Cuerden Valley Park
{{Short description|Park in Cuerden, Lancashire, England}}
{{Infobox park
| image = Cuerden Valley Park Logo.png
| nearest_town = Leyland
| coordinates = {{coord|53.6953|-2.6517}}
| area = {{convert|650|acre|km2}}
| operator = Cuerden Valley Park Trust
| status = Open
| website = {{URL|https://cuerdenvalleypark.org}}
}}File:Cuerden Valley Park Lake - geograph.org.uk - 1298226.jpgCuerden Valley Park is a park and green space located in Cuerden, England. The park is {{Convert|650|acre|km2}} in size.
Background
The park is located in Cuerden, England, and is adjacent to Preston, Clayton-le-Woods, and Whittle-le-Woods. The M65 runs through the northernmost section of the park.{{Cite web |title=Cuerden Valley Country Park |url=https://www.landscapebritain.co.uk/location/cuerden-valley-country-park/ |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=www.landscapebritain.co.uk}}
History
= 1100s – 1800s =
The earliest records of the park exists from 1199 that shows the lands were held by the Molineaux family approximately around the time of the Norman Conquest. The Manor of Cuerden passed to Roger Banastre in the 13th century.{{Cite web |title=Facts and Statistics About the Park – Cuerden Valley Park |url=https://cuerdenvalleypark.org/the-park/facts-and-statistics-about-the-park/#:~:text=The%20park%20itself%20having%20a,original%20roman%20road%20on%20site. |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240608065849/https://cuerdenvalleypark.org/the-park/facts-and-statistics-about-the-park/ |archive-date=2024-06-08 |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=cuerdenvalleypark.org |language=en-GB}}
A manor house, Cuerden Hall, is located adjacent to the park. It is a country house that was constructed in 1717, and extended between 1816 and 1819 by Lewis Wyatt. During the Industrial Revolution, two cotton mills were built by the river by William Clayton and William Eccles, which employed over 700 people in 1848.{{citation |last=Lewis |first=Samuel |title=Cuerden |work=A Topographical Dictionary of England |pages=746–751 |year=1848 |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=50910 |publisher=British History Online |accessdate=2011-04-30}} The hall was previously a Sue Ryder Care Home from 1985 - 2020.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-25 |title=Mystery surrounds huge secret chamber discovered hidden underground at Cuerden Hall |url=https://www.lep.co.uk/news/secret-tunnel-found-hidden-beneath-grounds-of-cuerden-hall-4840737 |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Lancashire Evening Post |language=en}} It is currently owned by Manchester businessman Colin Shenton and is being restored.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-06 |title=A once-in-a-hundred-year restoration of a magnificent 18th century manor house |url=https://www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/magazines/lancashire/24597609.story-rebirth-grade-ii-listed-cuerden-hall/ |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Great British Life |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2020-11-02 |title=Millionaire buys 179-room Cuerden Hall and plans to restore it as a "magnificent family home" |url=https://www.lep.co.uk/business/millionaire-buys-179-room-cuerden-hall-and-plans-to-restore-it-as-a-magnificent-family-home-3022433 |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Lancashire Evening Post |language=en}}
An old cotton mill, named Lower Kem Mill is located in the park next to the Whittle-le-Woods entrance by the old Cheeky Monkey's play centre. It was owned by Edward Leece until 1856 when he declared bankruptcy, and sold it to Henry Ward.{{Cite web |title=The Cotton Industry in Whittle-le-Woods |url=https://chorleysouthribblehistory.blogspot.com/2017/08/the-cotton-industry-in-whittle-le-woods.html |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=The Cotton Industry in Whittle-le-Woods}}
= 1900s =
In 1910, Lower Kem Mill's then-owner Joseph Cunliffe tried to sell the mill but was unable to, and it was destroyed in a fire in 1914.
