Stewart Park, Middlesbrough

File:Granite Urn, Stewart Park - geograph.org.uk - 55051.jpg

The park was the estate of Henry Bolckow one of Middlesbrough's ironmasters and the borough's first mayor.

Bolckow landscaped the estate and in 1858 built Marton Hall in the estate.

To indicate the site of the cottage where Captain James Cook was born he had erected a pink granite vase still present today.

The estate was eventually bought by Councillor Thomas Dormand Stewart, in 1924, for the people of Middlesbrough.

Stewart intended it to be "a public possession, open and accessible to all the people, at all times".{{citation needed|reason=This claim needs a reliable source; it's known that the park is now in public hands but perhaps there's a document with this quotation somewhere|date=December 2019}}

Stewart's Park was officially opened to the public on 23 May 1928.{{cite book |last=Gallagher |first=L. |title=Memories of Stewart Park |publisher=The Friends of Stewart Park Publishing |year=2009 |pages=25}}

After the Second World War, Marton Hall stood empty for many years in a state of disrepair.

In January 1959, the Borough engineer, A Kenyon, stated in a report, "The Hall....was of no wide historic or architectural value" and that renovations would cost in the region of £25,000.{{cite web|url=https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/nostalgia-do-you-remember-the-conservatory-in-stewart-park/|title=Nostalgia: Do you remember the conservatory in Stewart Park?|date=22 May 2021|website=InYourArea.co.uk|accessdate=5 June 2022}} The council decided to demolish the building.

Work to demolish the Hall started in May 1960, but on 6 June a fire broke out and tore through the building.

The ten fire appliances sent to tackle fire were hampered by the lack of water supply in the area, and the building was destroyed.{{cite web |url=http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/nostalgia/remember-demolition-marton-hall-6897467 |title=Remember When: In pictures - The demolition of Marton Hall |author=Gazette Live Website |date= 1 April 2014 |accessdate= 12 February 2017}} The hall's conservatory continued to be open to the public for a number of years, but was eventually demolished in the mid-1990s. A stone loggia next to the museum is all that is left of the hall. The remaining Victorian estate buildings were later utilised as park depot buildings and council offices.

The Captain Cook Birthplace Museum (opened October 1978) is also within the park, which was built over the eastern part of Marton.{{cite web |url=http://blog.lovemiddlesbrough.com/tag/east-marton/ |title=On the Trail of Young James Cook |author=Love Middlesbrough blog: Rob Nichols |date= 25 October 2016 |accessdate= 12 February 2017}} In September 1998, an archaeological survey showed evidence of this part of Marton. In 2003, the eastern part of Marton village (misleadingly called "East Marton" as if it was a separate village) was the subject of Channel 4's archaeological television programme Time Team, presented by Tony Robinson.{{cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/B/bigdig/parks/east_merton.html |title=Time Team Big Dig Park 1 |author= |publisher=Channel 4 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130091031/http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/B/bigdig/parks/east_merton.html |archive-date=30 January 2010 |access-date=1 July 2024}}

File:The Lake, Stewart's Park, Middlesbrough (geograph 7663604).jpg

The park covers about {{convert|120|acre|km2|1}} and consists mainly of mature woodland and arboretum on the south side, with open parkland on the northern side.

There are two lakes, which are the home to Canada and greylag geese, moorhens, coots and various types of duck.

A pets' corner houses several types of domesticated animals: fallow deer, highland cattle, llamas, goats, peacocks, pheasants, rabbits and guinea pigs.

Part of the Victorian estate complex is open to the public and includes a cafe, and visitor centre. Various nature, heritage, orienteering and tree trails are provided in the park. Play areas for children include a climbing frame named after HMS Endeavour, Captain James Cook's ship.

