Peel Park

Peel Park is a public park in Salford, Greater Manchester, England, and one of the oldest public parks in the United Kingdom. It opened on 22 August 1846 on the former Lark Hill estate, bought with money raised by public subscription. Today it is registered by Historic England at Grade II and forms a green setting beside the University of Salford and the city's museum.

How did Peel Park come about?

In the mid-19th century the fast-growing industrial towns of Manchester and Salford had little green space for their working populations. Residents raised funds to create parks, and Peel Park opened as the first of three Manchester and Salford parks, all inaugurated on the same day in 1846. Salford stresses that it was the first park in the UK to open officially and be paid for entirely by the people's subscription. The "first public park" title is contested, though: Derby Arboretum, given to Derby Town Council in 1840, is among the rival claimants.

The park is named after Sir Robert Peel, the prime minister and founder of modern policing.

What is there to see?

• Salford Museum and Art Gallery – housed in the old Lark Hill mansion. It opened in November 1850 as the Royal Museum and Public Library, with a free lending library. Today it tells the story of Salford and showcases Victorian art, including the reconstructed Victorian street Lark Hill Place and a Pilkington ceramics collection.
• Statues from the 1850s and 1860s – several were installed in the park, and the statue of Salford politician Joseph Brotherton is a listed structure.
• Flood obelisk – records the heights reached by the River Irwell in the floods of 1866 and 1876.
• Paths and riverside setting – the park lies beside the Irwell, making it a pleasant place for a walk.

The park, the university and Lowry

In 1896 the Royal Technical Institute opened in the park; it became the Royal Technical College and later the University of Salford. The painter L. S. Lowry, famous for his scenes of industrial northern England, studied there and painted the park several times. That link adds to the site's historic value.

Changes over time

The original Lark Hill mansion was demolished in 1936-37. Between 1954 and 1967 the park was extensively redeveloped and relandscaped. A 1.6 million pound refurbishment was completed and the park reopened in October 2017.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Peel Park? In Salford, Greater Manchester, next to the University of Salford campus and the River Irwell.

When did the park open? On 22 August 1846.

Is there a museum in the park? Yes, Salford Museum and Art Gallery, at The Crescent, M5 4WU. It is open Tuesday to Sunday.

Is the park protected? Yes, it is registered by Historic England at Grade II.

Who is it for? Anyone interested in the history of industrial cities, Victorian art or Lowry's work, and visitors who want a calm walk close to Manchester city centre.