The War Memorial Park is situated at the 'top' of the town between London Road and Black Dam.
An historic Georgian park, it has an attractive parkland landscape of mature trees and garden features, in which to walk and relax (see below for further information on the park's history and development). It also has a newly refurbished play area, BMX/Skate park, sports pitches and all weather tennis courts run by Totally Tennis.
Following an award from the National Lottery Fund, the park was refurbished in 2001 to include a woodland walk, wedding garden and new aviary.
The park is accessible by a short walk from Festival Place and the bus station or Hackwood Road Bus stop. Alternatively there are subways to the park from the residential areas of Cranborne and Black Dam, with pathways from Kings Furlong, Riverdene and Eastrop estates. Free parking is available at Crossborough Hill.
GREEN FLAG SUCCESS
The Green Flag Award is the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales and both recognises and rewards the best green spaces in the country. Winning a Green Flag Award brings excellent publicity especially since both the media and the public are becoming increasingly aware that a site flying a Green Flag is a high quality green space.
The War Memorial Park and Eastrop Parks were visited by two Green Flag judges on 28th May 2008 and despite the wet weather we showed off the parks with pride. Both judges appeared impressed by the community involvement, educational use and hard work put into maintenance and development and as a result the Borough, has been successful again in achieving the award for Eastrop Park and for the first time for the War Memorial Park.
CONSERVATION IN THE PARK
In 2008 the bank between the school boundary and the 
playing fields will be left to flower and cut once in late summer to encourage wider biodiversity, to provide a useful habitat for butterflies and moths, food for birds and cover for small mammals.
The Basingstoke Field Society have kindly agreed to carry out wildflower surveys of the area and compile records on behalf of the Council. This data will be used to monitor and enhance the site's biodiversity value. The first survey was caried out in May.
ART IN THE PARK
Ring of Light by Peter Freeman
To commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee, lighting artist, Peter Freeman, was commissioned to create a 'ring of light' in the War Memorial Park in 2002. This takes the form of a series of custom-made lights, which highlight the canopies of a selection of trees.
Six Stone Plaques – Alec Peever
Installed in 1995, these sandstone wedges were produced
by Oxfordshire-based stonecutter, Alec Peever. Set into the walkways of the park, each is inscribed with a phrase from a poem.
The artist was inspired by the 17th Century passion for viewing the landscape through a hand-held looking glass, known as a Claude Glass. This term originated with the artist Claude Lorraine, who would simplify the colours and tones of a scene by projecting the landscape’s image onto a mirror.
WAR MEMORIAL PARK TREE TRAIL
Written by the local tree wardens, the War Memorial Park Tree Trail is the second in a series of Borough tree trails. Please see our section on self guided walks for this and other trails and walks in the Borough.
EVENTS IN THE PARK
The park hosts a variety of events throughout the year, some organised by the Council, some by community organisations such as the Basingstoke and Deane District Dog Training Club and some events are jointly organised between the council and charitable organisations such as the Thornycroft Society.
Indeed the event year kicks off with the Transport Festival held in May which is organised by volunteers from the Thornycroft Society and with assistance from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council. The one day event is often dogged by poor weather but its popularity and historical links with the town ensure a good turn out.
August sees the return of the annual Balloons over Basingstoke event. This is a free, family event, run over three days, with early morning and evening balloon flights (weather permitting). The highlight of the event is the 'Night Glow', a lazer show set to music and against the backdrop of balloons. Around the central arena are a mixture of commercial and voluntary stalls including food and beverage tents. Last year the Basingstoke Gazette visited the event and produced a video report which can be viewed here
Several other events take place over the summer and information can be found in the What's On Guide. The season ends however in November with the Mayor's Charity Firework Fiesta. The annual event hosted by the council includes fireworks set to music, a fun fair , food and beverage tents. The evening also includes a childrens' procession with a local school being invited to prepare models, banners and puppets on a given theme. The procession starts in the town centre and proceeds through the streets to the park and the arena, when the fireworks can begin. All proceeds from entrance and pitch fees are given to the Mayor's chosen local charities.
The size and layout of the park lends itself wholly to the staging of large scale events, so if you would like to information on possible use of the parks for your own events, please contact a member of the events team on 01256 844844.
WALKING
The park is a wonderful area in which to walk and take in the pleasant surroundings.
