The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-11-05 00:00:00

THE PARK.

This (which was originated by Mr. W. Jackson) is
rapidly approaching to completion for planting. It lies to
the north westward of the principal, or already built, part
of the town, on rather low and sheltered ground, and com-
prises about 190 acres, within a wide and curving car-
riage-road—as marked in the plan. Near the margin,
60 acres are appropriated to building detached villas and
terraces, with lawns and pleasure grounds, leaving about
120 acres for the use of the public for ever. The sites of
two extensive lakes have already been excavated within this
space, and the waste (the fine soil being retained for the
surface) thrown up into innumerable mounds or bills of
every variety of height and shape, giving a pleasing undu-
lation and diversity to the whole, which when it is
covered by shrubberies, grass-plots, flowers, &c., will ren-
der it at once beautiful, diversified, and romantic. The
whole is laid out in serpentine walks, which will afford
fine views of the lakes, the internal lawns, and surround-
ing scenery. The villas and terraces will all be built to
elevations approved of by the Commissioners, and by fix-
ing the rental value at a high standard the greatest re-
spectability will be secured. The arrangements are such
as will make it appear that the whole 190 acres are in-
cluded in the Park. The owners of the houses are re-
quired to set them 20 yards back from the enclosing road,
on each side; and that road being 20 yards wide, it
follows that the space between the houses, across the
road, will be 60 yards. By the judicious management of
the commissioners this land was purchased at a price which
enables them to make the roads, drains, &c., ready for
the buildings, from the money they will receive for the
sale of the building land, and leave 120 acres free to the
public for ever. As the township owns the fe,ry, and
thousands from Liverpool will resort to the Park when it
is completed, the speculation (if it may be so called) can-
not fail to be profitable. We exceedingly regret that our
own Corporation did not in earlier times purchase land for
a similar purpose while it could be had at a reasonable
price. The whole of the. immense area under notice will
be so planted as to represent one park. The two lakes
(which are of great extent and varied forms) will be ren-

dered more interesting by rustic and other bridges. There
is also a smaller lake on the south side of the Park. The
act for the formation of the Park came into operation on
the Ist September, 1843, and the Commissioners employed
Mr. Paxton, the celebrated landscape gardener to the Duke
of Devonshire, to lay out the whole in the best manner
the locality would admit of. In November last year the
lakes were excavated and the roads partially formed.
ext summer (less than two years) the whole will be com-
pleted—the roads and walks made, the grass laid down
and the shrubs &c. planted—an achievement, considering
the nature and extent of the ground, worthy of record.
No fewer than 900 men have been recen►ly at work upon
it, and as the construction of the new docks will (as we
may say of those on this side) be pursued with equal
vigour, we may anticipate still more rapid improvements
than we have yet noticed on the other side of the water.
We should add that there will be six fine lodges, or
gate-houses, in the Park. One of these, a fine classical
stone building, is already roofed in, and others are in pro-
gress of erection. In fine this extensive park will be a
perpetual ornament to the town and neighbourhood, and
a delightful resort for health and recreation, its extent and
varied walks and views being so great that it will require
almost a whole day (when completed) thoroughly to see
and appreciate all its beauties ; and the diversity of hill
and dale, wood and water, which it will combine. To the
westwai d of it, and partly enclosed within it, are already
well-grown plantations of fir, &c., which will be romanti-
cally intersected with labyrinthine walks, and the excel-
lent drainage and fine soil thrown on the whole surface
will ensure, together with its sheltered position, a con-
stant flush of verdure from evergreens, &c., even during
the winter. We confess we almost envy the Birkenhead
people of this splendid pleasure ground ; but the edge of our
jealousy is considerably dulled by the reflection that it will
be liberally thrown open for the gratification of the whole
well-behaved world. A short distance from its further
extremity, to the west, rises Flaybrick-hill, near Bidston-
bill, of nearly equal altitude, and now the township
quarry. This will speedily be formed into the public