Exhibition Park, Newcastle

Exhibition Park's entrance

The Exhibition Park is a short walk from Newcastle City Centre.

History

The 1870 Town Moor Improvement Act determined that 2 x 35acres of land to be developed for recreation one would become Leazes Park and one at the Town Moor. The original location of the park was to be the Bull Park where the City’s bull was penned for stud. The site was the wedge of land at the corner of Claremont Road and the Great North Road. Later this land became the Hancock Museum. The committee realised that the Bull Park was too small for the Exhibition and requested Town moor recreation ground. This is where the current park is now. The Royal Jubilee Exhibition was duly held in 1887 and proved a tremendous success and attracted 2,000,000 visitors.

The name Exhibition Park was first used during the Jubilee Exhibition of 1887 but the old name of Bull Park remained for some time. The only remaining item from the 1887 Exhibition is the bandstand.

The North East Coast Exhibition

This exhibition was held at the Exhibition Park from May to October 1929 and was opened by HRH the Prince of Wales on 14 May 1929. It was a symbol of pride and industrial success of the region and at the same time an advertisement for local industry and commerce. The disused military museum is the only building still remaining in the park today from this exhibition.

• During 24 weeks operation a total of 4,373,138 people attended.
• Gold watches were given to each one-millionth visitor.
• Only seven criminal offences recorded (six drunken offences and 1 pick pocketing)
• It closed on 26 October 1929 with a massive fire works display.

Tyneside Summer Exhibition

This event began to be held by the city council in the 1960s, and attempted to capture many of the elements of the earlier exhibitions, however, it was last held in 1987 when a £60,000 loss was recorded.

Exhibition Park today

Facilities

• There are two croquet lawns, two tennis courts and one basketball court.
• There is a fenced playground with safety surface containing swings, slides, climbing frames, spring toys and seating.
• A disused boating lake.
• A disused crazy golf course.
• A park café (rarely open, and during spring and summer months only).
• A skatepark has been developed at the main entrance to Exhibition Park.

Events in the Park

There is the annual MELA held on the August bank holiday weekend, which is a celebration of Asian cuisine, music and art.

Transport links

The nearest Metro and bus stations are at the Haymarket and a taxi rank is located at Park Terrace near The Park entrance.

Bibliography

• Baglee, Christopher. The North-East Coast Exhibition, 1929. Frank Graham, 1979, ISBN 0859831752

External links

• http://www.exhibitionpark.co.uk/
• Exhibition Park www.newcastle.gov.uk
• Photos Timmonet Newcastle Archive
• Military Vehicle Museum / Palace of Arts Google Earth 3D model