A look back at the decision in the late 19th Century to create a public park or recreation ground on the slopes of St Giles Hill -- and the ensuing public debate.
In 1878, a rapid series of land sales and developments were under way on St Giles Hill to the east of Winchester. The possible approach of the railway and the development of land for building on St Giles Hill led to considerable ownership changes in a short period of time. When put up for auction by Messrs. Driver and Co on 5 July 1878 at the Royal Hotel “51 acres of land at St Giles Hill fronting the Alresford and Petersfield Roads” was sold.
Much of the land was purchased by Lord Northbrook and at the time the sales notice provided the note that the Corporation of the City of Winchester had “agreed to buy adjoining Land as a Public Park”. The purchase of the Park -- or Recreation Ground as it became referred to -- was not without controversy.
Image: Land for sale by the direction of the Ecclesiastical Commissioner as advertised by Messrs. Driver and Sons for Sale on 15 July 1878, Courtesy Hampshire Archives 200A07/375.
The Ecclesiastical Commission following Church reforms were changing their approach to
their land portfolios. Knowing the Corporation of Winchester to have paths on the Hill, the Commission wrote to the City Council asking if they would like to buy a portion of the land that they were putting up for sale, as a recreation ground. Members of the Council were keen -- voting 19 to 2 in favour -- but some locals anticipating a cost coming their way were
robust in their opposition.
The Council, mainly through Cllr Stopher, a longtime alderman, several times Mayor of Winchester and prominent local architect. Cllr Stopher was the proposer of the resolution at the Council meeting on 6 June 1878, stating that the City was keen to buy land to create a Recreation Ground on St Giles Hill. He argued that there were no public spaces for recreation at the lower end of the city, and also that it would be good to get the children away from playing in the streets of Winchester, especially those with catapults. The “waifs and strays would be drawn from the streets to a more suitable place,” he stated.
Following letters to the Hampshire Chronicle, in particular, Stopher had to refute several arguments, including some made with anonymous signatures. In response, Stopher argued that the purchase of land was not to be for a Park but for a Recreation Ground, the latter being a less costly proposition. He said the cost would be 2d a year to a £6 householder and 6s 8d to the owner of the largest property. For someone owning 10 cottages, he said 2d each would amount to 1s 8d a year or “five fourpennies worth of gin (laughter) a sacrifice that would not injure him, but would be conferring a boon to the city (hear, hear)”.
Stopher went on to refute the comment that the hill was too steep a climb, again having done his homework, when he spelled out the gradients involved. To the first gate 1 in 5. To the second turning 1 in 4. To the corner 1 in 8. To the brow 1 in 10. Locals today can attest to this summary, though the stepped section today is perhaps steeper now and seems to get steeper with every passing year. To counter the view that the land was too poor to support a recreation ground, Stopher commented that far from being barren the allotments on the Hill commanded £8 an acre from citizens and was some of the best ground for growing potatoes in Winchester.
With land being lost and enclosed to public access in the vicinity, Stopher also stated the need to protect public access to the Downs and walks. He noted that Winchester’s population, which had already doubled to 20,000 in 50 years since 1821, meant there was a need for more recreational space. Space for wellbeing and recreation -- a priority for the current City Council -- isn’t a new topic, it seems.
The plan to purchase the land went through and £1,250 (about £200,000 in today's money) was paid for a site of 8 acres, 2 roods and 15 poles of land. Later a small parcel of land was added and purchased from the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway and in 1894 a parcel of some 2 acres gifted by Lord Northbrook took the park to around 11 acres or 4.4 hectares, just over 6 football pitches that it is today.
Stopher foresaw the need for recreational access as the population was growing, even if he
also foresaw opportunity himself as he became somewhat a beneficiary of the overall
development of housing in the St Giles Hill area, too, establishing an impressive home for himself close to the new Park.
Image: Steps on the eastern edge of the Park today
The Park today remains a great asset to the City and the City Council is pursuing considerable works on it in its 5-year management plan approved in March 2023. Historic views to the south and west are being reinstated, and considerable tree work undertaken not least to tackle ash dieback and plant better suited replacement trees. Since the end of August 2023, the Friends of St Giles Hill charity established in April 2023 has been playing its part, with regular Working Parties on the Hill and more ambitious aspirations for the Park to follow. For more details see https://www.friendsofstgileshillpark.org/about.
Image: Sales particulars – land at St Giles Hill and elsewhere 5 July 1878. Courtesy Hampshire Archives, 200A07/375
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