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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Photo-a-Day Archive
Photo-a-Day Archive

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

Mesnes Park


Mesnes Park
I take my hat off to the Gardeners. Wigan Park has been a delight to walk through this summer. Many thanks to all concerned for your hard work.

Photo: Dennis Seddon  (Sony DSC-WX500)
Views: 2,006

Comment by: PeterP on 29th September 2022 at 07:42

Note lack of litter bins on the main footpath?

Comment by: Kath H on 29th September 2022 at 07:49

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

Comment by: Helen of Troy on 29th September 2022 at 08:10

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 ?

Comment by: Shaun Devlin on 29th September 2022 at 08:18

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

Comment by: irene roberts on 29th September 2022 at 08:25

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.

Comment by: Wigan Mick on 29th September 2022 at 08:26

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.

Comment by: Veronica on 29th September 2022 at 08:28

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.

Comment by: Ticsmon on 29th September 2022 at 09:01

Note lack of litter on the main footpath.

Comment by: Bradshaws Girl on 29th September 2022 at 10:13

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

Comment by: Maureen on 29th September 2022 at 10:44

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.

Comment by: irene roberts on 29th September 2022 at 10:53

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.

Comment by: Veronica on 29th September 2022 at 11:47

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.

Comment by: Wigan Mick on 29th September 2022 at 13:09

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

Comment by: Broady on 29th September 2022 at 14:23

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

Comment by: PeterP on 29th September 2022 at 15:51

Veronica the gate house is used for weddings

Comment by: Veronica on 29th September 2022 at 16:54

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

Comment by: Jembo on 29th September 2022 at 19:08

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

Nice photo Dennis.

Comment by: irene roberts on 29th September 2022 at 19:10

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

Comment by: Bill F on 29th September 2022 at 20:45

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.

Comment by: Broady on 30th September 2022 at 00:13

Now I am confused!!!!

Comment by: irene roberts on 30th September 2022 at 09:54

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.

Comment by: Cyril on 30th September 2022 at 10:43

(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

Comment by: Cyril on 30th September 2022 at 11:17

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.

Comment by: irene robertsI on 30th September 2022 at 16:05

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.

Comment by: Broady on 1st October 2022 at 05:39

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.

Comment by: John Brown on 3rd October 2022 at 19:44

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

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