The Oxford University Parks, commonly referred to locally as the University Parks, or just The Parks, is a large parkland area slightly northeast of the city centre in Oxford, England. The park is bounded to the east by the River Cherwell, though a small plot of land called Mesopotamia sits between the upper and lower levels of the river. To the north of the parks is Norham Gardens and Lady Margaret Hall, to the west the Parks Road, and the Science Area on South Parks Road to the south. The park is open to the public during the day, and has gardens, large sports fields, and exotic plants. It includes a cricket ground used by Oxford University Cricket Club.
University Parks
The University Parks, to the north-east of Oxford city centre
Part of the land on which the Parks is located had been used for recreation for a long time, and it formed part of the University Walks said to have been used by Charles II to walk his dog in 1685.[1] The land originally belonged to Merton College, and in 1853/1854, the University of Oxford purchased 20 acres (8.1 ha) from Merton College to build the parks.[2] Over an eleven-year period a total of 91 acres (37 ha) of land was eventually acquired.[3] A portion of this land (4 acres) was set aside for the University Museum which was built between 1855 and 1860.[1] Between 1912 and early 1950s, a further portion was used to build the Science Area, so the current site measures around 74 acres (30 ha).
The Parks was laid out in 1864, and the work supervised by William Baxter who was later appointed the first superintendent of the parks in 1866.[4] Parts of the Parks were designated to be used for sports and recreational purposes. 25 acres of the land had been set aside as the University Cricket Grounds, and the cricket pavilion was built in 1881. The Parks is also used for other sports such as rugby football, hockey, lacrosse, tennis and croquet. The rest of The Parks was designed as an arboretum, and the first trees were planted in 1865.[2] A number of other features have been added over the years.
Dan Winter has been superintendent of the Parks since 2017, replacing Walter Sawyer.[5]
Since August 2020, Michelle Cooper has taken over as acting superintendent.[6]
A 5 km parkrun event launched on 5 February 2022 in University Parks.[7] University Parks parkrun takes place at 9am every Saturday morning, starting at the Tentorium in the centre of the Parks.[8]
The Parks has been the home ground of Oxford University Cricket Club since 1881.[9] The cricket ground at The Parks was secured through the Master of Pembroke, Evan Evans obtaining a lease on 10 acres of land there in 1881.[10][11] The pavilion was designed by Thomas G. Jackson, architect of many nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Oxford buildings, including the University's Examination Schools.[10] The building has three gables, the central one containing the clock, and is topped by a cupola 'of almost absurd height' and weather-vane.[9] The pavilion contains a Long Room.[10]
Before moving to The Parks, the University Cricket Club played on the Magdalen Ground and Bullingdon Green.[12][13] The Magdalen Ground was used from the University Cricket Club's first match in 1829 to 1880[14] while Bullingdon Green was used for two matches in 1843.[15]
A cricket game at The Parks
The cricket ground is the only first-class cricket ground in the UK where spectators can watch free of charge as admission cannot be charged for entry into the Parks. The club has therefore occasionally taken major matches to three other grounds in Oxford.[11] The most used is the Christ Church Ground, which hosted 37 matches between 1878 and 1961.[16] Twenty-one of these matches were against the Australians, played between 1882 and 1961. The club also used New College Ground for two matches in 1906 and 1907 against Yorkshire and the South Africans respectively.[17] One match in 1912 against the South Africans was played at the Magdalen Ground.[14] The club has also played certain minor matches at the Merton College Ground, the St Edward's School Ground and the St Catherine's College Ground.[18][19][20]
The Parks has been, since 2000, home to the recently established ECB Oxford University Centre of Cricketing Excellence, a partnership between the University of Oxford, Oxford Brookes University and the England and Wales Cricket Board. Prior to the 2010 season the UCCE has been rebranded as Oxford Marylebone Cricket Club University (MCCU). The University Match against Cambridge is the only one in which a true Oxford University Cricket Club team takes part: i.e., composed entirely of current Oxford students.
The following features of the Parks are of special interest:
Cricket pavilion — the pavilion was designed by Sir Thomas Jackson. The cricket ground and pavilion are used by the Oxford University Cricket Club. The two ends of the pitch are the Pavilion End and the Norham Gardens End.[23]
^"University Parks parkrun #1 – The Inaugural! – 05/02/22". Parkrun. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
^"University Parks parkrun". parkrun.org.uk. Parkrun. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
^ abPlumptre, George (1988). "Oxford: The Parks". In Plumptre, George; Swanton, E.W. (eds.). Homes of Cricket: The First-Class Grounds of England and Wales. Queen Anne Press. pp. 213–216. ISBN0-356-15671-0.
