Avenham Miller Parks - Preston City Council

&
Avenham
Miller Parks
The Avenham Park Pavilion
Avenham Park from Ivy Bridge
Avenham Park Pavilion was completed in 2008 to a design
by talented architect Ian McChesney. This striking modern
building reflects the sweeping lines of the Park and the River
Ribble. The views of the Park and the river from the Pavilion
and its outside seating area are outstanding. The Pavilion,
which is the official start and finish of the Guild Wheel-a 21
mile cycle route around the City of Preston, provides a base
for the park manager and ranger and houses a café that is
open every day apart from Christmas Day. The fully licensed
café offers a wide variety of quality snacks, meals and ice
cream as well as a great selection of hot and cold drinks.
Rooms are available to hire for conferences, meetings, private
parties and wedding receptions. Avenham and Miller Parks are
licensed to host weddings and civil partnership ceremonies
so it’s now possible to tie the knot in a truly unique setting
surrounded by stunning Victorian English Heritage grade 2*
listed parkland.
To find out more about the Parks’ history, our events
programme, the Guild Wheel cycle route, the Friends
of Avenham and Miller Parks, Pavilion room hire and
weddings at Avenham and Miller Parks, please visit our
website or contact the Avenham and Miller Parks Manager:
Don Ingham
Parks & Horticultural Services
Preston City Council
Avenham Park Pavilion
Avenham
Preston
PR1 8JT
Preston’s premier parks have undergone an
amazing improvement programme as part of
a unique Heritage Lottery-Funded project that
has restored the well-loved, spectacular parks
to their Victorian splendour. Come and enjoy
the transformation and experience the magic
of Avenham and Miller Parks…
Tel: 01772 907737
Email: d.ingham@preston.gov.uk
Website: www.preston.gov.uk/parks
Green
Flag
Award
Photographs © and courtesy of Preston City Council, M. Dickinson,
T. Worrall and G. Lawson
Design & Print Centre, Preston City Council. GRA00467
Preston Guild Festival 2012
Outdoor Theatre in the Park
Jubilee Crown Display, Miller Park
JapaneseRock Garden
Welcome
Avenham and Miller Parks lie on the north bank
of the River Ribble immediately south of Preston
city centre, and rank amongst the finest examples
of traditional Victorian parkland in the country.
Linked through ornate railway arches both parks
are Grade II* listed on the English Heritage
Register of Historic Gardens and were designed
and created by the renowned landscape architect
Edward Milner during the 1860’s. At this time the
American civil war was raging and Preston and
other North West cotton towns were experiencing
a cotton famine due to a shortage of raw material
from America. The parks were built as public works
to keep cotton workers employed and prevent the
social and economic problems associated with high
unemployment. They contain unique art work,
ornaments and grottos and are a blissful retreat
from the hustle and bustle of modern living.
The Belvedere
Avenham and Miller Parks play host to a large number of outdoor
events throughout the year ranging from large scale music and
cultural events through to performances by theatre groups using
the Parks as their outdoor stage. The Parks were used as the venue
for the Preston Guild Festival in 2012, which attracted over half a
million visitors. Every Easter Monday since the mid 19th Century,
Avenham and Miller Parks have hosted the quirky and ever-popular
Preston tradition of egg-rolling-a fun day out for all the family.
A variety of top performers such as Katherine Jenkins, José
Carreras, Spice Girls, Oasis, Human League, Russell Watson,
and JLS have performed here and the Parks continue to stage
an exciting range of events to suit all ages and tastes. The
educational, heritage and health walks led by the Park Rangers
and other partner organisations regularly take place here. For
information on current events please view the Preston City Council
website, www.preston.gov.uk/parks, parks notice boards or request
a leaflet from the Parks manager or ranger the next time you visit
the Pavilion.
Avenham Park is created from a natural amphitheatre and contains
Avenham Walk dating back to 1697, the Belvedere, Swiss Chalet
and the Boer War Memorial. Later additions to the design of
the park include the Rock Garden (also known as the Japanese
Garden), which was constructed in the 1930’s.
Miller Park is more formal in appearance and contains an Italianate
terrace and a magnificent listed fountain together with the Earl of
Derby statue, grotto and ornate floral displays.
Following a successful Heritage Lottery Bid, (supported by the
funding from Northwest Regional Development Agency, the
Avencentral Regeneration Partnership, the European Regional
Development Fund, Preston City Council and Lancashire County
Council), Avenham and Miller Parks have benefited from a
substantial restoration. This project was launched in March 2006
with the demolition of the 1950’s bandstand.
The final phase of the restoration was completed in 2014. For
more information regarding the restoration project, Please
contact the Avenham and Miller Parks manager.
The aims of the project were to restore the park as closely
as possible to its original 19th century design. The extensive
improvement programme, which cost around £7m, included:
• Construction of the Pavilion in Avenham Park;
• Repair and restoration of the Parks’ historic buildings such as the Belvedere and Swiss Chalet;
• Improvements to the historic fountain in Miller Park including the installation of a wonderful display of lights;
• Restoration of historical features such as the grand balustrade and planting urns on the Miller Park steps;
• Replacement of diseased horse chestnut trees lining the riverside path with young elm specimens, improving the view of the river from the park. The restoration project has also enhanced the parks’ planting schemes with the introduction of over 100000 new plants, shrubs and trees;
• The restoration of the stunning Japanese Garden, including its waterfall and cascades, in Avenham Park;
• Improved vehicle controls and drainage;
• Resurfaced stone-edged paths;
• Better lighting and signage;
• Events to engage and inform local residents and visitors.
• Refurbished Pulhamite rockwork and restored water feature at the West Grotto in Miller Park.
Friends of Avenham and Miller Parks were formed in 2004.
They are a group that meet monthly and give the opportunity for
members of the public to be directly involved in decision-making
and activities that influence the maintenance and development of
the Parks.
Contact the Parks manager for details of the next meeting.
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for Park Users
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How To Get There
Avenham and Miller Parks are located in the heart of city centre just 400 metres from the railway station and a
short walk from Fishergate, Preston’s main shopping area.
If you are arriving by train, exit the front of the railway station, walk up the sloping station approach, turn right
onto Fishergate and walk into the city past the Fishergate Shopping Centre until you reach Chapel Street. Turn
right down Chapel Street and carry straight on via Winckley Square-a lovely Georgian feature of the city with its
attractive gardens surrounded by grand merchants’ residencies. Pass the Olive Press and Heathcote’s Brasserie
restaurant. The Ribblesdale Place entrance to Miller Park is about 50 metres straight ahead from here.
If you are driving to the Parks, follow the signs to Preston railway station, continue down Fishergate Hill past
County Hall and turn 7th left onto South Meadow Lane (PR1 8JP). Follow the lane to the end. A free car park is
available for the use of Park and Pavilion visitors on the left hand side, just 30 metres from the Riverside entrance
P2 nearby
P3
to Miller Park. Alternative parking is available at the Avenham multi-storey car park P1 , the
Fishergate
P1
P2 and
P3 Preston Bus Station Car
P1 Park
P2
P3 .
Shopping Centre
Cyclists are well catered for. The Guild Wheel, a 21 mile scenic cycle route around the edge of the city, passes
through the Parks along the riverside path. Sustrans national cycle routes 6 and 55 pass through the Parks,
creating links from Preston to Bamber Bridge, Chorley, Blackburn and up to Lancaster, Morecambe and the
Lake District. Avenham and Miller Parks also form part of the Ribble Way national trail.
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