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Moor Park
Ward location in the City of Preston district
Moor ParkLocation in PrestonShow map of PrestonMoor ParkLocation within LancashireShow map of Lancashire
Population	5,211 (2011)
District	City of Preston
Ceremonial county	Lancashire
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
UK Parliament	Preston
Councillors	David Borrows – Labour John Collins – Labour
List of places UK England Lancashire 53°46′26″N 2°41′53″W / 53.774°N 2.698°W / 53.774; -2.698

Moor Park is a large park (with a perimeter of approx 2 miles (3 km)) to the north of the city centre of Preston, Lancashire, England. Moor Park is also the name of the electoral ward covering the park and the surrounding area. The ward borders the traditional boundary of Fulwood. The population of the ward as at the 2011 census was 5,211.

Park

Moor Park lies to the north of Preston city centre on the A6 (Garstang Road), which forms the western boundary of the park. Blackpool Road between the A6 and Deepdale Road is the northern boundary. The latter forms the eastern side. Opposite the park on Deepdale Road is the Preston North End F.C.'s Deepdale stadium.

Moor Park is Preston's largest and oldest park. The park was originally a farm and was run by George Dartford from a famous house called the Barn. In her book People's Parks Conway claims that Moor Park was the first municipal park to be created in the newly emerging industrial towns of Britain.

Preston Moor was an area of land to the north on Preston. It was originally common land derived from the Royal Forest of Fulwood by the Charter of Henry III in 1235.

In the 1830s it was felt by the town's council that Preston Moor was in a 'neglected and unprofitable condition'. In 1833 The Preston Chronicle published an article on 'The Intended Inclosure and Improvement of Preston Moor'. It showed a map of the intended enclosure. The plan was drawn up by the Town Steward, the appropriately named Philip Park.

In the mid-1860s the park was landscaped to a design by the landscape architect Edward Milner and was part of a scheme to provide work for those unemployed because of the Lancashire cotton famine. Edward Milner was a former student and assistant of Joseph Paxton, the noted Victorian architect and park designer. The work was supervised by George Rowbotham, who allegedly became the town's first Parks' Superintendent.

In 1927 an observatory, named the Jeremiah Horrocks Observatory, was built on the park to replace a building in Fulwood. The first curator was George James Gibbs, F.R.A.S. (1866-1947). Gibbs wrote a description of the observatory in 1941. The observatory is now run by the University of Central Lancashire, although light pollution and vibration from traffic on Blackpool Road means that it is no longer used for scientific research.

On the Park's far west side facing Garstang Road, a number of central businesses overlook Moor Park. This area of Preston is highly desirable and fashionable. Most of the office buildings are Victorian architecture with open space and large car parks. Some businesses include PHC Law Ltd, Deepdale Vicarage, Lancashire Probabtion Service, Taxbak and St John Ambulance.

Moor Park Avenue along the Park's southern side is also a highly desirable location, the buildings are designed with beautiful Victorian and Baroque architecture. Apart from it being residential it is host to many commercial and public businesses including healthcare centres, accountants, dental practices, children's day care centres, hotels, and Moor Park High School and Sixth Form.

In August 2013, Moor Park was designated a Grade II* listed park.

It is host to several events throughout the year, especially during the Spring and Summer seasons. Some examples include 'S2S In The Park', and an outdoor cinema in 2017. On 24th April 2024, the park was announced by Gaby Roslin as the location for Radio 2 in the Park 2024.

Electoral ward

Moor Park is currently a two-member electoral ward, which in addition to the neighbouring College and Deepdale wards, forms the Preston Central North division of Lancashire County Council. The English Martyr's Catholic Church is within the ward.

Current councillors

Demographics

At the 2001 census, Moor Park has a population of 4,919, whilst at the most recent election the electorate was 3,053. Of this figure, 68% described themselves as Christian, with a Muslim population of 5.2%. Whilst the area around Fulwood is largely commuter belt and recent retired properties, the Plungington and Deepdale areas are traditional terraces with multi-occupancy homes increasingly common.

Geography

The traditional “grid” terraces in the south of the ward are made up of a number of main roads, including the A6 Garstang Road which itself runs from the ward's northern boundary at Lytham Road, to the outskirts of the city centre. The component of the electoral ward to the south of Moor Park itself crosses the A6 to take in a number of terraces to St Paul's Road in an easterly direction towards Deepdale. From the main Blackpool Road heading north, the houses are largely semi- and true detached homes in the suburban style.

