SUPPORTERS of a historic Huddersfield park have celebrated its 125th anniversary.
The Friends of Beaumont Park group held a gathering at the Grade II-listed Victorian park to mark its historic birthday.
The park was opened on October 13, 1883, and was the first public park to be created in Huddersfield.
In 1879, the town had a population of 35,000 people, but no public open space.
Landowner and Liberal MP, Henry Frederick Beaumont offered 20 acres of Dungeon Wood and four fields to the Huddersfield Town Council.
Over four years, 100 men worked on the park and it was opened by the Duke of Albany, Queen Victoria’s youngest son, and his wife, Princess Helene, at an event costing £1,000 – £72,000 in today’s money.
There was a procession, a banquet and a ticket-only celebration for members of the public.
Thousands of people lined the roads to see the royal couple.
Monday’s celebrations were a little more low key but featured civic dignitaries including Mayor of Kirklees, Clr Karam Hussain, and children from Crosland Moor Junior School.
Dressed in Victorian costume, they performed a tree-planting ceremony with the mayor.
