Table A Pittville Park Heritage Features:
The East Park
The East Park started life as the pleasure grounds for Joseph Pitt’s new housing development planned in the 1820s. Richard Ware (who lived and
traded from Wellington Square (1828)) laid out the original pleasure gardens in 1827.The layout of the estate, and the amount built before 1840
adheres closely to John Forbes’s(Pitt’s first architect) original plans for the Pittville Estate, as still seen today in the streets, gardens, Pump Room and
the mixture of terrace and villa buildings along Pittville Lawn, Clarence, Wellington and Evesham roads.
CBC bought the Pump Room and pleasure gardens in December 1890 (the estate was in considerable debt). During 1894 the council’s committee
notes renamed the Pittville Gardens and Marle Hill Annexe as “Pittville Park”. Visitors were granted free access to the pleasure gardens in 1954.
Date
1825-1830
Feature
Pump Room
1825/7
1826/7
1826
Lake
East and west
bridges
Promenade
1825/1827
Pleasure Gardens
On-going!
1833
Pittville Gates
1830
onwards
Leisure/sporting
activities
Brief description
This Grade 1 listed Georgian buildingwas designed by local architect John Forbes, inspired by the Temple of
Ilissus in Athens. The three statues-Hygieia, Aesculapius,Hippocrates were designed by Lucius Gahagen
in 1827. Post the Second World War, the council completed a major restoration project (1949-60). The
eroded statues were replaced by Patrick Conoly (for RL Boulton & Sons) in 1980.
Wyman’s Brook was damned to form Pittville Lake, also known as Upper Lake or East Lake.
The bridges were built during the period Richard Ware laid out the walks, rides and planting of the pleasure
gardens. Several mains sewers were also created.
As early as 1824, it was known that a promenade up to the Pump Room, would be “thrown open” from the
Winchcombe turnpike gate, which was the site selected for the “grand entrance” namely Pittville Gates. A
later Pittville estate plan of 1826 shows a gravelled path bordered by flowerbeds between the Pump Room
and the lake, this was named The Promenade. This pathway was grassed over after the council purchased
the grounds in 1890.
Richard Ware laid out the walks, rides and planting for the” pleasure gardens”. Some of the trees currently
seen in the park probably formed part of the original planting in 1827, namely the Cedar of Lebanon, and
several Yews, refer to tree walk leaflets. Other species, are suspected to have been planted as part of the
original plans due to their size and estimated age, however there is no written proof. Two notable species
are the Weeping Silver Lime (Tilia tomentosa ‘Petiolaris’) which is recorded on the UK Champion Tree
Register and the Pencil Cedar (Juniperus virginiana), which is officially the largest of its kind in the UK.
The vista from the Pump Room down to the lake has been restored, and plans have been identified to
improve the view of the lake and surrounding area. The Friends of Pittville (FOP) in combination with CBC
are maintaining the various tree species, lifting canopies; clearing seedlings; pruning etc.
The “Grand Entrance”, was designed by architect Robert Stokes. The overthrow was added in 1897 to
commemorate a visit by the Prince of Wales to review the troops based near the racecourse. The
Cheltenham Ladies Society for the Protection of Animals installed a water trough in 1883, plus several
others around Cheltenham. After various piecemeal attempted repairs the gates were in a sorry state until
FoP started to raise funds for a major restoration project which commenced in November 2012.
The Pump Room was planned to be the main social focus of the town. Subscribers paid to access the
waters and pleasure grounds. During “the season” a band played from the gallery. Several events were held
1890
onwards
Leisure/sporting
activities
Pre 1891
Rockeries
1895
1900
Fools Gate
Bandstand
1903
Central Cross Cafe
Pre 1936
Aviaries &
playground
1942
Air Raid Precaution
Control & Report
Centre.
each year to mark various occasions, such as the Monarch’s birthday or the first race day. These events
were celebrated with public breakfasts, balls, evening fetes, concerts and firework displays. From the 1840s
onwards the use of the lake became more prominent, being used for fishing, boating and ice skating. There
were archery displays and classes; cricket games; visiting circuses, including an elephant swimming in the
lake, major acrobatic displays such as Madame Rosini who descended a rope among fireworks and
coloured lights!