In 1977, the Central Lancashire Development Corporation gained control of Cuerden Hall and the surrounding parkland from the Ministry of Defence and began constructing offices and car parks that are still used by the park's operators today.{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.cuerdenhall.com/history |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Cuerden Hall |language=en}}
In 1986, the charity Cuerden Valley Park Trust was formed.{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=Business Plan 2023 - 2028 |url=https://cuerdenvalleypark.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Cuerden-Valley-Park-Business-plan.pdf |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Cuerden Valley Park Trust}} They later received ownership of the park in 1992 and continue to own and operate it.{{Cite web |date=2019-04-11 |title=Weekend walk: Cuerden Valley Park |url=https://www.lep.co.uk/whats-on/things-to-do/weekend-walk-cuerden-valley-park-668216 |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Lancashire Evening Post |language=en}}
= 2000s – 2020s =
File:Cuerden Valley Park - geograph.org.uk - 3332471.jpg]]
File:The Barn, visitor centre, Berkeley Drive - geograph.org.uk - 1385112.jpg
In 2017, high levels of pollution in around {{Convert|6|mi|km}} of the River Lostock which runs through the park killed a number of fish in the park.{{Cite news |date=2017-08-24 |title=River pollution kills fish at Preston's Cuerden Valley Park |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-41042751 |access-date=2025-02-21 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2017-08-25 |title=Dog owners warned after river polluted in Cuerden Valley Park |url=https://www.lep.co.uk/news/dog-owners-warned-after-river-polluted-in-cuerden-valley-park-1086137 |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Lancashire Evening Post |language=en}} The park warned visitors to keep themselves and their pets out of the river.{{Cite web |date=2017-08-25 |title=Pollution warning at Cuerden Valley Park river |url=https://www.blogpreston.co.uk/2017/08/pollution-warning-at-cuerden-valley-park-river/ |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Blog Preston |language=en-en}} The river was polluted again in 2019{{Cite web |date=2019-07-25 |title=River Lostock oil pollution alert raised by walkers |url=https://www.lep.co.uk/news/river-lostock-oil-pollution-alert-raised-by-walkers-665003 |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Lancashire Evening Post |language=en}} and 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-10 |title=Investigation launched after river contaminated with 'smelly substance' |url=https://www.lep.co.uk/news/people/investigation-launched-after-river-contaminated-with-smelly-substance-4213825 |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Lancashire Evening Post |language=en}}
The park opened a new Visitor Centre and Café which opened in June 2018. The building has large glass windows overlooking the valley. On 27 September 2021, the Café reopened on October 16{{Cite web |date=2021-10-15 |title=Cuerden Valley Park visitor centre and cafe to reopen after arson attack |url=https://www.blogpreston.co.uk/2021/10/cuerden-valley-park-visitor-centre-and-cafe-to-reopen-after-arson-attack/ |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Blog Preston |language=en-en}} but was temporarily relocated in 2022 to fully repair the damage. It was estimated that the attack cost £250,000 in damages.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-07 |title=Cuerden Valley Park cafe to close for months-long repairs after arson attack caused £250k in damages |url=https://www.lep.co.uk/business/consumer/cuerden-valley-park-cafe-to-close-for-months-long-repairs-after-arson-attack-caused-ps250k-in-damages-3644928 |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Lancashire Evening Post |language=en}} A 38 year-old man was arrested under suspicion of criminal damage.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-28 |title=Leyland man arrested after cafe fire at Cuerden Valley Park |url=https://www.lep.co.uk/news/crime/leyland-man-arrested-after-cafe-fire-at-cuerden-valley-park-3399171 |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Lancashire Evening Post |language=en}}
In 2021, the park revoked permission for Parkrun to operate events on its land due to rising costs. The trust stated that "It is not equitable post-Covid 19 that a national organisation which attracts sponsorship deals with companies like Persil and Vitality, continues to use the Park for free 52 times a year, while the Trust faces huge financial struggles after 12 months of lockdown".{{Cite web |date=2021-04-09 |title=Cuerden Valley Parkrun is scrapped in row over "huge hidden costs" |url=https://www.lep.co.uk/health/cuerden-valley-parkrun-is-scrapped-in-row-over-huge-hidden-costs-3193540 |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Lancashire Evening Post |language=en}} Parkrun responded saying they were "disappointed" and "have no choice but to respect it".{{Cite web |date=2021-04-24 |title=Disappointment at Cuerden Valley parkrun ending |url=https://www.blogpreston.co.uk/2021/04/disappointment-at-cuerden-valley-parkrun-ending/ |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Blog Preston |language=en-en}}
In 2023 the park upgraded its footpath network to make it more accessible for a cost of £305,000. Upgrades included resurfacing works on cycle paths, flattening of steep paths, and a new footbridge.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-04 |title=Cuerden Valley Park sees major upgrade to footpaths |url=https://www.blogpreston.co.uk/2023/09/cuerden-valley-park-sees-major-upgrade-to-footpaths/ |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Blog Preston |language=en-en}}
On 11 December 2023, a dog wandered into a field and attacked a flock of six sheep, a second incident occurred 3 days later. Three sheep died in the attack.{{Cite news |date=2024-01-02 |title=Sheep killed in Lancashire country park dog attack |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-67862544 |access-date=2025-02-21 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} The park referred both incidents to the police and issued a press release warning that lambs may not be carried to term due to the stress on the sheep, and that it was likely that some could die.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-17 |title=Cuerden Valley Park warning issued to dog walkers after sheep deaths |url=https://www.blogpreston.co.uk/2023/12/cuerden-valley-park-warning-issued-to-dog-walkers-after-sheep-deaths/ |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Blog Preston |language=en-en}}
In 2024, Lancashire County Council funded a new community wildflower garden in the park.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-20 |title=Issue details - Local Councillor Decision - Cuerden Valley Park Trust |url=https://council.lancashire.gov.uk/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=136094&Opt=0 |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=council.lancashire.gov.uk}}