Central Park Haworth - Heritage
In the beginning were fields
The park first came into being as the result of an Ministry of Health edict to provide outdoor recreation spaces for residents living in industrial areas and crowded houses.
The 7 acres, 1 rood and 2 perches of land was purchased by Haworth Urban District Council in November 1926 for £1,700.
A Parks Committee of local residents made plans for tennis courts, a bandstand, a bowling green, a play area and a paddling pool with construction being carried out by local tradespeople.
Work started on the 15th November 1926.
Central Park, Haworth opened in 1927, which is marked by a stone plaque at the west entrance. At first, the park did not include facilities for organised games as it had already reached its £8,000 budget limit.
Then in the early 1930s tennis courts and small pavilion were provided at the top of Butt Lane and on 12th May 1937, a tablet was erected to commemorate the opening of the Bowling Green and Pavilion on the Coronation Day of their Majesties King George V1 and Queen Elizabeth.
Crown Green Bowling at Central Park, Haworth
The case of the missing bandstand
The park was first purchased by Haworth Urban District Council in 1926.
Then in 1938 Haworth and its park became part of Keighley Local Authority as part of a local government reorganisation.
In 1974, another government restructure saw Keighey, (and so Haworth and its park), being absorbed into the new Bradford Metropolitan District
Around this time the local Central park, Haworth Park Committee had deemed the bandstand’s superstructure unsafe and it had been removed for repair.
Somehow, this huge structure became lost and a casualty of the authority changeover. All that remained for over 30 years was the raised stone base.
The disbanded Parks Committee was reformed in 2006 as Friends of Central Park Haworth, and one of its first objectives was to raise funds to build a new bandstand on the site of the original structure.
A ground level base increased accessibility and the structure is powered for lighting and amplification and the bandstand is once again a central point for activities, events and performing arts in Haworth.
Bandstand at Central Park, Haworth
WE ARE A GRADE II LISTED PARK
On 13th November 2002, Central Park, Haworth was registered at Grade II under the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953 within the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens by Historic England for its special historic interest.
AWARDED GREEN FLAG STATUS SINCE 2006
On the 21st July 2006, Haworth Central Park was awarded a coveted Green Flag. Green Flag is the national award for parks and green spaces in England and Wales and is a means of recognising the park as a high quality green space. Central Park has continued to be recognised every year since.
Central Park was visited on June 8th by independent judges on behalf of Green Flag award scheme. Haworth Central Park applied for the Green Flag award as part of the park forward plan, developed in partnership between Bradford Parks and Landscapes Department and the Friends of Central Park, Haworth.
Become a Friend of Central Park Haworth
