Parks, play areas and sports facilities - Marsden Park

Car parking spaces are available directly in front of Marsden Old Hall, off Walton Lane, Nelson.

Marsden Park is the largest park in Pendle. It has many historical and architectural features including spa bath, an ornamental pond and marsh area, a circular garden, sensory garden and a Lady's Garden. There are also woodland walks to enjoy.

Situated within the Park are five tennis courts, two bowling greens and a children's playground.

Marsden Old Hall

The hall that can be seen today is actually of two different periods. The old part of the hall, which is the main part of the building, was probably built in around 1555 to 1563 by Richard Walton of Barkerhouse. 

The hall was in a bad condition before its ownership was transferred to Nelson Corporation. The Tudor section still remains and has been restored with funds from the Heritage Lottery Fund. It is a historic landmark for the area. All that is left of the extension are the cellars that would have been used for storing food and wine.

Sundials

There are two sundials in Marsden Park. The largest - the Icosahedral Sundial - was commissioned by Richard Thomas Wroe - Walton and was built in 1841 by Thornber and Kippax. Originally this sundial was on the opposite side of the park but was moved to its current location in the 1950s.

This sundial has twenty faces which tell the time in different countries. It also has the ability to depict the day, date and the points of the compass. 

This type of sundial is extremely rare, there are only two other similar sundials in the UK. One is in Plymouth and the other in the grounds of Stonyhurst College. There are only known to be nine others in the world.

Marsden Park’s second sundial can be found in the north wall of the coach house towards the top of the park. This sundial is inscribed with the words ‘Test well Thine Heart, Thy Will, Thy Words, Thy Way And the True Light will guide You to Glorious Day’. 

Imitation Roman Bath House and Gardens

Although the hall gardens would have been ornamental and grand, they also provided those who lived there with a supply of fresh food. The kitchen garden, which is the area laid out in a bowl shape next to the coach house, is extremely unusual because of its shape. In the bottom of the bowl stood a large greenhouse where exotic fruits such as pineapples would have been grown.

The imitation Roman Bath House was a summer house for the family so they could take shade from the sun and have afternoon tea by the lakeside. It also was a boiler house for another greenhouse and the families that were located above.

The My Lady’s Garden

In the wall of the garden there are two bricked up doorways. Local legend states that one of these was a secret passageway to the hall. However, investigations during the restoration proved that this was not the case. One appears to be a summerhouse or storage area, while the other was an ice house.

During winter ice would have been cut from the upper lake and brought to the house. This was then used as a type of outdoor fridge to store meats and other foods that were likely to go off if stored anywhere else.

The Wishing Gate

The Wishing Gate is a large stone and metal structure 20 metres north of the Upper Lake. Originally called the Egyptian Gate, it was once the entrance in to the main gardens of the house.

A local custom has grown around the gate, the origins of which are not known. The custom is to pick a leaf from a nearby tree, place it in one of the carved holes and make a wish as you walk through the gate

History and Further Features

Download the history, and further features of Marsden Park.

Disabled facilities

Many of the paths and walkways are suitable for people with low mobility.

There is a sensory garden with tactile path finders.

A new playground was installed in 2023.

There is one playground with 18 pieces of play equipment, four of which are disability accessible, and one wheelchair/pushchair friendly entrance. Dogs are not allowed in the play area.

• Junior: suitable for 5 to 14 year olds

The park has 2 tennis courts and two bowling greens.

In 2024 a new MUGA will be created and 2 tennis courts refurbished.

Marsden Park has a very active Friends Group who work alongside us maintaining the high standard of the park. The firends group get involved with regular Volunteer and Conservation Days throughout the year.

• More information about our Friends Groups