A HERITAGE WALK AROUND QUEENS PARK, CREWEby Howard Curran July 1997

An 1882 map of the area shows farmlands straggling the River Waldron (Valley Brook) covering almost 11 fields, these fields consisting of nearly 50 acres of land would eventually be the nucleus of the Park. The river which meandered peacefully through these farmlands, would one day flow into a newly constructed lake.How fortunate that over forty years earlier that the railway company instead of building their line to Chester across these pastures, chose a more northerly route through Coppenhall Hayes. Otherwise these fields which are now Queens Park would have been lost in providing the Crewe to Chester line.However, because a different route was chosen, work was able to commence in 1882 on this "Victorian" Park, being designed by Francis William Webb and Edward Kemp. They enlisted the expertise of George Latimer, a forester by trade, who would become the first Park Curator (1888 - 1906). He experimented with his forestry knowledge by planting many different types of trees, which now add greatly to the charm and attraction of the Park. ; To enable this Park to be constructed, Webb had used his influence with the Chairman of the Railway Company (Sir Richard Moon) to acquire the necessary 50 acres of Company land and £10,000 to build the Park.