| Code | NA5325 |
| Place Entry | /Clifton Park/Rotherham/South Yorkshire |
| Notes | Rotherham Corporation purchased Clifton House and Park in 1891 for £25,000 from the Trustees of the estate of the late Mr. Owen. a further £5,000 was spent on improvements to the Park, which was opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales (later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra) on 27th June 1891. The opening ceremony was a festive occasion, attended by thousands, and was celebrated with fireworks, bands, coconut shies, dancing and a parachute jump. The high spot of the afternoon was a balloon ascent by Captain Whelan of Huddersfield, which nearly ended in disaster when Councillor Thomas became entangled with the ropes and was almost carried off hanging upside down by the legs. Luckily he managed to free himself, after rolling over several times. The balloon later landed safely on the moor about nine miles from Huddersfield.
Since the park opened, a number of changes have occurred. The old main entrance to the estate was enlarged and the massive pillars and cast iron gates installed. A cast iron bandstand was added, which survived until the Great War, its plinth being occupied from 1919 to 1927 by a First World War tank. In November 1922 the Cenotaph was unveiled, to be complemented by the Memorial Gardens, created after the Second World War.
To the east of Clifton House stood two old cannon presented by Messrs Ward of Sheffield. In 1920, the stonework and columns from the granary of the Roman Forts at Templeborough were incorporated into the gardens after their removal from the site excavated by Thomas May in 1916-17. The two cannon were placed at one corner flanking a larger German gun presented by the Government in recognition of the Town's efforst during 1914-18. These were all removed in 1936.
Birdcage Lodge at the Doncaster Road entrance to the Park survived until the late 1940's. Its name appears to have come from the narrow road opposite, Eastwood Road, which is named 'Bird Cage Lane' on the 1851 Ordnance Survey map. The lake nearby disappeared in 1938-39, replaced by the children's paddling pool and the present bandstand was added in 1930 (now lacking its sliding dooors).
Around Clifton House many of the old outbuildings have been removed and a new entrance made on Clifton Lane for the Museum. The wall along Clifton Lane has gone, as have many of the elm trees in the grounds. Despite the many changes that have taken place over the years, Clifton Park continues to attract many people to its open spaces and surroundings. |
| Area2 | Clifton Park |
| Area3 | Rotherham |
| Area4 | South Yorkshire |
| Notes | Rotherham Corporation purchased Clifton House and Park in 1891 for £25,000 from the Trustees of the estate of the late Mr. Owen. a further £5,000 was spent on improvements to the Park, which was opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales (later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra) on 27th June 1891. The opening ceremony was a festive occasion, attended by thousands, and was celebrated with fireworks, bands, coconut shies, dancing and a parachute jump. The high spot of the afternoon was a balloon ascent by Captain Whelan of Huddersfield, which nearly ended in disaster when Councillor Thomas became entangled with the ropes and was almost carried off hanging upside down by the legs. Luckily he managed to free himself, after rolling over several times. The balloon later landed safely on the moor about nine miles from Huddersfield.
Since the park opened, a number of changes have occurred. The old main entrance to the estate was enlarged and the massive pillars and cast iron gates installed. A cast iron bandstand was added, which survived until the Great War, its plinth being occupied from 1919 to 1927 by a First World War tank. In November 1922 the Cenotaph was unveiled, to be complemented by the Memorial Gardens, created after the Second World War.
To the east of Clifton House stood two old cannon presented by Messrs Ward of Sheffield. In 1920, the stonework and columns from the granary of the Roman Forts at Templeborough were incorporated into the gardens after their removal from the site excavated by Thomas May in 1916-17. The two cannon were placed at one corner flanking a larger German gun presented by the Government in recognition of the Town's efforst during 1914-18. These were all removed in 1936.
Birdcage Lodge at the Doncaster Road entrance to the Park survived until the late 1940's. Its name appears to have come from the narrow road opposite, Eastwood Road, which is named 'Bird Cage Lane' on the 1851 Ordnance Survey map. The lake nearby disappeared in 1938-39, replaced by the children's paddling pool and the present bandstand was added in 1930 (now lacking its sliding dooors).
Around Clifton House many of the old outbuildings have been removed and a new entrance made on Clifton Lane for the Museum. The wall along Clifton Lane has gone, as have many of the elm trees in the grounds. Despite the many changes that have taken place over the years, Clifton Park continues to attract many people to its open spaces and surroundings. |
| Source | Information Sheet 1980s |
Show related catalogue records.
Catalogue
| RefNo | Title |
| LS/5/2/17 | Contractors due to start work on improvement project at Clifton park |
| LS/5/2/43 | Rotherham Show to be held in Rosehill Victoria Park, Rawmarsh |
| 89-F/B/6/73 | D Greene standing next to monuments in Clifton Park |
| 89-F/B/6/70 | D Greene standing next to a monument in Clifton Park |
| 89-F/B/6/10 | Clifton Park |
| LS/5/2/386 | Mayor of Rotherham carries out launch ceremony at Clifton Park's sunken garden |
| LS/5/2/416 | Clifton Park restoration impresses Rotherham MPs |
| LS/5/2/434 | Plans for a memorial plaque for the 3,000 Rotherham men who died in World War Two at Clifton Park |
| LS/5/2/493 | UCS Civils company is granted contract for restoration and conservation project at Clifton Park, Rotherham |
| LS/5/2/1051 | Badsley Moor Infant School wins first place in a competition to design a mural of Clifton Park |
| LS/5/2/1058 | Local MPs tour the new-look Clifton Park |
| LS/5/2/1167 | Clifton park main entrance has been restored |
| LS/5/2/1433 | Grade 2 listed Walker sundial returned to Clifton Park |
| LS/5/2/1795 | New purpose-built piste at Clifton Park |
| LS/5/2/1796 | Rotherham Show returns to Clifton park |
| LS/5/2/1801 | Garden building at Clifton Park almost complete |
| LS/5/2/1807 | Rotherham marks the 70th anniversary of the Batttle of Britain |