Photo-a-Day  (Thursday, 29th September, 2022)

Note lack of litter bins on the main footpath?

Couldn’t agree more. It really is lovely. We walk to it regularly.

That really does look nice, not many formal parks these days . If Wigan Council can do this so well why they rubbish at other things ?

I agree, thanks to all involved in keeping this wonderful place maintained.

Good point, Helen. Let's hope they leave it alone. It hasn't changed much since my childhood and is a beautiful place to stroll in or just sit and watch others enjoying it. I love to see small children still being lifted up to rub Sir Francis Sharp-Powell's shoe for luck. That's a lovely view of the park, Dennis.

Its not the Gardeners that you should taking your hat to, The park looks like it does because of the planners team at Wigan Council.
No litter bins because of terrorist who having a history of blowing them up, just as people are walking past.

It does look rather lush with the grass and trees saying there’s not been much rain either. The flower beds are eye catching lovely colours. I’m tempted to go for a walk in there and visit the cafe whilst the weather is mild. There’s not much point in strolling round Wigan centre these days.
It’s a lovely fresh view of the park . Wigan Park is one of the best there is.

Note lack of litter on the main footpath.

No litter bins but ...... no litter either!

It is a beautiful park and Dennis has got all the beautiful shades of green in this shot..I have so many memories of this park..including going every day of the School holidays with the children,sitting on the grass while they went on the swings or slide..I really looked forward to School holidays knowing that it was off to Mesnes park.

There is at least one litter bin in the park near the Bridgeman Terrace entrance as I use it regularly, and I have a feeling there is one by the cafe and one in the rose garden, but I am happy to stand corrected if I am wrong on those last two. I think we SHOULD take off our hats the gardeners as they are constantly planting, watering, mowing, clipping hedges and cleaning. The planners may sit in an office doing the planning but it is the gardeners do the manual work.

Just wondering is the gate house lived in these days. If so is it a private house? I seem to remember work was being done on it some while back.

https://youtu.be/WVxhQf953d8
Ive just watched this excellent video of Mesnes Park and I counted 9, but there will be more than that because I didn't go all the way round

Is the small garden with the sun dial still there? It was at the Parsons Walk side in the 60’s.

Veronica the gate house is used for weddings

How nice Peter P a lovely setting for the photographs. Better than letting the building rot away.

Broady - yes. It's called Padgett's Rose Garden.

Nice photo Dennis.

Broady, yes, it's still there in the rose garden, near Parsons Walk. xx

Broady I am led to believe that the actual sun dial was stolen,it being metal and considered of great value by local thieves.
It was replaced and Ian McKellen performed the reinstatement ceremony,and then the dial was removed by the council for safekeeping.
The stonework is still in situ.

Now I am confused!!!!

Broady, the stone plinth which held the sundial is still there but the original metal dial, which was atop the stone plinth, was stolen, many years ago, probably to be weighed in for scrap. When the rose garden was given a makeover some years ago, the actor Ian McKellen, who had lived on Parson's Walk as a child, performed the opening ceremony, and a new metal sundial was placed temporarily on top of the stone plinth purely for the opening ceremony and the press photographs. It was then removed as it would more than likely have been taken for scrap also.

(Bill this may make it clearer if a bit muddy) In 2003: Sir Ian McKellen opens the Rose Garden, restored with a FoMP grant and help from the Trefoil Guild.

Above copied from the Friends of Mesnes Park (FoMP) website.
https://www.friendsofmesnespark.co.uk/the-friends.html

Photo by Oy of the of the sundial in the rose garden, the original weathered brass dial that was on top of the plinth as stated by Bill F was stolen.
https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/photoaday.php?photo=2006-10-13

Well done Irene, you worded it a lot clearer as I did - though I said it was a tad muddy. As I remember it the original brass dial was a nice green Verdigris colour. It may have been sold at a flea market too as the thieves could have got more than scrap value, but you never know it was probably just a lump of brass to them to get the price of a pint.

Cyril, it's not long ago that an absolutely ancient and priceless bell was stolen from All Saint's Church in Hindley and sold to a scrap dealer, probably for money for a pint, as you say. The scrap dealer who took it from the thieves, on seeing the appeal for its return, had the decency to return it and I believe he also gave a donation to the church. I don't blame anyone for taking aluminium cans or bits of brass they have left over from an old bathroom suite etc into a scrap dealer to make a few bob, but to take an ancient bell from a church, or lead from its roof, is disgusting.

Thank you everyone for clearing up my query. I used to sit there when I went to WGS as it backed on to the park.

Nice picture. I've not been in the park for years - might go now.