The Lower Gardens
The gardens running through the
centre of the town are one of the jewels in Bournemouth’s crown. Originally
known as “The Meadows”, proposals were made as early as 1841 to create a
pleasing ornamental water feature in this marshy area. Under the direction of
Decimus Burton, some of the area was cleared and a little planting undertaken.
The beginnings of the present Lower
Gardens occurred in 1859 when the Meyrick Estate granted a lease to the
Bournemouth Improvement Commissioners to develop public pleasure grounds between
The Square and the sea. Footpaths were laid and in 1871 a competition was run,
won by Philip Tree, to design these new gardens. Flowerbeds and fencing, paths
and promenades were constructed so that by March 1873, the former meadows had
been opened as public pleasure gardens.
In 1875 three ornamental bridges were
erected over the stream, replacing crude planks hitherto used. A rustic
bandstand was built in 1884 and a large fountain added in the 1890s. Electric
lighting was installed in 1899 so that visitors could enjoy their evening
strolls.
An attractive rockery and series of
waterfalls were created in 1930 alongside the then new Pavilion. A putting
green opened in 1931 and the present bandstand was built in 1933.
The Bournemouth Balloon was put on
the site of the former fountain and began operation in 1998. It’s officially
classified as an aircraft (G-CFBF) and 28 passengers can be carried on each
flight up to a height of 492ft (150m).
Peter
Kazmierczak, Senior Heritage Librarian, Bournemouth Libraries
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