As Manchester’s newest park opens to the public this week, it’s worth shining a light on some of the long-standing green spaces our city region has to offer. One of these is the stunning Mesnes Park, located only a few minutes’ walk away from Wigan town centre.
Dating back to 1878, this 28-acre park has an air of Victorian grandeur about it with formal flower beds, wide paths and grass lawns. Mesnes Park is in fact Grade II listed and walking around the park is like stepping back in time.
It’s packed full of interesting details - some of which are also Grade II listed - and a recent £6.1million restoration project, funded by the Heritage Lottery, has seen the park being restored to its former Victorian glory. One of the most striking features is The Pavilion, which takes pride of place at the centre of the park.
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This majestic-looking structure sits on a small mound overlooking the park. Inside is a cafe and Frederick’s Ice Cream parlour, which is perfect for a pit-stop while out for a walk.
Just in front of the pavilion is the Colebrookdale Fountain. What you see today is actually a replica of the original fountain which was removed from the park in 1921.
A replica was painstakingly made and the fountain returned to the park once more in 2013. There’s also an ornate bandstand which is located to the west of the pavilion and even has its own power supply for outdoor concerts.
One thing all visitors to the park have to do is rub the foot of the Sir Francis Sharpe Powell monument, which is said to bring you good luck. The foot had to be re-bronzed at one point as over the years a hole was worn into the shoe.
But Mesnes Park isn’t just about historical details, it’s a place where people of all ages can come to enjoy themselves. There’s an outdoor gym area with different pieces of equipment you can try, while kids will love the park’s two playgrounds.
On one side of the park is a large duck pond which has an interesting rockery and waterfall feature at the northern end. There’s a couple of benches nearby making it the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the view.
Another tranquil spot to visit is the Rose Garden, which was opened by Sir Ian McKellen in 2003.
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