The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-21 00:00:00

INAUGURATION OF THE VERNON
PARK AT STOCKPORT.

STOCKPORT, MONDAY.
To-day this borough has been the scene of great
rejoicings, in consequence of the inauguration of the
Vernon Park, which consists of 18 acres of undu-
lating grounds, skirted on the south-east and east
sides by the river Mersey. It was given to the
town by Lord Vernon in 1842, for the formation of
a park for the public.
The streets presented at an early hour in the
morning an activity which could not be mistaken
for a general holiday, everybody being dressed in
their Sunday attire.
The Mayor (Mr. W. Williamson) having some
time ago requested the various benefit societies in
the town to lend him their assistance in keeping
order on this occasion, they at once responced to his
call. The marketplace was the point selected for
forming a procession of these societies, &c., and
most of them were on the spot before 11 o'clock, not-
withstanding that the procession was not to begin
to move off before 12. The market-place, then, be-
ing the grand starting-point, it was the place to
which the great multitude made their way ; and
probably by half-past 11 o'clock, at which time a
troop of the Cheshire Yeomanry Cavalry, under the
command of Captain and Adjutant Hill, arrived,
there were upwards of 20,000 persons assembled
together. The market-place was, of course, gaily
decorated with flags, banners, &c., &c., and round
about miniature cannon were popping off in every
direction, to the great annoyance of both men and
horses. Precisely at 12, the two cannon, which
have been presented to the borough by the Minister
at War, and which were captured at Sebastopol,
were moved from where they had stood in the
market-place, under the escort of the cavalry. Each
of the guns was mounted with five pensioners be-
longing to the Royal Artillery, under the command
of Sergeant Miller, Then, in order, followed the
benefit societies, the fire-engines, and then the cor-
poration officials, the gentlemen of the borough,
councillors, and aldermen of the borough, the county
and borough magistrates and coroner, Mr. G. C.
Legh, M.P., and Mr. W. Egerton, M.P. for the
county, Mr. J. B. Smith and Mr. Kershaw, the
borough members, the Marquis of Westminster, the
Lord-Lieutenant of the county ; the Right Hon.
Lord de Tabley, Mr. F. Crossley, Mr. H. Vincent,
Sir R. Pendlebury, the mayor, town clerk, and the
park committee. From the market-place the proces-
sion moved down Park-street, along Warren-street,
Heaton-lane, and so down Newbridge-lane, to the
park, which is about a mile from the town, and where
the head of the procession arrived in 21 hours from the
time of starting. All along the line of route flags
and banners hung from the windows and roofs of
the houses; and across several of the principal
streets some tasteful triumphal arches were erected.
The streets were also crowded with people who
were making their way to the park. There was
an ox hung in the park weighing about 60 stones,
which was the gift of the mayor. It was cut up
and distributed to the poor.
The corporate authorities and the invited guests
on entering the park walked round the greater por-
tion of it, and by that means very much prolonged
the tedious proceedings. The mayor, &c., arrived
upon the platform about four o'clock. The Stockport
Choral Society then sung the Old 100th Psalm in
a very. effective manner, the vast multitude assem-
bled in the park (about from 10,000 to 15,000)
joining them. This being accomplished, the mayor
stood forward and delivered the address, and at the
conclusion of it pronounced the park opened, amid
great cheering. A signal flag was then hoisted, and
the two Russian guns on the mount in the park
fired a royal salute. The Choral Society now sung
the Hallelujah chorus, after which the united bands
played " God save the Queen."
The formalities in the park were thus concluded,
there being cheers for the Queen, Lord Vernon, the
Mayor of Stockport, &c., &c.
A dinner takes place this evening in the Town-
hall, over which his worship the mayor will preside.
The town is all excitement and bustle, and pro-
bably the number of persons in the streets and in
the park is about 50,000, there being many strangers
in the town.
The admission- into the park was by ticket—
before the opening, at 6d. after, at 3d.