In 1835 Pittville Horticultural Association was formed and held several exhibitions throughout the years until
1840, when it combined with the Cheltenham Horticultural and Floral Society and continued to hold regular
shows.
The lake continued to be used for boating, fishing, and ice skating. Bands continued to play several times
through the summer weeks and various public and private events were held within the Pump Room. Pictorial
evidence shows mixed tennis being played within the gardens pre 1914. There were Bank Holiday fetes,
horticultural displays and the Ladies Kennel shows. Today, the Pump Room is available to hire for public
&and private events, including wedding ceremonies and concerts. The local Cheltenham Horticultural
Society still holds its seasonal events in the Pump Room, and CBC organises the annual “Paws in the Park”
event.
The rockeries were not part of the original landscaping around the lake. The 1838 edition of Griffiths history
records “…green turf gently slopes down to the neat gravelled path….” which surrounds the lake. They
were built sometime between 1855 and 1891, which was when they were first recorded in the council
committee minutes. This is consistent with the late Victorian craze for rockeries.
Old entrance gates at Montpellier Park moved to Pittville.
This circular bandstand was originally built in front of the Pump Room, but was moved to its current position
in 1901. The Cheltenham branch of the Royal Air Force Association financed the restoration of the
bandstand (1994-5). A similar rectangular bandstand was built opposite the boathouse in West Park, until it
was removed in 1958.
The council erected a refreshment and entrance chalet, designed by Joseph Hall. Visitors were required to
pay for entrance to the park until 1954. Historical admission rates provide evidence of various activities held
within the park, including ice skating and boating. The railings and hedge alongside the chalet were
removed in 1954, when free admission was initiated. The Central Cross Cafe is situated beside the site of
Essex Lodge which was built in 1827 as an alternative site “to enable the taking of the waters”. The Central
Cross Café also has a “water tap” which is behind the ice cream counter.
This piece of land was not included in Pitt’s original estate plan; the council acquired the land in 1892.
Pump Room lessee Edward Shenton’s inventory of 1890 included “aviaries and animal houses” although we
are unaware of where these where sited. The first found written recording of the aviaries and children’s
playground at this site was in the 1936 council committee notes. During 1993 Gulf Oil paid for the new
aviaries as a result of a local group (Save Our Birds and Bunnies) wishing to preserve the presence of
animals in the park.
The “hut” was built as an Air Raid Precaution Control and Report Centre during the Second World War.
Post war the building had several occupants, until the All Saints scouts took it over in 1982.
The West Park; formerlly known as Marle Hill Annexe.
The West Park was not included in Joseph Pitt’s original Pittville estate.This area has gone through many changes of ownership and several different
uses including a brickworks, an allotment site and town rubbish dump.In the 18th century this was an area of marsh land, common land, and open
field agriculture. Under the 1806 Enclosure Act, Francis Welles was awarded the largest portion of land and went on to build Marle Hill House
(between 1806-10) on the hill above the mill pond. CBC bought the property in 1929 and later demolished it during the 1960s to provide land for the
properties currently seen.
Date
Pre 1806
Feature
Remains of the cornmill
Pre 1806
Marle Hill Lane
1888
Agg-Gardner recreation ground and
Caretaker Lodge.
Pre-1892
Lake
1892
Underpass
Brief description
Evidence of an early corn mill remains near the top of the waterfall at the western end of
the lake. The corn mill can be found on maps that pre-date Marle Hill House, which was
built after the 1806 Enclosure Act. It was demolished in the 1960s.
