Grosvenor Park

LYING adjacent to the River Dee, the 20 acre park was donated to the city by Richard, the second Marquis of Westminster and was opened in 1867.

The park was designed by Edward Kemp who was a pupil of Joseph Paxton, architect of Crystal palace.

The Chester Chronicle recorded the park opening celebrations on November 9th, 1867: 'The procession was one of the grandest ever witnessed in Chester, and it was about a mile in length'

Kemp's general design layout has been retained to this day and the park is considered one of the best examples of Victorian parkland in the North West.

The park has a number of interesting features, these include:

St. Mary's Arch - Dating from around the 13th century, the arch was removed from St. Mary's Benedictine Nunnery, which was ruined by Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1637.

Jacob's Well Drinking Fountain - A small stone arch that once had a fountain and a dish for their pets.

Old Shipgate Arch - This once stood at the west of Bridgegate and was taken down in 1831.

Statue - A testimonial to the Marquis of Westminster, the statue was designed by Thomas Thornicroft.

'Bill Hobby's Well' - The land on which the park was built was once called 'Bill Hobby's Field' and the well existed at that time. The medieval canopy was designed by John Douglas.