Geograph - photograph every grid square

In its early years, Saltwell Park showed signs of becoming transformed into a zoo. In June 1877, there were in the Park grounds 3 swans, 47 ducks, 4 peacocks and 1 peahen, 8 pheasants, 3 hens, 1 bantam cock and 1 bantam hen. In 1880 the Chief Constable of Gateshead, John Elliott paid for the construction of an aviary, supplied birds, and in the same year he had built a monkey house and provided monkeys. These, however, were not a success and in October 1880 the male monkeys were ordered to be removed 'forthwith'. In 1882 Lord Ravensworth presented two deer to the Park and it may have been one of these which involved the Corporation in litigation and expenses of £650 when a visitor to the Park in 1889 was gored by a stag. Further trouble is apparent in 1890, when the Park's raccoon was presented to the London Zoo and it was resolved that in future 'no vicious animal' would be allowed in the Park Link

Saltwell Park is a large Victorian park situated in Gateshead. The major part of the park was designed by Edward Kemp. Also known as the 'People's Park' and part of Gateshead's heritage since it opened to the public in 1876, the park is steeped in history. Thanks to a £10 million restoration project 2002-2005 funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Gateshead Council, the park has been restored to its former glory.

Saltwell Park has been given numerous prestigious awards, such as "Britain's Best Park" 2005 and "Green Flag Award" 2006 amongst others.

At the centre lies William Wailes's former home, the Grade II listed Saltwell Towers, also restored, with the addition of a café and visitor information points located in the building.

The park also contains a boating lake, children's play areas including animal stables, aviaries, a stream (The Dene), bandstand, a yew-hedge maze, bowling greens and tennis courts. The park's bandstand was at one time situated in the middle of the lake and bands had to travel across the lake by boat.
War memorials, decorative seats and many items of public art are also to be found.

Link
A detailed descriptive history of the park is given here Link
Other images of Saltwell Park on Geograph (including mine) can be found here Link
Tyne and Wear HER(5004): Gateshead, Saltwell Park Link