Heaton Norris Park’s elevated position gives stunning views of the Stockport town centre skyline and of the Cheshire plain. The central position of the Park means that it is a green retreat for shoppers and local residents. Also it is within easy reach of the Stockport town centre. The land for this park was acquired by public subscription and as a gift from Lord Egerton. Work on laying out the site as a public park began in May 1873, and it was formally opened on June 5th 1875. Since then it has undergone a number of changes. The construction of the M60 has shaved several acres off the park’s size.
The park is predated by the nearby Drabble Ash Pleasure Gardens – entrance strictly by token only, as commemorated on the BHS Murals in Merseyway.
5 November 1905 – Edward VII declares his eldest daughter The Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife, the Princess Royal.
He also orders that the daughters of Princess Louise, Lady Alexandra Duff and Lady Maud Duff are to be styled as Princesses of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland with the style Highness.
So they built a big bonfire on bonfire night at Heaton Norris Park – sometimes they still do.
In 1935 the area seems to be little more than windswept cinders and thin forlorn grass, traversed by broad uneven paths – overlooking the dark industrial mire below.
Into the 1960s and although now there is the provision of a children’s play area, the park is still in need of a little more care and attention, the immediate surroundings a dense dark warren of industrial activity and terraced housing.
In 1968 the construction of two twelve storey Stockport County Borough Council residential blocks begins, alongside the recreation grounds, Heaton and Norris Towers, creating 136 new homes.
The 1970s sees the banked gardens bedded out with summer flowers and a crazy golf course on the edge of the bowling area. Both of these features are now a thing of the past, the future financing, care and maintenance of our parks is always precarious, especially during times of central government funding cuts and enforced austerity.
The park now has a Friends group to support it, along with I Love Heaton Norris. The area is cared for and used by all ages and interests children’s play, bowls, tennis, conservation area, football, picnic and floral areas – somewhere and something to be very proud of, social spaces for sociable people.
And much beloved of Natalie Bradbury the SS Norris concrete boat.
Take a walk over the concrete bridge or along Love Lane and treat yourself to a day in the park
Archive photographs Stockport Local Image Archive
modernmooch.com 
The © triple bonfire pics were all taken by me over 11-13 Nov 2016, Phil Rowbotham.
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Apologies for not asking permission Phil I will post a credit or remove them as you wish.
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A credit will be just fine. I’ve plenty more of my pics of Heaton Norris Park if you are interested. ( I’m a committee member of LOVE Heaton Norris).
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Thanks for that Phil
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Does anyone know the story behind the triple lighting column with the image of Saint Martin?
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We’re not sure why a Saint Martin lamp was chosen for the park by the council when they were upgrading areas of the park a couple of years ago. It was made in China we think and was probably chosen from a catalogue.
St Martin is the patron saint of social justice, racial harmony, and mixed-race people.
He was born on December 9, 1579, in Lima, Peru, to a Spanish nobleman and formerly Black enslaved woman. Martín de Porres was raised in poverty and bore the stigmas of both his illegitimate birth and his mixed race.
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We don’t know why the council chose this lamp when the park was being upgraded a couple of years ago; it was made in China and probably chosen from a catalogue. Saint Martin was on December 9, 1579, in Lima, Peru, to a Spanish nobleman and formerly Black enslaved woman. He is the patron saint of social justice, racial harmony, and mixed-race people. Born of a liaison between a Spanish grandee and a free black woman, Martín de Porres was raised in poverty and bore the stigmas of both his illegitimate birth and his mixed race.
LOVE Heaton Norris painted it, copying it from a famous old painting of St. Martin by Gustave Moreau.
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Thanks for that, Phil. I think it’s more likely to be St. Martin of Tours: 4th century Roman cavalryman cutting his cloak to share with a half-naked beggar. Either way, it’s an inspirational story and worthy of the good people of Stockport.
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Samuel Drabble’s Ash Pleasure Gardens were situated near the Ash Inn (Hotel), further north than the Heaton Norris Recreation Ground.
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Thanks for the correction I shall amend the blog
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