Stockport's memorial park

[John_Hartley]

Stockport’s Vernon Park is a restored Victorian classic – flower beds, bandstand, lily pond with fountain – the lot. It occupies a great spot east of the town centre on the steep sloping banks of the River Goyt and overlooking some fab. cotton mills which, of course, employed many of “my men”.

Taking advantage of today’s fine weather, Mrs H & I have been for stroll (or hill climb as it might be better described) and wandered through a part of the park that was new for us.

Then we saw a sign and realised that this bit was actually a different park and it is a memorial to the town’s Great War dead. This from the Council’s website:

“In 1921, Sir Thomas Rowbotham, a former Major of Stockport, presented to the town, Woodbank Memorial Park in honour of the Stockport men who died in the Great War. The park is 90 acres in extent, is beautifully wooded and, skirted by the river Goyt, presents striking natural views. The bluebells in the woods are a feature almost unequalled in any public park in the country.”

[Martin Bennitt]

Stockport’s Vernon Park is a restored Victorian classic – flower beds, bandstand, lily pond with fountain – the lot. It occupies a great spot east of the town centre on the steep sloping banks of the River Goyt and overlooking some fab. cotton mills which, of course, employed many of “my men”.

Taking advantage of today’s fine weather, Mrs H & I have been for stroll (or hill climb as it might be better described) and wandered through a part of the park that was new for us.

Then we saw a sign and realised that this bit was actually a different park and it is a memorial to the town’s Great War dead. This from the Council’s website:

“In 1921, Sir Thomas Rowbotham, a former Major of Stockport, presented to the town, Woodbank Memorial Park in honour of the Stockport men who died in the Great War. The park is 90 acres in extent, is beautifully wooded and, skirted by the river Goyt, presents striking natural views. The bluebells in the woods are a feature almost unequalled in any public park in the country.”

Hi John,

you could have contributed this to my thread about unusual war memorials if you'd known

are the bluebells out yet up your way? the woods round me have plenty, but I live a good bit further south.

cheers Martin B

[Borden Battery]

Here is one of the Stockport memorial websites. Borden Battery

More Than a Name – A Memorial to the Men of Stockport, Cheshire, England

This Great War memorial website contains the alphabetical listing of more than 2800 names of men (and one woman) who were associated with the Stockport region of England. These soldiers are cross-indexed with their regiment or unit, locality and some references may contain a short biography and/or details on the battle or event that lead to their death. In addition, the site also contains a growing list of general memorials and their inscriptions to the Missing in Combat. This project is intended to ensure that these men, who gave their lives in the service of their country nearly 100 years ago, are not forgotten. A John Hartley website. [CEF Study Group - May 2006]

www.stockport1914-1918.co.uk

[John_Hartley]

Martin - I thought about tacking it on that that thread but decided a park wasnt really unusual (at least not in comparision with somethe quirky posts you have there)

Dwight - thanks for the publicity.

John