Historic Places

Altogether 18 gates, painted in green and with gilt decoration, were returned to the two entrances on each side of Marlborough Lane, and the Queen’s Parade entrance.

The gates disappeared in October 1942, as part of a national drive for iron and steel, when the country was losing shipping at an alarming rate and desperately short of raw materials.

The gates could have been excluded from the cull as works of artistic merit, but six months after the Bath blitz local feelings were still running high, and it was decided to donate them along with all railings around the park.

Royal Avenue gates, Marlborough Lane end

Bath Heritage Watchdog has given an award to Bath & North East Somerset Council and Harrison Brookes Architects for their work on the restoration of Victoria Park.

The award has been given specifically to Glenn Humphreys, the Council's Heritage Parks Manager; Miles Barnes from the Council's Property Services team and to conservation architect Rhys Brookes, of Harrison Brookes Architects, for their contribution.

Patrick Hutton, Chair of Bath Heritage Watchdog said: "Everyone associated with this restoration of Victoria Park should feel proud."

"We know that there is much more to see, including new fencing and the restored urns, and we urge those in the area to explore the park properly."

Councillor Charles Gerrish, Cabinet Member for Customer Services at Bath and North East Somerset Council, said: "This has been a glorious restoration project...This is a very important public space and residents and tourists alike can now be assured of a grand welcome to Royal Victoria Park, one of the finest of its kind in the region."

Marlborough Lane gates

The restoration was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund which enabled the changes to be achieved at virtually no cost to council tax payers.

Work is also due to start very shortly on the final part of the renovation programme, which involves converting the Temple of Minerva in the Botanical Gardens into an interpretation and educational resource centre for local groups and schools.

The park’s bandstand has previously won an International Green Apple Silver Award.

The Green Apple Awards are run by The Green Organisation, an independent, non-political, non-profit organisation that recognises, rewards and promotes environmental best practice around the world.

Thanks to Bath Heritage Watchdog for the use of their photographs in this feature.