This lane from Cheltenham High Street provided access to the agricultural land strips, the
corn mill, common land and a way over the waterway and up the bank. Maps depicting
Marle Hill House built on the top of the hill, shows the lane continuing up and around
behindthe property and across left towardswhere the Folly Brickworks were established.
A new hedge has been planted to define the lane which leads to the 2012 metal
Community Bridge and up through the remaining tree lined walk to where Marle Hill house
was situated.
James Tynte Agg-Gardner funded the purchase of the recreation ground for the
Cheltenham Corporation in 1888. A commemorative plaque can be found on the
caretaker’s lodge, built in 1888, on the south edge of the grounds. The Cheltenham Town
Football Club, founded in 1887, played on these grounds. Much of the surrounding area, at
the time, was described as “prettily wooded with Beech, Elms and Willow, with fine views of
Marle Hill House”. In 1888 a public shelter was built which included a WC and temporary
bandstand. This was replaced by the current building in 1979. Children’s swings were
provided when the grounds were originally opened, and later a paddling pool was built in
1937, this was turfed over in 1955. In 1954 a children’s play area was developed and
remains today. The original 1888 recreation grounds were fenced in, hence the need for a
caretakers lodge, and only became absorbed into West Park in 1977. The caretaker’s
lodge was transferred to CBC housing stock in 1987.
When Robert Capper bought Marle Hill House he extended the millpond which became
known as Capper’s fish pond.
In 1892 CBC accepted a tender to build a pedestrian tunnel lined with glazed tiles, under
the Evesham Road. In 1905 a turnstile was installed at the west end of the underpass to
prevent free access into Pittville Gardens. As the volume of road traffic increased the
tunnel surfaces were concreted to reinforce the structure, although the glazed tiles
surrounding the entrance still mark the original width of the underpass.
1894
Boathouse
1953
Leisure/Sporting activities
2012
The Community Bridge
2014
Landscape
Maps of 1855-7 show the presence of a boathouse in the gardens. In 1894 the council
extended the lake eastwards, and Joseph Hall, the Borough Council surveyor, designed
the replacement boathouse. During 1934 the children’s boating lake was developed and
the low fence was erected. The boathouse today is still in use for the hire of boats, the
tennis courts and refreshments.
In 1946, major plans were made by the council to develop the West Park into the “Pittville
Sports Area”. This resulted in six tennis courts being built, three of which have since been
turned into a skateboard park. A nine hole golf coursewas laid out which was extended
during the sixties to the west of Tommy Taylors Lane covering the filled Folly Lane rubbish
tip.Currently, the golf course is again a nine hole course and the area west of Tommy
Taylors lane has been planted with trees to provide an area for cycl-cross events.
There has been a bridge at this site since 1810, when the lake was extended eastwards
and in 1894 a larger bamboo bridge was built. The galvanised metal Community Bridge is
decorated with sculptures based on drawings by local school children and interpreted by
metal artist Christopher Lisney. This structure replaces several earlier wooden bridges.
The established planting contains remnants of its previous uses, including a private garden
and recreational ground. As differing pieces of land were brought together, and others sold
on or developed, their designated uses and planting changed. Currently, FOP and CBC are
working to reopen the vistas towards the boathouse, maintain the growth of the new hedge
defining Marle Hill Lane and introduce native flowers. There is a small population of
primroses; cowslips and forget-me-nots. CBC planted swathes of wild meadow flowers
along Evesham Road and Tommy Taylors Lane, which has delighted the local residents
and bees alike.
For further detailed information, please refer to:
Pittville 1824-1860 by Steven Blake; Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museums 1988
Pittville Pump Room by Steven Blake; Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museums 2000
Pittville Gates by James Hodsdon; FoP 2011
Pittville Park & Estate The East Side/The West Side leaflets; FoP funded by CBC 2011
Pittville Lawn Self guided tree walk leaflets (2No.) CBC
Pittville Park Conservation Plan 2008; Landscape Agency