Derby - Chaddesden Park
w/e 02 April 2017
All of this week's pictures were
taken with a Kodak DX6490
Parks! We've been to many in recent years from Country
Parks like those at Shipley and Elvaston to large city parks
at Wollaton, Alvaston and Markeaton. Then there are those in
Erewash such as Long Eaton's West Park and in neighbouroing Amber
Valley - Heanor Memorial Park not to mention some in Ilkeston
such as Victoria, Cotmanhay Linear and Chaucer Old. For this
selection of images we've come across another that we haven't
visited previously. It's in a suburb of Derby and is called Chaddesden
Park.
We approached the park along Maine Drive looking resplendent
with blossom on the trees and large beds of daffodils.
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The drive into the park is through a wooded area and it leads
to a car park behind St Mary's Church that dates from about the
fourteenth century.
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The car park also serves the Phillip Whitehead Memorial Library
which has been built in Chaddesden Park.
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Other ancillary buildings and sports pavilions within the park
have been tastefully decorated with artwork.
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I suppose there is a fine line between graffiti and art but as
the close up of this painting of a kingfisher on one of the walls
shows, the decoration here is most definitely in the latter category.
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More art can be seen in a mosaic designed and created as the
plaque shows by the children from schools in the Derby North
East Education Action Zone in March 2005 adding "It takes
a whole community to educate a child."
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The park occupies the grounds of the former Chaddesden Hall,
the home of the Wilmot family. The Hall was demolished in the
1920s when the Wilmots sold the estate. Chaddesden was originally
a village but residential development meant the village expanded
and it became a suburb of Derby in 1968. The park now contains
a cricket pitch, several football pitches and a large play area
for children.
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There is also a well used BMX track.
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The park is bisected by Chaddesden Brook and a bridge links the
two halves.
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We crossed the bridge, turned left and followed a path by the
side of the brook through the Chaddesden Park Nature Area back
to Maine Drive from where we headed back through the wooded area
to the car park. Now that we've discovered a new park, I don't
suppose it will be the last time we visit.
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