There are three self guided walks which can be downloaded from the walking section on this website. Each guide includes a walk summary, 'step by step' directions and interesting information about the features that you will pass along the way.
SPORTS PROVISION
Sports Pitches
There are currently two football pitches and one cricket pitch available for hire. For booking information please contact our Administration Support Team.
Totally Tennis
Ten years ago Totally Tennis started with just a handful 
of players and has now grown to coach a thousand a week. From novices that can barely hit a ball, to world-ranked players, they offer programmes to suit the individual and their budget. The coaches are qualified with the Lawn Tennis Association and hold full licences. Between them, they have coached from beginner to national standard and above.
Following investment from the Lawn Tennis Association and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council the facilities are among the best in the area. The four indoor courts at War Memorial Park are of a revolutionary design, providing an unrivalled level of natural light quality and superb acoustics. The four outdoor courts at this site are floodlit for year-round use.
A further six outdoor courts are run at Stratton Park in the western area of Basingstoke.
Totally Tennis offer both junior and adult programmes to suit all needs. Click on the link above for more details.
NATIONAL CYCLE NETWORK
Route 23 of the National Cycle Network runs through the park along with other off road routes. Click here for information on cycling in the Borough.
HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT
The 18th century parkland, at the west end of the Park, was purchased by public subscription to commemorate the lives that were lost during the 1914-18 War. It was originally known as Goldings Park as it was part of the land attached to the Georgian house known as Goldings, which is now part of the Civic Offices campus. Land to the east; previously in other private ownership, plus former common land have since been incorporated into the Park, which now extends to some 16 hectares.
Early Development
The parkland was originally laid out between 1788 and 1797 as private grounds to Goldings by Frances Russell.
After 100 years in the same family Goldings was auctioned in 1916 and purchased by Thomas Burberry for £10,500.
In 1921 the Corporation of Basingstoke purchased the park for the sum of £4,500 raised from public subscribers to be held in perpetuity for the benefit of the town and as a memorial to those lost in the first world war.
The Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Major-General J E B Seely CB CMG DSO, performed the ceremony of unlocking the gate at the Hackwood Road entrance and declared the park open for the use and enjoyment of the public.
"It is indeed a splendid memorial", said the Lord Lieutenant, "for I think no town of the size of Basingstoke has had so beautiful a park presented to it by the generosity of its citizens as a memorial for those who fell".
Original Design
The parkland was designed in the picturesque landscape style popular during the 18th century. Goldings, with its gardens, orchards, greenhouses and orangery, was separated from the parkland by a ha-ha retained on the north side by brick and flint. Trees were planted to frame the main views from the house, which included the summer house or temple in the middle distance.
Changes to the Original Design
In the winter of 1920/21 the new layout for the park designed by Mr J Arther Smith FRIBA, was implemented.
A gravelled walk was constructed from the Hackwood Road entrance, with its new wrought iron gates, leading to the bandstand, which was moved to the park from the nearby Fairfields Recreation Ground in 1927. To the north of the bandstand, eight lawn tennis courts were constructed and enclosed by fencing. A path ran north from the bandstand, between the two groups of courts, over the ha-ha, alongside a bowling green and finished at the London Road entrance. At the south end of the park a shallow circular pond was constructed for small children to paddle and sail toy boats. Seats were provided to overlook the parkland and an aviary was added in 1940.
The war memorial, designed by L.F Roslyn, was erected at the London Road entrance to the park in 1923.
When the southern part of the Basingstoke ring road was built in the 1970's, part of War Memorial Park was lost. To compensate for the lost land, an area of Basingstoke Common was added to the east side of the park. Football pitches and a cricket square have now been established on this land plus floodlit tennis courts. The John Arlott Pavilion was opened in 1990.
Recent Refurbishment of the Park
In 2001 the Borough Council's Leisure Services Committee was successful in an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for £382,000 as part funding for the refurbishment of the park.
The refurbishment scheme carried out in 2001 included:
- restoration of the historic structures
- relocating the bandstand from the centre of the park to form a wedding garden and new feature at the Hackwood Road entrance.
- repair and renewal of footpath surfaces, lighting, seats, bins and signage.
- provision of a new play area
- restoration of the woodland walk and replacement tree planting
Image by James Phillips