Haslam Park

Haslam Park is a municipal park on the north-west side of Preston, Lancashire, in the Lane Ends area north of Ashton. It is one of the city's key green spaces, valued for its calm atmosphere and early twentieth-century heritage features.

How did Haslam Park come about?

Mary Haslam gave the land to the town in memory of her father, John Haslam, a cotton mill owner. Historic England states that the park opened in 1910, while some local sources give a formal opening in 1912. The design is credited to Thomas H. Mawson, a well-known landscape architect. Historic England notes that his full proposals largely stayed on paper, whereas local visitor material presents the finished park as an expression of his designs.

What is there to see?

At the entrance stand wrought iron gates dating from 1910, protected as Grade II listed. Nearby is the former keeper's house, Haslam Park Lodge. It has been empty and boarded up for more than two years, and Preston City Council says it is in discussions about reuse, with a local cricket club proposed as one option.

The park's lake receives overflow water from the Lancaster Canal's 1797 aqueduct. The grounds also include a rose garden, sensory gardens and the Haslam Park Nature Reserve.

What facilities does the park offer?

• a children's playground and a picnic area,
• car parking and public toilets,
• games and sports areas,
• accessible toilets in the bowls pavilion during the bowling season.

Since 2006 the park has won a Green Flag award every year, a recognition given to well-managed parks and green spaces.

What has disappeared?

The park once offered more attractions. An open-air swimming baths off Bristow Avenue opened in 1932 and closed in 1987, although one archive photo caption gives 1988. An aviary, presented by Councillor John Ward, opened in 1934. Local press such as the Lancashire Evening Post has published archive photographs of these features.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Haslam Park? In Preston, Lancashire, England, on the north-west side of the city near Lane Ends (approx. 53.774 N, 2.735 W).

Is there an entrance fee? It is a municipal park open to visitors. Check the Preston City Council website for current rules.

Is it suitable for families? Yes. There is a playground, a picnic area, sports areas and wide paths for walking.

Can I arrive by car? Yes, the park has car parking.

Is Haslam Park a heritage site? The 1910 gates are Grade II listed, and the park itself is recorded by Historic England.

Who is it for?

Haslam Park suits people who enjoy quiet walks, fans of garden history and families looking for green space in Preston. Combine a visit with a stroll by the lake, the rose and sensory gardens, and the nature reserve.