Sefton Park Area

**Paddy** · 12-28-2008

I did my courting, my footie, my dreaming in Sefton. I lived at the bottom of Lark Lane and walked over Sefton nearly every day. I loved to sing and would sing all my favourite songs while counting magpies.I remember the cave, and as a child climbed all over peter pan on a hot summers day. I remember the circus coming in the sixties. I would sometimes just sit in the palm house and talk to my girl. The cafe in the centre of the park was sometimes open and a bottle of coke went down well. If not then it was the water spout that stood there for years.The aviary was going then and they had very colourful birds flying around inside. I knew the park like the back of my hand. I went through this summer and saw the drained lake, I bet they found some engagement rings at the bottom.

**Kev Keegan** · 12-28-2008

28th December 2008 - Samuel Smith Obelisk

Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again. But whosoever drinketh of the water water that I shall give him shall never thirst.

**irishseashipping.com** · 12-29-2008

Interesting seeing the detailed shots of the cave and the re-exacavated pond.

I drive past this location several times a week and recall in the 1970s - the last time any serious work was done on the park - that the cave and cascade inside were briefly restored and open though up to that point I recall it being fenced off when my great uncle would take me for walks around there in the 60s.

The details photos of the caging on the opening is somewhat intriguing - some sections appear to be held in place by springs. Is that to allow trapped wildlife to be able to force its way out?

John

**Max** · 12-29-2008

Good to see that there securing the cave better, for years the wired gate was cut open so anyone could go In.

Cool to see a pond re-excavated too.

Looking forward to the restoration being completed, It will be more photogenic especially for sunrise.

Glad I only live down the road from this park.

**naked lilac** · 12-29-2008

Originally Posted by brian daley

I remember Old Nicks Cave ,as a child in the 40's it seemed huge and spooky. many's the game of hide and seek were played there on summer days during the holidays. both parks were just a walk away from our lodgings in Mozart St. I recollect Princes Park being more sedate than Sefton Park. You would see Nannys from the large houses in Princes Avenue and Devonshire Road pushing their charges around in huge perambulators. The posh kids in their tennis whites would play on the courts their and we ragged urchins used to look longingly at the rich kids at play. The used to be a little maze in Princes park, a flower clock and some lovely floral walks.
Sefton Park was the main park,with its open air theatre,bandstand ,boating lake and Palm House ,it was a wonderland. Peter Pans statue and Old Nicks Cave added to the fun of the place. You did'nt need a penny to go there and we used to love sitting by the boating lake watching the toffs go by. A magic place then ,could be again.

This amazes me, how fun a park WAS.... Those Caves could still be open to play hide and seek in the daytime.. If necessary close them up at night.. but, those blue, terrible looking spring-like gates are just an eye sore.. I understand that hoodies, or punks, etc.. may take part in the caves at night.. but, isn't it a shame....that security couldn't be put in place for such things.. A park should be like what you remember Brain D. and what others remember as children.. PEACE and FUN..
I loved Sefton Park.. loved feeding the swans, and birds.. and just walking and enjoying the beauty.. I do hope it gets back to how it used to be...

**Kev Keegan** · 12-30-2008

**Paddy** · 12-30-2008

Look at those houses, substantial properties. London is like that in parts I wonder about wealth. I don't know what the fish sculpture is about, perhaps we could be enlightend.

**A.D.W** · 12-30-2008

Fine pictures, Kev.

**Kev Keegan** · 12-30-2008

Cheers

There are villas all the way around Sefton Park.

**taffy** · 12-30-2008

Here's a few more photos of work in progress, It's nice to see Eros back in place.

**Paddy** · 12-30-2008

Well I have been busy of late

**M6AJJ** · 12-30-2008

Great pictures Taffy, Eros back in place, the bandstand being repaired, looks like Sefton Park is coming back to life after many years. I must have another trip back to see the Palm House etc.

I don't remember Gladstones statue being there, wasn't it somewhere in Prices Park?

Tony

**taffy** · 12-31-2008

Originally Posted by M6AJJ

Great pictures Taffy, Eros back in place, the bandstand being repaired, looks like Sefton Park is coming back to life after many years. I must have another trip back to see the Palm House etc.

I don't remember Gladstones statue being there, wasn't it somewhere in Prices Park?

Tony

Glad you liked the photos. I believe William Gladstone was always there. The stolen metal plaques have been replaced and the statue cleaned. The bandstand was completely disassembled and taken away for repairs and is now being put together again.

**Paddy** · 12-31-2008

What about the Band

**M6AJJ** · 12-31-2008

You know that really brings back memories, when I was about five we were put into a nursing home around Sefton Park (me Mum was in hospital, and me Dad was at sea) and the treat on a Sunday for all the kids, was bread to feed the ducks, and a visit to the bandstand to hear the band. Never forget it...