Victoria park named after Queen Victoria is the oldest park in Salisbury and has seen much change. Mr Frederick Griffin (once mayor of Salisbury) is the one behind the construction of Victoria park, his timber merchant business was where the Playhouse is now; Griffin Court here is named after him. He also planted the Lime trees in the market square, the one’s the council wanted to cut down! His portrait can be seen in the guildhall.
When work began on the park in 1887, it was a different world. Vehicle’s were still being pulled by horses and only dirt roads existed instead of the tarmacked one’s we see today.
There was a bandstand in Victoria park and you can imagine lots of people coming out on sunny Sunday afternoons to hear the various bands play, all that is sadly gone now. The bandstand was burned down in the 1970’s, and has now been replaced by a flower bed. I can just about remember its structure when I used to go for walks with my parents.
When work began on the park in 1887, it was a different world. Vehicle’s were still being pulled by horses and only dirt roads existed instead of the tarmacked one’s we see today.
There was a bandstand in Victoria park and you can imagine lots of people coming out on sunny Sunday afternoons to hear the various bands play, all that is sadly gone now. The bandstand was burned down in the 1970’s, and has now been replaced by a flower bed. I can just about remember its structure when I used to go for walks with my parents.
A lot of well off people lived in the buildings on Victoria Road that face Victoria park, a lot of these buildings have now been turned into residential or care homes, but some are private houses; Victoria road was one of the wealthier parts of Salisbury to be if you had the money. Once the backs of these houses would have faced open countryside.
Tennis and bowls are played here, but I’m not sure how long that’s going to last seeing as theirs tennis courts now up by Serum St Paul’s school.
The hospital fate used to be held here which was really good, sadly that’s gone into history now. I remember one year in the centre arena where the football pitch used to be (before they moved) they had a camel sat on the ground with a baby. My grandmother wanted to see that, I remember waving goodbye to her at the gate as she walked back to her house; it was the last time I would see her alive. The fate was on a Saturday or Sunday, and she crossed over on the Monday.
The hospital fate used to be held here which was really good, sadly that’s gone into history now. I remember one year in the centre arena where the football pitch used to be (before they moved) they had a camel sat on the ground with a baby. My grandmother wanted to see that, I remember waving goodbye to her at the gate as she walked back to her house; it was the last time I would see her alive. The fate was on a Saturday or Sunday, and she crossed over on the Monday.
I also remember being stuck in a marquee as it was throwing it down with rain. The soft drinks in plastic containers were a novelty, orange flavour is the one that sticks out like the straw I sucked it through. Firework displays were held here but because of health and safety, even that stopped. There is a statue next to the play park, this is Sydney Herbert who was part of the Pembroke family. He used to be in Salisbury market square before he was moved.
Victoria park is not the bustling place it used to be, there are squirrels hiding in the tree's, but if you listen hard enough you might be able to hear a snippet of it's past.
Victoria park is not the bustling place it used to be, there are squirrels hiding in the tree's, but if you listen hard enough you might be able to hear a snippet of it's past.