Hagley Park
Aerial view of Hagley Park, showing (from top) North Hagley Park, the Botanic Gardens, and South Hagley Park
Type	Public park
Location	Christchurch
Coordinates	43°32′S 172°37′E / 43.53°S 172.62°E / -43.53; 172.62Coordinates: 43°32′S 172°37′E / 43.53°S 172.62°E / -43.53; 172.62
Area	1.61 km2
Created	1856 (1856)
Operated by	Christchurch City Council
Status	Open all year

Hagley Park is the largest urban open space (164.637 hectares)^[1] in Christchurch, New Zealand, and was created in 1855 by the Provincial Government. According to the government's decree at that time, Hagley Park is "reserved forever as a public park, and shall be open for the recreation and enjoyment of the public."^{[citation needed]} Hagley Park is characterised by its trees and broad open spaces. Hagley Park was named after the country estate of Lord Lyttelton, who became chairman of the Canterbury Association in March 1850.^[2]

Location[link]

The boundaries of the park, which is located in the central city of Christchurch, are defined by both the Avon River and the surrounding roadways. The longest road boundary is that along Deans Avenue on the western side adjacent to the suburb of Riccarton.

To the north and northeast, the natural path of the Avon River bounds the park. Moorhouse Avenue and Hagley Avenue form the south and south-eastern boundaries, respectively. Along the eastern boundary, the Park is defined by the two kilometre loop of the Avon River, which extends into the side of Hagley Park.

The Christchurch Botanic Gardens (21.14 hectares) are located within this loop and frequent bridges provide connections. The Botanic Gardens contain a collection of beautiful flowers and trees from around the world. The gardens attract many birds to the park, and sightseers frequently visit the park to view the plants and the wildlife.

The Canterbury Museum and Christ's College are the two other land uses that take up the balance of the land within the river's loop.

Two major avenues subdivide the park into three units. The northern unit is Little Hagley Park (6.96 hectares), with North Hagley Park (87.17 hectares) lying to the south of Harper Avenue. South Hagley Park (70.507 hectares) lies to the south of North Hagley Park, separated by Riccarton Avenue.^[1]

Usage[link]

Hagley Park has frequently been a site for gathering large crowds together: it served as the location for the Great Industrial Exposition of 1882 and the New Zealand International Exhibition in 1906–1907. In recent years, the park has hosted many visiting circuses and open-air concerts. The Ellerslie Flower Show has been held in North Hagley Park since 2008.^{[citation needed]}

A golf course (Hagley Golf Club) is located in North Hagley Park.^[3]

South Hagley Park contains several netball courts, the Hagley Oval cricket ground and a heliport for Christchurch Hospital.^{[citation needed]}

• 

  North Hagley Park, late afternoon

• 

  Little Hagley Park (north of Harper Ave)

• 

  Foggy morning, North Hagley Park

• 

  A black swan and model yachts on Victoria Lake

• 

  North Hagley Park in autumn

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hagley Park

• Hagley Park Map, Christchurch City Council
• Hagley Park, Christchurch City Council
• The Christchurch Botanic Gardens

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2009)

Coordinates: 52°26′N 2°07′W / 52.43°N 2.12°W / 52.43; -2.12

Hagley
The Lyttleton Arms
Hagley  Hagley shown within Worcestershire
Population	4,283 (2001) for Civil Parish; approximately 5600 for the whole village
Civil parish	Hagley
District	Bromsgrove
Shire county	Worcestershire
Region	West Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	STOURBRIDGE
Postcode district	DY8/9
Dialling code	01562
Police	West Mercia
Fire	Hereford and Worcester
Ambulance	West Midlands
EU Parliament	West Midlands
UK Parliament	Bromsgrove
List of places: UK • England • Worcestershire

Hagley is a village and civil parish on the northern boundary of Worcestershire, England, near to the towns of Stourbridge and Kidderminster. The parish had a population of 4,283 in 2001,^[1] but the whole village had a population of perhaps 5,600, including the part in Clent parish.^{[citation needed]} It is in Bromsgrove District.

The name Hagley refers to the area of the original village, near Hagley Hall. The majority of what is today known as Hagley is strictly West Hagley. This area grew up in the late 19th century near the railway station and contains the shopping area and schools. The precise dividing line between the two areas is undefined and is therefore debatable. Nevertheless, both settlements lie within the parish of Hagley.

