Bitts Park

If you're looking for a nice stroll to admire trees and foliage then Bitts Park on the north side of Carlisle fits the bill.

The name Bitts Park name may originate from the small parcels of land used for grazing back in the day. The park's history dates back to 1818 when unemployed weavers created a path alongside the River Eden. The area was a former rubbish tip and then opened as a park for the public in 1893 and called the People's Park. It was renamed Bitts Park when it was extended.

The Queen Victoria Statue stands majestically, surrounded by the foliage of trees and grass. It was erected in 1902 by the people, for the people.

I came across curious Mosaic Chairs that were part of a city 'Play Trail' installed in 2011 and like most furniture, it doesn't like being left outside in all weather!

Eden Bridge is a winsome structure in sandstone ashlar. It was built in 1815 to a design by Sir Robert Smirke (1781-1867) with five long arches.

A pedestrian walkway was cut through the bridge in 1902 and steps were added for access to and from the road (now the A7) above. This inviting vista tempts you to walk through.

The bridge was constructed with circular stone cutwaters both down and upstream. They deflect debris, allow a smoother flow under the bridge, and prevent scour (erosion from sediment, sand, and gravel). The rounded ones are not as vulnerable to the ravishes of the water as other straight-line shapes are.

In 1932 the width of the bridge was doubled and matching stonework was used. Can you work out which side is which? The cleaner stonework can be seen on the east side and under the arches.

Although not strictly Bitts Park, but not out of bounds through the pedestrian tunnel, there is more to pique the curious mind. A lifelike Cormorant commemorates the RSPB 25 years in Carlisle. Funds were raised by Michael Carrier who founded the Carlisle Local Group in 1976. It is now owned by the Environmental Department of Carlisle City Council.

The artist is Brian Fell (Born 1952). He works in Steel and stone. It states on his website that:

'Fell creates his sculpture through the unusual technique of cold forging. The steel is never heated but shaped by being beaten with hammers or bent using levers and vices. This physical making process is an important part of his artistic practice'

The Cormorant at first glance looks like it is made out of wood that has then weathered, which adds a subtle touch to it. The plinth is made from Lazonby Stone which is a village about 15 miles south of Carlisle.

There is an installation that looks like a low meranding wall with marble blocks at various points. It is called Hadrian's Wall and with the names of places, you get the idea they are geographically correct.

I took the path back to Bitts Park and descended alongside the river then found some hewn stone boulders. I understand this is contemporary art and is called Towards the Sea. It is one of 10 installations as part of the Eden Benchmarks project. This one is the work of Hideo Furuta (1947 to 2007) He was born in Hiroshima. According to the website Eden Benchmarks:

'The sculptors worked in residence for six weeks and this enabled them to formulate their ideas by familiarising themselves with the locations and talking with local people, including schools, who were encouraged to visit their workshops to see the sculptures taking shape. The artists' brief allowed as much creative freedom as possible to produce site-specific sculpture, which harmonises with the landscape and captures the essence of each unique locality.'

It is certainly suited in the wild grass.

It further explains:

'The four components of this sculpture are manifestations of the sculptor's intense and mathematical explorations of the stone itself and, almost incidentally, describe a sequence of water-eroded stone running parallel with the flow of the river nearby.'

In the Sauceries area there are some stone remains that l assume came from the Eden Bridge area when the river was dredged in 1951. They look like they have been placed inside the remains of a building. Now, some say these are Roman Bridge remains, then others say they are not the right shape but could be medieval.

The River Caldew will stop you from venturing further unless you fancy a sploosh!

You are so near the castle that there are opportunities to marvel at the formidable stonework and buttresses.

On visiting places I seem to always miss something. This park has a play areas and some musical instruments, which I didn't spot! Hope you do.

ADDENDUM

I have revisited and found the instruments this time and played a tune!