Portsmouth England United Kingdom UK History
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Victoria Park was first opened to the public on 25 May 1878. As the old town walls and fortifications were demolished, the town suddenly had several areas of open space and it was decided to turn it into a public park, dedicated to Queen Victoria.

The original layout of Victoria Park was designed by Alexander McKenzie, but has been modified over the last 130 or so years.

The park contains a number of memorials, most striking among them being a Chinese bell in a minature pagoda, which was erected by the crew of HMS Orlando in honour of their fallen shipmates, killed during the campaign to relieve Peking in 1900.

The original bell was returned to China in 2005 and a replica has replaced the original.

The picture on the left was taken in 1878

 
The Guildhall clock tower as it was rebuilt after World War II
Victoria Park in the 1960s - a peaceful retreat then and now
 
Monument to HMS Powerful crew members who died in the South African campaign 1899 - 1900     Monument to HMS Orlando crew members who died in China in 1900, during the campaign to relieve Peking
 
A picture postcard of Victoria Park in Edwardian times   Another postcard from the pre-World War I era - possibly from a painting
   
Playtime for a visiting Japanes sailor in 1905 - not quite a BMX display ...   Playtime 2009, in the newly constructed children's playground area   The old Gatekeeper's Lodge is now home to an arts centre and coffee shop