Hagley is part of the West Midlands Urban Area as defined by the Office for National Statistics^[2], and is joined to Stourbridge and the Black Country by the A491; a narrow strip of green belt separates Hagley from Stourbridge. The village lies at the foot of the Clent Hills.

Hagley is served by its own railway station on the Kidderminster to Birmingham line.

It is situated on the A456 Birmingham to Kidderminster road, which is known as the Hagley Road in Birmingham, because it was once administered by a turnpike trust,^[3] whose responsibilities ended at the former boundary of the parish (now in Blakedown).

Despite having a population larger than some market towns (such as Tenbury Wells), Hagley lacks the essential characteristics of a market town.^[4] While it has a healthy shopping street and many local services, it is a fundamentally unbalanced community economically, in that there is little local employment (other than in local services). However, unemployment is low,^[5] because of the ease of commuting to work. Accordingly Hagley is essentially a dormitory village. The population of Hagley greatly increased after the arrival of the railway in 1862, which enabled people to commute into Birmingham or the adjacent Black Country.

Landmarks[link]

Hagley is known for

• Hagley Hall, the home for several centuries of the Lyttelton family, whose head is Viscount Cobham, and
• Wychbury Hill with its 'monument' (an obelisk). The body of "Bella" was believed to be found in a wood near the hill, sparking the murder mystery "Who put Bella in the Witch Elm?" about which a play was written by the local drama society. However contrary to the urban myth the body was found in Hagley Wood off a lane on the side of nearby Clent Hill.^{[citation needed]}
• St. Saviour's Church, a stone-built church near the centre of West Hagley, dedicated in 1908 and consecrated in 1957. The church consists of a nave and chancel without a tower.^[6] It has a series of windows by Francis Skeat.^[7]

Significant events[link]

Hagley Obelisk before it was restored in 2010

Three tragic events during the late 20th century drew media attention to Hagley.

Murder of a student[link]

In 1983, Susan Renhard from West Hagley, a student at Manchester Polytechnic, was murdered while taking photos in the Peak District. Her body was discovered showing indications that she had fought violently to defend herself before being strangled. The murder made national headlines and Norman Hugh Smith, a 17 year old computer student, was found guilty of the crime and described by the judge a "very wicked man". Susan's father, a retired law lecturer, became heavily involved in two charities that seek to help relatives who have lost loved ones through homicide.

Child murder[link]

In January 1988, Stuart Gough, a 14-year-old newspaper delivery boy was found murdered some 20 miles away near Worcester. Serial paedophile Victor Miller later admitted murdering Stuart and was sentenced to life imprisonment. The trial judge said that he didn't know whether it would be safe ever to release him. An article in the Daily Telegraph listed Miller as one of 35 murderers that the Home Secretary had recently^[when?] recommended never to be released from prison.

School minibus crash[link]

In November 1993 a serious collision occurred on the M40 motorway near Warwick, approximately 30 miles from Hagley, resulting in the deaths of twelve pupils and a teacher. Only two girls survived the accident that made national headlines and caused moves for new legislation to improve safety and driving standards for school vehicles.

Famous residents[link]

• Jon Bentley of Channel Five's Fifth Gear and Gadget shows currently lives in Hagley.
• Adrian Chiles, presenter of Match of the Day 2 and formerly of The One Show.
• Andrew Downes, composer.
• Clive Everton, snooker commentator.
• Jon Ford, former professional association footballer with Swansea AFC, Bradford City and other teams. Now a retired assistant manager for Stourbridge FC.
• Jason Koumas lived in Hagley
• Charles Lyttelton (bishop), born here, and buried in the parish church.
• Dan O'Hagan, television football commentator.
• Emily Pepys (1833-1877), child diarist, became the first wife of the rector, Rev. Hon. William Henry Lyttelton.^[8]
• Lee Sharpe, former professional footballer with (among other teams) Manchester United was a former student of Hagley RC High School.

See also[link]

• Hagley Hall
• Wychbury Hill
• Hagley railway station
• Hagley Catholic High School
• Haybridge High School

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hagley

• Hagley Catholic High School
• Haybridge High School
• Hagley Hall
• Photos of Hagley and surrounding area on geograph