Asset type
Park and Garden - Park
Local Listing Reference
LLHA0045
Conservation Area (CA)
Valley Gardens CA
Description
Formerly an area of open marshy land, a number of fairs and celebrations were held on the grounds. In 1822 The Level was formally laid out by A H Wilds and local botanist/landscape gardener Henry Philips. Elm avenues were planted along the outer pathway in 1844, as a gift from the Earl of Chichester. In 1877 the Level was enclosed by railings and planted with shrubs. It largely retained this layout until 1927, when a children’s playground was added to the designs of Bertie Hubbard MacLaren. It included a boating pool, bridges and pergola. MacLaren was Superintendent for the Brighton Parks Department, having previously designed Preston Park. A large-scale refurbishment of the park has just been completed; this has largely retained and enhanced the historic layout, including the avenue of Elms, 19th century and 1927 design elements
A. Architectural, design and artistic interest
ii. A well-designed municipal public playground, within an early public park
iv. Associated with A H Wilds, a well-known architect responsible for many listed buildings in the city. A good example of a work by MacLaren, who was also responsible for elements of Preston Park, which is a registered park & garden.
B. Historic and evidential interest
ii. Illustrates the development of public parks within the city, and their change of use over time.
C. Townscape interest
i. Within the Valley Gardens Conservation Area, the park is atypical of the area by way of its 1920s design elements. It contributes greatly to the character of the area.
iii. The park forms one of a series of conjoining parks that have city-wide significance as civic spaces along the main routes into the city and on the approach to the Royal Pavilion from London.
F. Intactness
i. The recent refurbishment of the park retained many elements of the historic design, both in terms of the original avenue of Elms and 19th century layout to the north and the 1920s playground to the south
Date of inclusion
2015
