Alexandra Park

About

Alexandra Park is a wonderful park and we pride ourselves with the fact it has something for everyone.

The park lies within a valley and as such is long and linear. It starts flat and progressively goes up hill towards the north of the town.

It is Hastings' largest formal park at 44 hectares (109 acres) stretching for 2.5 miles through the heart of the town. It consists of the lower formal gardens and the more wild northern wooded areas.

Alexandra Park received its first Green Flag Award in 2005 and continues to retain this status.

Alexandra Park is famed for its arboretum (tree collection) as it has one of the best collections of trees in Britain. Many of the large and beautiful trees in the park are regarded as 'champions'. Find out more in our Tree Walk leaflet.

Within the park, there are some large bodies of water. In the Victorian times, these were used to supply fresh water to the growing population of Hastings and St Leonards.

Now course fishing is permitted just in Harmers Pond and Buckshole Reservoir, which is managed by the Hastings, Bexhill and District Freshwater Angling Association.
The other ponds are wildlife areas.

Facilities and Features

There is a lot of things to see and do at Alexandra Park. These facilities include:

• Cafe
• Sports (Tennis and Putting)
• Multi Use Games Area
• Rangers Office
• Playgrounds
• Pavilion
• Toilet
• Fishing
  
  There is also a number of great features that make the park such a lovely place to visit and explore, such as:
  
• Seats
• War Memorial
• Reservoirs
• Streams
• Bandstand
• Notice Boards
• Statues
• Pathways
• Miniature Railway
• Shelter

The park also has good disabled access.

Reservoirs

Hastings Borough Council carries out annual inspections of both Harmers Reservoir and Shornden Reservoir, with water levels being checked monthly. Both reservoirs are located within Alexandra Park.

Work has just been completed at Buckshole Reservoir, bringing it up to the latest Environment Agency safety standards.

There is a dedicated fishing area and designated car parking space for wheelchair users.

Licenses for fishing in the reservoirs is looked after by the Hastings, Bexhill and District Freshwater Angling Association.

All enquiries must be directed to them at: info@hastingsandbexhillangling.co.uk

Cycling

There are no cycle paths in Alexandra Park. Cycling is not permitted.

History

The park has a history that dates back to the 18th century. With the findings of fragments of pottery and possible charcoal kilns structures, this suggests an early medieval settlement in the area of Shornden.

By the end of the 18th century, Hastings was quickly developing as a significant south coast resort.

1849

Eversfield Waterworks Company was formed to supply water for the growing town's population. They leased land from the Eversfield Estate.

1852

By this year, the Shornden and Harmers Reservoirs had been built for the project to supply water.

As well as this, the construction of the Buckshole Reservoir had just started.

At the other end of the park, construction of the railway line from Hastings to Ashford had gone underway. A huge embankment formed the southern boundary to the park.

1877

Robert Marnock was one of the best horticulturalist and garden designer in the 19th century. The Council hired him to "provide the bulk of the trees and shrubs which are likely to be required for the public park". A limit of £250 was set.

1882

Alexandra park was officially opened on June 26 by the Prince and Princess of Wales (who was also known as Princess Alexandra).

This was led by a great procession which took place from the railway station to the park where the royal guests where greeted by Robert Marnock.

From here, two memorial trees (believed to be limes) were planted and an album of photographs were presented to Princess Alexandra by Robert Marnock.

The event attracted high interest to the media which included the presence of the London Illustrated News.

The Hastings and St Leonards Observer gave a highly positive report of the park, both concluding that Alexandra Park "will make one of the most picturesque and characteristic features of Hastings".