The Captain Cook Birthplace museum is situated in the middle of the park and is open to visitors from April to November.{{cite web |url=http://www.captcook-ne.co.uk/ccbm/ |title=Welcome to the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum |author=Captain Cook Birthplace Museum Website |date= 11 May 2019 |accessdate= 11 May 2019}}

{{gallery |align=center |footer=^* listed building

|File:Folly, Stewart Park - geograph.org.uk - 967541.jpg |Temple^* garden ornament

|File:Colonnade, Stewart Park - geograph.org.uk - 392678.jpg |Loggia^* of the demolished Marton Hall

|File:Stewart park-arboretum-800.jpg |Stewart Park arboretum

|File:Stewart park-arboretum-2-800.jpg |Stewart Park arboretum

}}

The temple folly, loggia, Captain Cook memorial and Victorian estate complex are all listed buildings.{{cite web |title=Temple Circa 150 Metres South West of Captain Cook Birthplace Museum |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-59786-temple-circa-150-metres-south-west-of-cap}}; {{cite web |title=Loggia Circa 20 Metres South of Captain Cook Birthplace Museum |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-59785-loggia-circa-20-metres-south-of-captain-c}}; {{cite web |title=Memorial to Captain James Cook |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-59784-memorial-to-captain-james-cook-circa-80-m}}; {{cite web |title=Stewart Park Depot |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-59783-stewart-park-depot- |work=British Listed Buildings |accessdate=1 August 2014}}

File:Cook2.jpg

The Captain Cook Birthplace Museum holds regular events including school group visits alongside the regular visitor opening hours.

A Parkrun takes place every Saturday morning at 9 am.{{cite web |url=https://www.parkrun.org.uk/stewart/course/

|title=Stewart Parkrun |author=Parkrun website |date= 1 January 2020|accessdate= 3 January 2020}} The run, one of 1,400 nationally, is a free event which encourages people to run a weekly 5 km course to improve fitness.

On the last Sunday of each month, Northern Dales Farmers' Market hold a monthly event in the park, including a craft fair.{{cite web |url=https://neefm.co.uk/market-information/tees-valley/middlesbrough-farmers-market |title=North East England Farmers Markets |publisher=North East England Farmers Markets Website |accessdate=16 March 2019}}{{cite web |url=http://www.visitmiddlesbrough.com/the-latest/story/1652/farmers%27market-and-craft-fair-returns-to-stewart-park |title=Farmers' Market and Craft Fair returns to Stewart Park |publisher=Love Middlesbrough Website |accessdate=30 November 2014}}

The park also hosts larger events in the summer such as, fairgrounds and the annual agricultural showpiece, the Cleveland Show. The Cleveland Show is the biggest one day agricultural show in the north east of England. It first took place in 1944 and is held annually on the fourth Saturday of July. The Show celebrated its 75th year in 2018.{{cite web |url=http://clevelandshow.co.uk/ |title=Cleveland Show |publisher=Cleveland Show Website |accessdate=18 March 2019}}

It has also been the venue for various BBC Radio 1 events including the 2019 edition of BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend, which saw the park welcome over 64,000 visitors during the course of the weekend festival and host performances from more than 50 artists, including Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, Stormzy, The 1975 and Little Mix.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/e4q9hn |title=BBC Radio 1 BIG WEEKEND 2019: Middlesbrough |publisher=BBC Website |accessdate=18 March 2019}}

{{multiple images|

|footer=Askham Bryan College
Middlesbrough Campus from
the front and rear

|image1=Askham Bryan College, Middlesbrough 2.jpg

|image2=Askham Bryan College Middlesbrough 1.jpg

}}

In 2015, Askham Bryan College took over ownership of the Grade II listed Central Lodge building. The college runs courses in animal care and horticulture.{{cite web |url=http://www.askham-bryan.ac.uk/the-college/centres/middlesbrough-campus |title=Askham Bryan College: Middlesbrough Campus |publisher=Askham Bryan College Website |accessdate=30 November 2014}} In January 2017, the college began renovation work on the Central Lodge, with £3 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Renovation work included repairs to the roof and the general fabric of the building, the creation of lecture rooms, a science lab, animal handling areas, workshops and a reception area. It reopened to students in September 2017, and is Askham Bryan College's principal land-based education centre in the Tees Valley region.{{cite web |url=http://www.askham-bryan.ac.uk/news/students-breath-new-life-into-historic-former-stables |title=Students Breath New Life into Historic Former Stables |publisher=Askham Bryan College Website |accessdate=22 September 2017}}

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Category:Parks in Middlesbrough