Great British Parks – A Concise History, by Paul Rabbitts (RECORDING)

This really is a fascinating insight into the history of one of our greatest ever institutions - our great British public park. We have all enjoyed them at some time in our lives but what do we really know about them? their origins? did they really start in the Victorian period or do they go even further back? This talk illustrates their origins, talks about the need for parks, the Victorian heyday, what makes a great park, with examples of lodges, lakes, bandstands, fountains and floral displays, to their great decline in the sixties and seventies. However, the subsequent revival has led to a major shift in interest in our parks and once again we are much in love with them. This is also a highly illustrative talk accompanied by slides with examples of parks from across the UK and their designs and architecture.

Paul Rabbitts has worked in the parks sector for over 35 years, as a landscape architect and an award winning parks manager. He is currently Parks Manager for Norwich City Council. An author of 33 books on parks, landscape architecture and his obsession, the Victorian bandstand, he is also a Trustee of the Gardens Trust, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He has just published his latest book, ‘People’s Parks – The Design and Development of Public Parks in Britain’. He lectures widely on the subject. www.paulrabbitts.co.uk

After booking a ticket, you will be given access to the recording of the event. Please ignore the event date in the listings.

This event helps raise funds for The Victorian Society - the only charity dedicated to fighting for our Victorian and Edwardian heritage. Join us today and safeguard our unique cultural heritage for future generations! For further information, click here.

The Victorian Society is an IHBC recognised CPD provider​.

I mage: Newport Park