Wavertree Playground - The Mystery
Wavertree Playground also known locally as “The Mystery” was one of the first purpose built public playgrounds in the United Kingdom.
Unlike other Liverpool Parks there is minimal landscaping as it was not designed for promenading and by comparison to nearby Sefton and Prince’s Park is somewhat dreary.
The 108-acre site of Wavertree Playground was originally occupied by an estate surrounding a large stately home known as “The Grange”. The house and estate were sold to an unknown individual with the house being demolished and the previously landscaped grounds and ornamental lake were levelled and grassed over.
The new owner then donated the site to the City of Liverpool and suggested the name 'Wavertree Playground'.
Wavertree Playground was to be a venue for organised sports, and a place for children from the city's schools to run about in, not a park for 'promenading' in the Victorian tradition.
The donor expressed the hope that the City Council "might approve of giving it a fair trial for this purpose ... before appropriating it for any other use".
The mysterious donor's offer was accepted by the council; the playground was opened by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool amid great celebrations on September 7th, 1895.
The new park was immediately nicknamed 'The Mystery’ as it was not clear who the donor was. Later it became apparent that the person who donated the land was Philip Holt who along with his brother Alfred Holt had been the founders of the Ocean Steanship Company better known as the Blue Funnel Line and Alfred Holt and Company.
Read MoreUnlike other Liverpool Parks there is minimal landscaping as it was not designed for promenading and by comparison to nearby Sefton and Prince’s Park is somewhat dreary.
The 108-acre site of Wavertree Playground was originally occupied by an estate surrounding a large stately home known as “The Grange”. The house and estate were sold to an unknown individual with the house being demolished and the previously landscaped grounds and ornamental lake were levelled and grassed over.
The new owner then donated the site to the City of Liverpool and suggested the name 'Wavertree Playground'.
Wavertree Playground was to be a venue for organised sports, and a place for children from the city's schools to run about in, not a park for 'promenading' in the Victorian tradition.
The donor expressed the hope that the City Council "might approve of giving it a fair trial for this purpose ... before appropriating it for any other use".
The mysterious donor's offer was accepted by the council; the playground was opened by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool amid great celebrations on September 7th, 1895.
The new park was immediately nicknamed 'The Mystery’ as it was not clear who the donor was. Later it became apparent that the person who donated the land was Philip Holt who along with his brother Alfred Holt had been the founders of the Ocean Steanship Company better known as the Blue Funnel Line and Alfred Holt and Company.
