The purchase deal was completed and the new site became absorbed into the park, more
than doubling its previous size and bringing it nearer to the town. The cost of the land was
£3,800. Unlike the initial piece of land that had been converted from farmland, this newly
acquired site was already used for recreational purposes and had been laid out during the
1870’s with many features which would be retained. This included an ornamental lake, a
grotto and several avenue walkwaysxxxiii. Some of the land had been used as an orchardxxxiv.
Other parts of it was overgrown with thistles and nettles and it was several decades before the
last of it was eventually clearedxxxv.

The lake was supplied with water via a pipe from the river. This pipe passes under the grotto
and also fed into the grotto’s pondxxxvi. This pond has since been filled in, but the lake has
survived and still is one of the park’s most popular featuresxxxvii.

At the north end was a lodge which had presumably also been built by the recent owner,
William Thompson. It was then called Little Polam Cottagexxxviii but is now known as
Embankment Lodge.