Burntwood Prince’s Park
Prince’s Park is situated adjacent to Christ Church, Burntwood. The triangular park is surrounded by tarmac: the roads of Church Road and Farewell Lane and the park is treated as a road traffic island. Measuring just 29’ by 15’, it is probably best known for being included in the 1998 Guinness Book of Records as 'Britain's Smallest Park'.
Prince Edward (Duke of Kent) and his wife Princess Victoria Mary Louisa of Saxe-Coburg-Saafield only had one child. She was born at Kensington Palace, London on the 24th May 1819. She was christened ‘Alexandrina Victoria, but from birth she was formally addressed as Her Royal Highness Princess Victoria of Kent. On the 20th June 1837 aged just 18, on the death of her uncle William IV, Victoria inherited the thrown. Her coronation was the following year on the 28th June. On the 10th February 1840, at the age of 21, Victoria married her cousin Albert of Saxe-Coburg Gotha, a German Prince.
Albert and Victoria had nine children, the eldest being Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, who was born on the 9th November 1841. He was later to become King Edward VII. On the 10th March 1863, Prince Albert Edward married Princess Alexandra of Denmark, at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. Celebrations of the marriage were held throughout the country, and Prince’s Park was created to celebrate their wedding. Just who commissioned the construction of the park is unknown.
The triangular park was constructed in December 1863. Three lime trees were planted by the vicar of Christ Church, the Reverend George POOLE B. A. The three trees were named Faith, Hope and Charity. The park, which also contains a bench, is enclosed by metal railings and gate which gives pedestrian access to it. It takes less than a minute to walk round its perimeter. There are two plaques attached to the railings giving details of the park’s construction. One plaque provided by ’Parkwatch’ and the other plaque was provided by Lichfield District Council Parks and Countryside.
Photographs Burntwood Family History Group
In the run up to Armistice Day in 2019, a group of 10 of The Friends of Prince’s Park, part of Burntwood Action Group created the Armistice Day Memorial. It was painstakingly created in the park being made from over 1000 plastic bottles, before being attached to a wire frame and then placed around the three trees in the park. The figures were made from plywood and painted. The cast iron bench was refurbished as will be the railings. Photographs of the construction and final work have been provide by Burntwood Action Group.
Thursday 21st November 2019 an article appeared in the Cannock Chronicle, page 7 about the First World War Memorial Display and the work of the Burntwood Action Group.
Photographs Burntwood Action Group
On Thursday 21st November 2019 an article appeared in the Cannock Chronicle, page 7 about the First World War Memorial Display and the work of the Burntwood Action Group who created it. A copy of the article has been authorised by the Cannock Chronicle.
Article Cannock Chronicle.