Grosvenor & Hilbert Park

Client: Tunbridge Wells Council

Landscape Architect: Allen Scott

Cost: £1.1 million

Duration: 11 months

Location: Tunbridge Wells

 

The Grosvenor Recreation Ground was Tunbridge Wells’ first public park. It was opened in 1889 on the site of the former Calverley Water Works, engineered by William Hilbert.

In 1931 William Hilbert’s grandson, Cllr E.J. Strange, bought the “Charity Farm” lands to the north east, and presented them to the council. He requested they be named Hilbert Recreation Grounds after his mother, Lydia. This land also includes the Hilbert Recreation Ground Allotments

Blakedown Landscapes’ remit was to restore parts of the park to their original historic condition as well as introduce new exciting features. The large project was constructed around a busy well-used park and initially had the building contractor refurbishing The Hub building at the same time.

 

The works:

  • New granite paving and walls around the newly refurbished café and Hub

  • New resin bound paving to the Hub and Rochdale entrance

  • Slot drainage and connections to several locations

  • Railings to the Hub and bowling green

  • Tree and shrub planting throughout the park

  • New compound with bespoke containers and fencing

  • New entrance created by refurbishing entrance piers and installing new gates in two locations

  • New street furniture

  • Clay bund created to create a wetlands, including timber boardwalk and viewing platforms. New concrete weirs and planting

  • Restoration and rebuilding of brick walls

  • Restoration of grottos and extended walls

  • New concrete re-enforced path

  • New natural stone steps

  • New park signage

  • Granite sett entrances

  • Tar and chip surfacing to existing paths

 

Further information:

The park opening was very well received with a large community fun day. The friends group who were very active during the whole process were thrilled with the new park.

The challenging scheme required careful planning to ensure the safety of the park users whilst being able to rebuild the park and some of the very busy access routes. The scheme was also delivered during a very wet winter which also made the environment very challenging especially given the many natural springs on site.

 
 
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