Oswaldtwistle: Restoration of Rhyddings Park continues

 

The transformation of Oswaldtwistle’s Rhyddings Park is continuing despite the snowy weather, as work continues to not only rejuvenate the park, but also bring 600 training opportunities and new jobs to the area.

Rhyddings Park is part way through a transformation with a £2million development programme thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Big Lottery Fund (BIG) secured by Hyndburn Council, the Friends of Rhyddings Park and Newground Together.

From its early beginnings as a private house and gardens belonging to local cotton magnate Robert Watson in the mid-1800s, the park was acquired by Oswaldtwistle Urban District Council in the early 20th Century as a recreational facility for the people of the town.

The old Coach House is being refurbished and extended and when complete will become a café and community building, with an attractive kitchen garden complete with a Victorian style glasshouse for the community to use.

Landscape work in the park has enhanced many entrances and provided an array of interesting features which will include a woodland glade, community orchard, ornamental flower beds and performance space.

Cllr Ken Moss, Cabinet Member for Parks, said: “It’s absolutely wonderful to see the rejuvenation and restoration of this historic and much loved old park, with the new community hub and café set to bring in visitors old and new.” These are exciting times for Rhyddings Park; it will be an amazing facility for the residents of Oswaldtwistle and the whole of the Borough of Hyndburn once refurbishment works are complete at the end of summer.”

 Building works began in April 2016 and look set to be complete by the end of summer this year.