See also

• Preston local elections
• Districts of Preston

Notes

Open-air-bath for Preston - an interesting ceremony. Preston Guardian. 10 June 1905. p. 13.

New sports pavilion at Moor Park. Preston Guardian. 28 May 1932. p. 6.

References

1. UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Moor Park 2011 Census Ward (1237324283)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
2. Conway, H., People's Parks, Cambridge University Press, 1991.
3. Preston Council Preston Council Website | Retrieved 21 February 2017
4. Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1001309)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
5. Elliott, Brent (2004), "Milner, Edward (1819–1884)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, retrieved 14 July 2013 ((subscription or UK public library membership required))
6. "1949MNRAS.109R.145. Page 145". articles.adsabs.harvard.edu. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
7. "1941JBAA...51..277. Page 290". articles.adsabs.harvard.edu. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
8. UCLANC | Website retrieved 21 February 2017
9. Moor Park, Preston, Example of Law firm, retrieved 3 January 2017
10. Moor Park, Lancs Probation Service, retrieved 3 January 2017
11. Historic England. "Moor Park, Preston (1001309)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
12. Eventbrite | Website retrieved 26 July 2018
13. "Sting and Pet Shop Boys to headline Radio 2 in the Park 2024 in Preston in September". BBC News. 3 June 2024.

External links

• Existing ward arrangements

v t e Geography of the City of Preston district
Cities	Preston
Suburbs	Ashton-on-Ribble Avenham Brookfield Cadley Cottam Deepdale Fulwood Greyfriars Ingol Larches Lea Plungington Ribbleton Riversway Sharoe Green Tulketh
Villages	Barton Broughton Catforth Cumeragh Village Eaves Goosnargh Grimsargh Inglewhite Lea Town Whitechapel Woodplumpton
Parishes	Barton Broughton Goosnargh Grimsargh Haighton Ingol and Tanterton Lea Whittingham Woodplumpton
Topography	Parks and reserves Ashton Park Avenham Park Beacon Fell Brockholes Nature Reserve Miller Park Moor Park Winckley Square Woodland Beacon Fell Fernyhalgh Wood Waterways Lancaster Canal Ribble Link River Brock River Loud River Ribble Savick Brook
Preston Built-up Area PR postcode area

v t e Buildings and structures in the City of Preston
Grade I	Harris Museum Preston Cenotaph Places of worship Preston: St Walburge
Grade II*	Arkwright House Avenham Park Miller Park Moor Park Sessions House Places of worship Preston: St George the Martyr St John's Minster St Mark St Peter St Wilfrid Syro-Malabar Cathedral (former St Ignatius) Ashton-on-Ribble: St Michael & All Angels Broughton: St John the Baptist Goosnargh: St Mary the Virgin Woodplumpton: St Anne
Grade II	Archbishop Temple School Black Horse Chingle Hall Church Cottage Museum Corn Exchange Covered Market Fulwood Barracks (including Lancashire Infantry Museum) The Guild Miller Arcade Museum of Lancashire Penwortham Old Bridge Preston bus station Preston railway station Preston Royal Infirmary Preston Town Hall Ribbleton railway station St Joseph's Orphanage Tulketh Mill Ye Horns Inn Places of worship Preston: All Saints Carey Baptist City Emmanuel English Martyrs Fishergate Baptist Moor Park Methodist Preston Central Methodist St Joseph St Luke St Mary St Paul St Thomas Ashton-on-Ribble: St Andrew Barton: St Lawrence Fernyhalgh: St Mary Grimsargh: St Michael Inglewhite: Congregational Chapel
Unlisted	County Hall Fishergate Shopping Centre The Green Man at Inglewhite HM Prison Preston Park Hotel The Plough at Eaves Preston Crown Court Preston Guild Hall RAF Barton Hall Royal Preston Hospital St George's Shopping Centre The Warehouse Kimberley Barracks Places of worship Preston: Jamea Masjid St Matthew Fulwood: Christ Church Ribbleton: St Mary Magdalene
Derelict or demolished	Preston Castle Preston Greyfriars Red Scar Mill Tulketh Hall Tulketh Priory Whittingham Hospital
Lists	Mills in Preston Tallest in Preston Listed in Barton Broughton Goosnargh Grimsargh Haighton Lea Preston Whittingham Woodplumpton

• Parks and commons in Preston
• Wards of Preston
• Grade II* listed parks and gardens in Lancashire
• Geography of Preston