Lenton Times

The Magazine of Lenton Local History Society

This photograph entitled 'The Promenade from the Recreation Ground ' originally featured as one of a series of picture postcards entitled 'Hunt's Views of Lenton'.  The quality of the reproduction in the original postcards leaves a lot to be desired but there is no way of improving it even using the latest technology.  The postcard probably dates from about 1905.

A copy of an early coloured Edwardian picture postcard of Lenton Recreation Ground.  The photographer is standing near the Derby Road entrance with Holy Trinity Church in the far distance.

This photograph was taken on Lenton Recreation Ground in 1910 when it was used as the location for that year's Empire Day celebrations. See Empire Day and Lenton.

In this picture postcard, taken on Lenton Recreation Ground, the photographer is situated in the area of the bowling greens and is looking eastwards in order to include a view of both the church and the church school buildings.  The hedge separating the bowling green from the rest of the park, seen in the middle distance, is still relatively vestigal.  This would suggest that the photograph was taken not long after the greens were created in 1910.

 Derby Road Entrance Area

The garden area adjacent to the Derby Road entrance has always contained a set of formal flower beds.  This photograph taken in the 1960s shows the central bed in the time when Cyril Wing was the park superintendent.

Part of the outer ring of flowers beds taken at the same time as the previous photograph.

For ease of maintenance the complex of flower beds were later reduced to one circular bed.  This photograph shows it in early 2004 before being planted up.  

 During 2005 Lenton Recreation Grounds has undergone a major revamp.  A new footpath has been created across the area where the large flower bed was situated and the park employees are carrying out preparatory work for the creation of a new ornamental flower bed.

The new footpath from Derby Road with the completed garden feature that the park employees were working on in the previous photograph.

Eager to keep park users aware of the improvements planned for the Rec.  This sign was erected on the park in 2005.  

 An exterior view of the lodge taken in the 1990s focusing on the wonderful wisteria that has been trained to grow around the side of the building.  

The Children's Play Equipment

This is the toddlers' play area as it looked before the 2005 revamp. The properties on Devonshire Promenade  are visible in the distance and the edge of the old sandpit can be seen on the left.

Another shot of the toddlers' play area with part of the lodge visible on the left and the old sandpit more centre stage.  

A shot of the new play area set out with a completely new range of equipment for use by both toddlers and older children.

The new slide and mini-climbing wall erected on the Rec. in 2005.  Beyond the trees is the park lodge although the white rendered walls of the upper storey somewhat camouflagues its presence.

A copy of the image taken directly from the microfilm reader at the Local Studies Library showing a newspaper photograph of the scene at Lenton Recreation Ground on the day in 1949 when the new play equipment was unveiled. Iif anyone can provide us with the actual newspaper cutting we should be able to produce a better quality image than this.

Elsewhere on the 'Rec'

The Rec. acquired this rather ornate feature in the 1990s.  The structure offers park users a suitable refuge should the weather turn inclement.  Beyond it lies the Derby Road.

Part of the circular pathway around the edge of the Rec. that has remained a permanent feature of the park ever since it first opened in the late 1880s.

The Rec. had been in use for almost two decades before the Corporation installed this toilet block.  Presumably before then anyone caught short had to rush home to spend a penny or else disappear into the shrubbery.  With another set of toilets in the bowls pavilion this block has now been taken out of commission and is likely to be demolished in the near future.

The improvements already carried out on the Rec. during 2005 were sufficient for it to gain the Green Flag award.  As a permanent reminder of this fact a flagpole bearing the 'green flag' can now be found beside the bowling green area of the Rec.

Dave and Simon, two park employees, pose for their photograph in the 'new' basketball area of the Rec.

Lenton Festival 2008

Lenton Recreation Ground was the venue for the Lenton Festival held on 8 June 2008.  At this time of year the Rec. is a very popular gathering point for students living in the area and this sequence of photographs provides both glimpses of various activities incorporated into the Festival programme, with the majority of those students present confining themselves to the eastern half of the Rec. as they soak up the sun's rays.