Cripplegate Park

A popular park next to the River Severn, close to Worcester City centre. The name 'Cripplegate' has nothing to do with 'cripples', but rather in Old English means 'low opening in a fence or wall, to allow the passage of sheep from one field to another'. This is likely to have been inherited from the old road network as the park developed from a collection of breweries, timber yards and power stations into the modern park we see today. The park presents visitors with different experiences. Originally opened in 1922, a revamped larger park was formally opened by the Prince of Wales and Stanley Baldwin in 1932. Formal 'Bromsgrove Guild' gates adorn the main entrance. Perhaps The Guild's most famous objects, certainly those most seen by the public, are the main gates of Buckingham Palace. Cripplegate Park is ornamental in character, with a beautiful cast iron fountain at its heart, tennis courts, extensive play areas, bowling greens and an active bowls consortium, as well as Sons of Rest facilities. The park is well connected to a wider network of green spaces, with the riverside promenade park 'Henwick Parade' and the natural green corridor of 'Bromwich Parade' close by. The city centre is a short walk to the East and Worcestershire County Cricket Club is just across the road, the park's location close to local amenities provides local businesses with a calm and pleasant space to relax, unwind and take some 'time-out' from the stresses of everyday life.