boats. It is also home to the 'Waterchute'.
4) Arena - Contains many of the park's larger rides, like the Flying Chairs, Revolving Paratrooper, Ladybird Coaster, Roller Coaster and the latest ride, a log flume called 'Rocky River Falls'.
In order to enjoy the attractions, visitors can purchase either tickets or an all day, unlimited ride wristband. There is also an aviary, sand pit and boating on the lake to complement the other attractions. The 30-acre (12 ha) lake is populated by swans, geese, ducks and peacocks. Caravan and camping facilities are also offered on 16-acre (6.5 ha) of land right in the heart of the park.
The park has had its own mascot since March 2000 called Wicky Bear. It also has three other characters - Kerry the Koala, Charlie the Dog and Pong the Panda. The four animals can regularly be spotted walking around the park and greeting guests. Throughout the UK summer holidays when the rides and attractions are in full operation, there is usually a 'Wicky Bear Show' on the park's Outdoor Stage where the four characters can be seen performing together.
The park holds an annual Guy Fawkes Night display.[5]
The Wicksteed Park Railway is one of the most iconic features of the park today.[4] Over 15 million people have taken to its rails since it first opened in 1931.[4] It was the last feature of the park to be added during the lifetime of the parks founder Charles Wicksteed and is supported by the Friends of the Wicksteed Park Railway.[4]
Wicksteed Park offers various Programmes of Study based on Key Stages 1–4. A Nature Trail is also offered, a little over two kilometres in length and featuring many 'activity' points.