Easton Gardens

Easton Gardens, including the Clock Tower.

Easton Gardens is a public garden, located on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. It is found within the centre of the Easton village, at Easton Square. The gardens have remained a popular focal point for local residents for over 100 years, and have been awarded the Green Flag Award.

Background

Easton Gardens' play area.
Easton Gardens' Grade II Listed Clock Tower.

The idea for a public garden to be created each at Underhill and Tophill on Portland stems back to 1896, when the Councillor B. Comben proposed the idea to the Local Government Board. The original Tophill site suggested was a field near Easton Lane. However this site was soon quarried for Portland stone.[1] By 1901 it was decided to transform the barren space of Easton Square into Tophill district's gardens. The site had been the location of the village's pond and water pump, which was no longer necessary after the piped water supply had been completed.[2]

While Victoria Gardens at Underhill was being developed, the scheme for Easton Gardens was approved in August 1903. The engineer Mr R. S. Henshaw developed a plan and during November 1903, Mr F. J. Barnes began to enclose the gardens with a stone wall and iron fencing. Messrs Stewart & Sons were tasked with laying out the gardens at Easton, and this work commenced on 14 January 1904.[3] Within the enclosed gardens, ornamental lawns, flower beds and winding asphalted footpaths were laid out, with a bandstand erected in the centre.[4]

The official opening of Easton Gardens was on 18 August 1904, by Mr Henry Sansom, Chairman of the Urban Council. The day was noted for its sunshine, and featured a large audience.[5] In 2004, the gardens celebrated their 100th anniversary, where locals donned costumes of the period to celebrate.[6] In recent years, Easton Gardens has been recognised as one of the best green spaces in the country by being awarded Green Flag status based on how safe, clean, accessible, well managed and welcoming they are. The Green Flag Award scheme is the national standard for parks and green spaces across England and Wales.[6]

Clock Tower

In 1905, Henry Sansom, who had opened the gardens a year before, made the suggestion of erecting a clock tower within the gardens. Designed by R. Stevenson Henshaw, the clock was built by Wakeham Brothers by 1907. A ceremony in May 1907 unveiled the clock in front of a large crowd.[7][8] As a prominent feature in the square ever since, the clock tower has been Grade II Listed since May 1993. English Heritage's survey noted that the clock is a Jacobethan-styled structure with Gothic details.[9]

Features

Easton Gardens largely feature grassed and formal bedding areas, as well as holding mature trees. A children's play area is located in the gardens suitable for children, whilst a basketball court is located nearby, along with picnic tables and seating. There are also recently refurbished public and disabled toilet facilities within the gardens.[10][11]

References

  1. ↑ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pbtyc/Portland/PYB/Gardens.html
  2. ↑ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pbtyc/Portland/PYB/Gardens.html
  3. ↑ Paul Benyon (1 December 1903). "Portland Year Book". Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  4. ↑ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pbtyc/Portland/PYB/Gardens.html
  5. ↑ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pbtyc/Portland/PYB/Gardens.html
  6. 1 2 "Easton Gardens, Portland". dorsetforyou.com. 28 June 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  7. ↑ Morris, Stuart (1985). Portland: An Illustrated History. Dovecote Press. p. 117. ISBN 978-0946159345.
  8. ↑ Morris, Stuart (1990). Portland Camera. Dovecote Press. pp. Photo 65. ISBN 978-0946159796.
  9. ↑ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1205449)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  10. ↑ "Easton Gardens, Portland". dorsetforyou.com. 28 June 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  11. ↑ "Easton Gardens Portland in Dorchester, Weymouth, Lyme Reg...". Netmums. Retrieved 6 May 2013.

Coordinates: 50°32′43″N 2°26′11″W / 50.5453°N 2.4364°W / 50.5453; -2.4364

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