South Park History – Darlington South Park Foundation

Skating Ticket Office

The roller skating rink’s ticket office, which had been unused for some time, was demolished

Iron Fencing

A section of iron fencing was removed from the Grange Road side because of its deterioration.

South Park listed by English Heritage

South Park was listed by English Heritage in their Register of Parks & Gardens of Special Historic Interestcxxvii. The 200 municipal parks included here are given statutory recognition.

The Darlington show was held in South Park for the last time. Due to financial difficulties and security problems, it did not take place in 1993. It has subsequently resumed but at a different venue. It’s future is currently in doubt.

Aviary Improvements

A £30,000 scheme to improve the aviary was proposed, following complaints about some of the conditions in which the birds were keptcxxvi.

Award

The park won an award for best park in the Northeast in the annual Northumbria In Bloom horticultural eventcxxv.

Repairs to the Fountain

Repair and restoration work was carried out on the fountain after it had been damaged by vandalscxxiv.

Rock Festival

The Council agreed to allow an open-air rock festival to take place in the parkcxxiii.

Fowler’s Plough

The model of Fowler’s Plough was stolen from its plinthcxxi. It had been badly damaged some years earlier and was incompletecxxii. A replica has since been made but has not been placed in the park for fear of theft and vandalism. The granite plinth still remains.

Listed Buildings

The bandstand and the fountain became Listed Buildings, as did Neasham House and its front boundary wallcxx.