The plans were discovered in the basement of the old Borough Engineers and Surveyors offices and are in perfect condition. Each plan is hand coloured and signed by designer Robert Marnock.
Alexandra Park is currently undergoing a £3.4m regeneration project to return it to its former glory as a Victorian pleasure park. As part of the project, a Conservation and Management plan had to be drawn up and approved by Heritage Lottery Fund who ensured that it was in keeping with how the park used to look.
Now the original plans have been discovered, some changes will have to be made to the new plans, such as soft landscaping, in consultation with Heritage Lottery Fund.
Digital photographs have been taken of the plans so that they can be reproduced. The originals will be preserved and stored at Hastings Museum. The reproduced plans will eventually be on display in the planned information point by the bowls green and in the café in Alexandra Park.
Councillor Trevor Webb, Cabinet Member responsible for Community Safety & Quality of Life, said:
"This was an exciting find - the plans are in excellent condition and mostly correspond with our plans to rejuvenate the park. None of the existing buildings are shown on the 1880 design but a bandstand was originally built just north of the boating lake."
Ponds
Thanks to the excellent weather during the Autumn, work in the park is progressing well. Silt, which has been removed from the pond is drying well on the middle lawn and the ponds are being re-shaped ready for planting and refilling.
Buildings
At the time of going to print, both the roof of the café and the tennis pavilion have been replaced. Internal repairs and decorations are well on course. Shutters to improve the security of the café have now been installed. Further improvements to be made to the café will include decking outside and full disabled access.
Park Security
A number of measures have been put in place to improve safety and security within the Park. They include; night-time security patrols; strengthened Ranger service based in the Park (based in the Tennis Pavilion, once completed early in the new year); there are proposals to set up "Park Watch" group; thinning of perimeter vegetation to improve visibility into the park and a range of anti-vandal measures recommended by Sussex Police - Crime Prevention Officer.
It will be vital to demonstrate the importance of protecting the refurbished park for future generations to enjoy.
Friends of the Park
The Friends are involved as a consultative group linked to the project team, influencing aspects of design. They will have the opportunity to do some hands on work and to help keep an eye on the Park in the future. It is hoped the group will strengthen and have a sustained management overview, in terms of the future of the Park and its role within the community. The Friends of Alexandra Park group are looking for associate members. If you are interested in the Park and would like to be involved in its regeneration, please contact the Membership Secretary - Stuart Farquhar on 437517.
Back to top of page...
< Broomgrove Power Station | Hastings Businesses: Save Money and Get Greener >
This page last updated: 14/04/2002