^ abcPowell, William (1989). "Oxford University". The Wisden Guide to Cricket Grounds. p. 398. ISBN0-09-173830-X.
^ ab"The Parks". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
^ Davies, Mark (5 August 2010). "An early history of cricket in Oxford". BBC. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
^Ranjitsinhji, K.S. (1897). "Removal of the Club from the Magdalen Ground to the University Parks, and University Matches from 1881 to 1896". Jubilee Book of Cricket (second ed.). p. 350.
^ ab"First-Class Matches Played on Magdalen Ground, Oxford". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
^"First-Class Matches Played on Bullingdon Green, Oxford". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
^"First-Class Matches Played on Christ Church Ground, Oxford". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
^"First-Class Matches Played on New College Ground, Oxford". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
^"Other matches played on Merton College Ground, Oxford". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
^"Other matches played on St Edward's School Ground, Oxford". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
^"First-Class Matches Played on St Catherine's College Ground, Oxford". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
^"First-Class Matches Played on The University Parks, Oxford". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
^"List A Matches Played on The University Parks, Oxford". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
university, parks, oxford, commonly, referred, locally, just, parks, large, parkland, area, slightly, northeast, city, centre, oxford, england, park, bounded, east, river, cherwell, though, small, plot, land, called, mesopotamia, sits, between, upper, lower, l. The Oxford University Parks commonly referred to locally as the University Parks or just The Parks is a large parkland area slightly northeast of the city centre in Oxford England The park is bounded to the east by the River Cherwell though a small plot of land called Mesopotamia sits between the upper and lower levels of the river To the north of the parks is Norham Gardens and Lady Margaret Hall to the west the Parks Road and the Science Area on South Parks Road to the south The park is open to the public during the day and has gardens large sports fields and exotic plants It includes a cricket ground used by Oxford University Cricket Club University ParksThe University Parks to the north east of Oxford city centreTypePublic parkLocationOxford EnglandArea74 acres 30 ha Owned byUniversity of Oxford Contents 1 History 2 Cricket ground 3 Points of interest 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory Edit North Lodge at the entrance to the Parks where Norham Gardens meets Parks Road Part of the land on which the Parks is located had been used for recreation for a long time and it formed part of the University Walks said to have been used by Charles II to walk his dog in 1685 1 The land originally belonged to Merton College and in 1853 1854 the University of Oxford purchased 20 acres 8 1 ha from Merton College to build the parks 2 Over an eleven year period a total of 91 acres 37 ha of land was eventually acquired 3 A portion of this land 4 acres was set aside for the University Museum which was built between 1855 and 1860 1 Between 1912 and early 1950s a further portion was used to build the Science Area so the current site measures around 74 acres 30 ha The Parks was laid out in 1864 and the work supervised by William Baxter who was later appointed the first superintendent of the parks in 1866 4 Parts of the Parks were designated to be used for sports and recreational purposes 25 acres of the land had been set aside as the University Cricket Grounds and the cricket pavilion was built in 1881 The Parks is also used for other sports such as rugby football hockey lacrosse tennis and croquet The rest of The Parks was designed as an arboretum and the first trees were planted in 1865 2 A number of other features have been added over the years Dan Winter has been superintendent of the Parks since 2017 replacing Walter Sawyer 5 Since August 2020 Michelle Cooper has taken over as acting superintendent 6 A 5 km parkrun event launched on 5 February 2022 in University Parks 7 University Parks parkrun takes place at 9am every Saturday morning starting at the Tentorium in the centre of the Parks 8 Cricket ground EditThe Parks Ground informationLocationOxford EnglandEstablishment1881OwnerOxford UniversityEnd namesPavilion EndNorham Gardens EndTeam informationOxford University Cricket Club 1881 present As of 1 May 2016Source CricketArchiveThe Parks has been the home ground of Oxford University Cricket Club since 1881 9 The cricket ground at The Parks was secured through the Master of Pembroke Evan Evans obtaining a lease on 10 acres of land there in 1881 10 11 The pavilion was designed by Thomas G Jackson architect of many nineteenth and early twentieth century Oxford buildings including the University s Examination Schools 10 The building has three gables the central one containing the clock and is topped by a cupola of almost absurd height and weather vane 9 The pavilion contains a Long Room 10 Before moving to The Parks the University Cricket Club played on the Magdalen Ground and Bullingdon Green 12 13 The Magdalen Ground was used from the University Cricket Club s first match in 1829 to 1880 14 while Bullingdon Green was used for two matches