Peel Park, Salford
This municipal park was one of three opened on the same day in August 1846, established largely due to the commitment of Mark Philips, a local MP, who lobbied extensively for the creation of parks for the working people of Manchester and Salford, and Sir Robert Peel. In 1844, following years of intense campaigning, the ‘Committee for Public Walks, Gardens and Playgrounds’ was set up, and they set about establishing their first three parks: Peel Park, Philips Park, Manchester, and Queen's Park, Manchester.
On 29 March 1845, the Committee for Public Walks, Gardens and Playgrounds bought the 32 acres of the Lark Hill estate from William Garnett (1782-1863) for £5,000.
The Royal Technical Institute was opened in the park in 1896. This later became the Royal Technical College, Salford, and then the University of Salford.
The 1845 O.S. map here[1] shows the location of the future Peel Park, to the west of a meander in the River Irwell. The southern part of the land is occupied by three groups of large houses, including 'Lark Hill', all in landscaped grounds. To the north were fields, evidently protected against flooding by embankments.
The 1848 map here shows Peel Park. The fields had been landscaped. Lark Hill and its gardens were presumably now part of the public park (the house is labelled as 'Refreshment House'). The other houses and gardens remained. To the west of the newly-landscaped park was Wallness lane, and then fields, with Wallness Farm at the southern end. To the east of the River Irwell is a peninsula formed by the river's meander. It contained reservoirs and, on the west bank, a windmill and a steam pumping engine. The windmill and engine house can be seen in this 1900 photograph[2]. The windmill building was still shown on the 1949, the premises being called Windmill Works (colour).
In the 1890s the public park was extended northwards with the addition of the David Lewis Recreation Ground, funded by the trust fund established by David Lewis (1823-1885), founder of Lewis's.