Moor Park is one the oldest and Prestons largest Park
It boasts 8 football pitches, 4 bowling greens, tennis courts, cricket wickets and 2 childrens play areas.
There are available cricket and football pavilions.
Another feature is the Serpentine Lake, set against thriving woodland.
Next to the lake is the Summer House and it has a mural painted by the students of Moor Park High School as part of the Art in the Park Project.
A car park is available opp. PNE on Deepdale Road.
Another feature is the Observatory; we will talk about that later.
Moor Park was originally common land derived from the Forrest of Fulwood by the Charter of King Henry 3rd in 1235
Known as Preston Moor, the area has been the centre of many of the towns historical and memorable events.
In 1642, a meeting was held on the Moor, attended by 5,000 people or more to hear the reading of the Kings Commission of Array. A disagreement broke out between the KINGS SUPPORTERS and those who favoured the PARLIAMENTARY SIDE.
A precursor to the hostilities that broke out all over the country.
Between 1736 and 1833 (nearly 100 years), an annual horse race was held. It was started at a large stone which is still there today.
The municipal Park was one of the first in these new industrial towns and was created in 1833 by enclosing 100 acres of Preston Moor, renaming it Moor Park
The Park was landscaped by Edward Milner; he also was involved in the designs of Avenham, Miller and Grange Parks.
The work was carried out by the unemployed cotton workers at the height of the cotton famine.
The total cost, a little over 10,500 pounds.
The sporting facilities encouraged a cricket team to hire them in 1867. The team was Preston Nelson, better known as PNE. A move to Deepdale Farm across Deepdale Road, changing from cricket to rugby and football marked the start or the Towns historic football team.
In 1907 Moor Park opened the “Preston Open Air Baths” to relieve the pressure on Saul Street Baths during the summer, it closed in the 1970.
During the First World War the park became the site for a hospital for the war wounded. At its peak the hospital treated 1000 men or more a year and closed in 1919.
During the Second World War it was the site of a Prisoner of War Camp, it is believed no one ever escaped from there.
The Jeremiah Horrocks Observatory was built by Preston Council, just in time for the 1927 Total Eclipse of the Sun of which it was reported that 30,000 people or more came to see at the park.
It was named after Jeremiah Horrocks, he was the first guy to observe the transit of Venus across the sun.
He was from Liverpool but lived near Preston after he left Cambridge.
The telescope is an 8 inch Thomas Cooke Refractor obtained in 1912.
Recently, in 1997, Tom Benson became the new World Record Champion Distance Walker by walking around the park for a total of 314 miles, beating the previous record by 5 miles.
The drainage was improved on the football pitches in 2003 – 2004 and after a fire which destroyed the old pavilion a new one was built and the new facilities were opened by Sir Tom Finney in May 2005.
In May 2007 the park played host to Radio Ones Big Week End. Attended by over 35,000 people from around the country.
AND
In the future the area will host PrestonFMs 12 Weeks of Summer at Preston College, Moor Park Avenue.
I have some useful dates and contact details, so get a pen and some paper and I will tell you all you need to know after the next record……
As I mentioned, here are some useful contact details and some other information you may be interested in…
If you would like to take part in one of PrestonFMs Public Workshops you only need to call
01772 88 07 91
The available dates, all in September are
Wed 8th 12 – 2
Fri 10th 12 – 2
Sat 11th 2 – 4
Tue 14th 12 – 2
Wed 15th 2 – 4
And
Fri 17th 12 – 2
You are also welcome to pop along and have a look how we work, you could even get a guest spot.
The opening times will be
Mon – Thu 10am to 9pm
(long day)
Fri 10 am to 5 pm
Sat 10am to 4 pm.
After all of that we have a rest on Sunday and wash our socks so unfortunately we will be closed.
Please check our web site for any updates or alterations
www.preston.fm
12 Weeks of Summer Project is promoted by the Media Trust through the Community Voices Program.
For further details check PrestonFMs website
To become involved in the workings of Moor Park you can become a Friend of the Park
Call
01772 90 64 71
for more details.
If you are interested in the Observatory, it is owned and run by UCLAN.
Information can be found by calling
01772 89 31 67
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