In 2010 Haslam Park celebrates 100 years since the process of its construction began. This well-loved park has played a significant part in many Ashtoners’ lives over the years, but few of the park’s users know who the park is named after and why this area of Preston was set aside for parkland almost a century ago.
The area now known as Haslam Park was once open grazing land. The area was donated to Preston by Mary Haslam. The park was named after her father, John Haslam, who owned a mill on nearby Parker Street, just a few streets away from the park.
As well as donating the land, Mary Halsam also gave money so that the grassland could be developed into a more formal space. The park was planned and built between 1910 and 1912.
Many of the park's features designed in those times can still be seen today. The impressive avenue of limes, with its gates at either end end, date back to the construction of the park, as does the water fountain and the cascade which is fed by the Lancaster Canal.
Other features of the Haslam park have been lost to time. There was once an open air swimming pool, which was built in 1932. The park also had an aviary for many years. Both features disappeared in the 1980s.
The park continues to develop. The building of Tom Benson Way in the 1980s cut a huge swathe from the park, but Ashtoners were compensated with the addition of more grassland to the northeast.
One of Mary Halsam’s main aims for the park still remains solidly in place today: there are still areas designed especially for children. Haslam park still has a large play area, although it has been moved around over the years. The park’s pond, replete with ducks and swans, is another very popular place for children and adults alike.
With two bowling greens, a basketball court and a car park, Halsam Park is an ideal place to spend the afternoon, especially thanks to the shops and cafes available on nearby Lane Ends.
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I love this web site, I grew up in Ashton in the 60's, and have lived in Australia since 1970, the park was a favorite place for me and my friends, I played in the playground and can remember getting a loaf of bread wrapper the waxed type to polish the slide (brass I think) so we could go as fast as possible.
I fished in the pond with a stick, catgut, hook and worm (very naughty I know) caught the perch and set them free, played on it when frozen over. damed the brook with rocks and sand (also very naughty). Went swimming in the pool, must have been crazy it was so cold, and went exploring everywhere, great great memories, and the canal don't get me started, fell in a couple of times.
It was the best place ever for me and my friends, the aviary had peacocks if I remember and were just behind the park keepers house, the son of the park keeper was at my school and if I remember had one arm smaller than the other, he was older than me so did not know him to talk to.
Having been away for so long these are great memories of a happy time had with friends at Haslam Park a great place. Stephen Hunter (I hope grammer and spelling are correct! if not too bad)
Haslam Park was also my 'big' back garden when I was a kid. I'll have to get out there and take some more photos some time...