ALEXANDRA PARK IN POSTCARDS AND PHOTOGRAPHS
- PARK MAIN ENTRANCE -


The constituents of the Main Park Entrance are the Italian style Lodge built of Yorkshire stone with its small tower, stone pillars, cast iron gates, inclusive of the pathway for around 70 yards, with benches on either side then, the Statue of Emma, "The Flower Girl", on the right just before a flight of Victorian steps. (check the link to Emma Statue). Also included is the Drinking Fountain in front of the gates.



Photograph taken 6 Sep 2007.

View showing the lodge, pillars, gates and entrances to the Park and Queens Road



Postcard by A. H. & S. Oldham.
VALLEY SERIES
Posted 14 Sep 1909 to Mr & Mrs Wise in Leeds.

Message reads, Dear Friends.
I received your PPC for which I thank you very much. I shall be coming to see you when I come that way. Hope you are all well and feel better for your holiday.
Yours Lucy.



Photograph taken 6 Sep 2007.

View through the Entrance gates, hung from stone pillars each side, showing pathway, flowers and the flight of steps. Benches on both sides just before the steps



Postcard by Chas Wilkinson. Manchester
Number 359
Posted 31 May 1926 to Loders Arms in Bridport. Dorset.

Message reads, Dear Auntie.
I hope your holiday has come up to your expectations and you must enjoy yourself while you can as it is work next week.
Love & Kisses from Annie.

Postcard by F. & G. Pollard., Oldham.
Posted 7 July 1909 to Mr & Mrs Matthew in St. Annes on the sea.

Message reads, Dear J & E,
I hope you are having a good time, and will be better in health when you come home again, how is Jack going on as he been paddling yet & have you, nice here today but was wet all day Saturday.
With Love M. M.

Postcard by Chas Wilkinson. Manchester
Number 944
Posted 12 Aug 1926 to Miss H Wadington in Shoreditch. London.
Message reads, Dear Sister,
We have been wondering how you are getting on have you had nice weather for we have had a lot of rain you will be able to talk like the London people by this.
From Fernande & Daisy & Children.




Reproduction Postcard by Collectorcard Croydon.
Circa 1860 Photograph (held by Oldham Libraries) printed as a current postcard.

A Drinking Fountain with Lamp Post, given by the King Street Co-operative Society was erected in the Oldham Market Place in 1859 as shown in the postcard above.
It was subsequently moved to a position, as shown in the postcard below, at the Park Main Entrance on 18 Mar 1891,


Postcard by A. H. & S., Oldham.
Park Series.
Posted 31st Aug 1910 to Miss E Bailey in Grimsby. Middlesborough.

Message reads, Dear Sister,
Hoping you are having fine weather there as it is raining here. We enjoyed ourselves champion yesterday at Fleetwood. It will soon be Friday night now. We are going to Derbyshire onThursday.
With Love From Edith.

Another more ornate Drinking Fountain with Lamp Standard, again given by The King Street Co-operative Society was erected in the Market Place, shown in the next postcard below, on the site vacated by the one moved to the Park.



Postcard by Allen & Sons, Oldham.
Number 4376B.
Unposted.

No written message


In 1922 The original simplified Drinking Fountain with Lamp Post, which was placed in the Market Place, then moved to the Park Main Entrance, was finally moved again to inside the Glodwick Road Park Entrance. (see also link to Glodwick Road Entrance for the Fountain position)

The later more ornate Drinking Fountain with Lamp Standard was then moved from the Market Place to fill the space vacated by the simplified Drinking Fountain at the Park Main Entrance, shown in position in the two postcards below.

Postcard by Lillywhite Ltd. Halifax.
Triangle Series.
Posted 11 August 1930 to Mr & Mrs Hilvert in Wolverhampton.
Message reads, Dear Nellie & Bob.
I arrived here quite safe, I hope your Mother got back alright & you and Bob. I have been out today for the first time with Clara. We are all keeping well, hoping you are the same, they all send best love. From your loving Aunt M. Stanway.

Postcard by Allen & Sons. Oldham & Blackpool.
Number 13.
Posted 25 August 1926 to Miss Turner in Larne, North of Ireland.
Message reads,
Hope you are enjoying yourself as I am, I did not expect you to send your love as I know you have none to spare and Ethel has plenty to spare but I expect you will have plenty to tell me next week.
Martha

On 9 Jun 1951, to improve the appearance of the Park, the ornate Drinking Fountain with Lamp Standard at the Main Entrance was removed and replaced by a raised garden, shown on the next postcard below.
Due to the delapidated state of the other simplified Drinking Fountain near the Glodwick Entrance, it too was also removed.
Both Drinking Fountains with their Lamp Standards were then scrapped in the same year, 1951.

Among the programs for Queen Elizabeth II Coronation (2 Jun 1953) Celebrations, the Main Entrance gates to the Park were altered by the Park joiners, creating a temporary wooden cladding structure to replicate the Tower Bridge in London, illuminated at night. This proved to be very effective and can be seen in the next two postcards below.

On 17 Jun 1963, after 10 years in position, arrangements were made for the wooden cladding Tower Bridge replica structure surrounding the Main Entrance to be removed toward the end of the current season.

Postcard by Masons.
Alpha Series
Photo by J. F. Lawrence.
Posted 23rd Aug 1959 to Mrs Warriner in Newbury Park. Essex.

Message reads, Dear Mrs Warriner,
Having quite a nice time, the weather is beautiful, very warm. The surrounding country is lovely, you can go some where fresh each day. Tell Seallei I'm going to Cleveleys later the week / J.Sally.



Postcard by E.T.W. Dennis & Sons, Ltd., London and Scarborough
Unposted. Not stamped. Not written on

No Message

Postcard by PPC.
Philco Series. Number 4688
Posted 11 Aug 1926 to Mr & Mrs Hewett in Brighton Sussex.

Message reads, Oldham Tuesday
Dear Mother & Father.
Just to let you know we are all getting on alright up here, weather not at all bad. Hope you are all keeping well. John & Peter send love & kisses to you all. Hope the weather is good down south & that Chummy is having it fine at camp. Have been to Manchester this afternoon.
With love from May.

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