in 1843 15 A cricket game at The Parks The cricket ground is the only first class cricket ground in the UK where spectators can watch free of charge as admission cannot be charged for entry into the Parks The club has therefore occasionally taken major matches to three other grounds in Oxford 11 The most used is the Christ Church Ground which hosted 37 matches between 1878 and 1961 16 Twenty one of these matches were against the Australians played between 1882 and 1961 The club also used New College Ground for two matches in 1906 and 1907 against Yorkshire and the South Africans respectively 17 One match in 1912 against the South Africans was played at the Magdalen Ground 14 The club has also played certain minor matches at the Merton College Ground the St Edward s School Ground and the St Catherine s College Ground 18 19 20 The Parks has been since 2000 home to the recently established ECB Oxford University Centre of Cricketing Excellence a partnership between the University of Oxford Oxford Brookes University and the England and Wales Cricket Board Prior to the 2010 season the UCCE has been rebranded as Oxford Marylebone Cricket Club University MCCU The University Match against Cambridge is the only one in which a true Oxford University Cricket Club team takes part i e composed entirely of current Oxford students The Parks has since 2002 hosted the first class Varsity Match in even numbered years 21 The Parks also hosted two List A matches for the club and twenty two matches for the Combined Universities in the Benson amp Hedges Cup between 1973 and 1998 22 Points of interest EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources University Parks news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message The duck pond in the Parks The following features of the Parks are of special interest Cricket pavilion the pavilion was designed by Sir Thomas Jackson The cricket ground and pavilion are used by the Oxford University Cricket Club The two ends of the pitch are the Pavilion End and the Norham Gardens End 23 Seven large giant sequoias planted in about 1888 A duck pond with water lilies and a small island constructed in 1925 High Bridge built in 1923 24 as a relief project for the unemployed It is usually called Rainbow Bridge because of its shape Genetic Garden an experimental garden established by Professor Cyril Darlington to demonstrate evolutionary processes Styphnolobium japonicum known as the Japanese Pagoda Tree Planted in 1888 Coronation Clump a clump of trees planted to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 Parson s Pleasure once used as a secluded nude bathing area but now closed and forms part of the park Gallery Edit Gravel paths in the Parks Rainbow Bridge Sequoia trees Japanese Pagoda TreeSee also EditDame s Delight Norham Manor estate Fenner s where first class cricket is played in CambridgeReferences Edit a b G R Evans 30 April 2010 The University of Oxford A New History I B Tauris ISBN 9780857730251 a b A Historical Guide University of Oxford Archived from the original on 1 November 2015 Retrieved 22 November 2015 Introduction to The University Parks University of Oxford Pavilion Oxford University Superintendents 1866 Present Day The University Parks Oxford Retrieved 1 March 2020 Contact us University Parks parkrun 1 The Inaugural 05 02 22 Parkrun 8 February 2022 Retrieved 5 March 2022 University Parks parkrun parkrun org uk Parkrun Retrieved 5 March 2022 a b Plumptre George 1988 Oxford The Parks In Plumptre George Swanton E W eds Homes of Cricket The First Class Grounds of England and Wales Queen Anne Press pp 213 216 ISBN 0 356 15671 0 a b c Powell William 1989 Oxford University The Wisden Guide to Cricket Grounds p 398 ISBN 0 09 173830 X a b The Parks ESPNCricinfo Retrieved 1 May 2016 Davies Mark 5 August 2010 An early history of cricket in Oxford BBC Retrieved 2 May 2016 Ranjitsinhji K S 1897 Removal of the Club from the Magdalen Ground to the University Parks and University Matches from 1881 to 1896 Jubilee Book of Cricket second ed p 350 a b First Class Matches Played on Magdalen Ground Oxford Cricket Archive Retrieved 1 May 2016 First Class Matches Played on Bullingdon Green Oxford Cricket Archive Retrieved 1 May 2016 First Class Matches Played on Christ Church Ground Oxford Cricket Archive Retrieved 1 May 2016 First Class Matches Played on New College Ground Oxford Cricket Archive Retrieved 1 May 2016 Other matches played on Merton College Ground Oxford Cricket Archive Retrieved 1 May 2016 Other matches played on St Edward s School Ground Oxford Cricket Archive Retrieved 1 May 2016 First Class Matches Played on St Catherine s College Ground Oxford Cricket Archive Retrieved 1 May 2016 First Class Matches Played on The University Parks Oxford Cricket Archive Retrieved 1 May 2016 List A Matches Played on The University Parks Oxford Cricket Archive Retrieved 1 May 2016 The University Parks Oxford Cricket Archive External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to University Parks Oxford Oxford University Parks website Cricket in the Parks website home of Oxford CC and Oxford UCCE View of University Park Looking Towards New College Oxford by William Turner 1789 1862 in the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York CityCoordinates 51 45 43 N 1 15 11 W 51 762 N 1 253 W 51 762 1 253 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title University Parks amp oldid 1101843458, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
