Paul RabbittsBandstands from Walter MacFarlane's works were exported around the world. This one is in Elder Park in Adelaide, South Australia.Some of the bandstands, such as here at Hexham in Northumberland, can be lit at night.Bandstands retained their original purpose for decades, attracting crowds who might otherwise waste their time. This one by the Lion Foundry in Kirkintilloch was in Elder Park in Govan.
"He used advertising through published catalogues that showed bandstands and all the other kind of things that they cast as well.Image caption Walter MacFarlane gave us one of the most photographed bandstands in the world, at Brighton in East Sussex.For many years Corporation Park in Blackburn featured a bandstand by the Lion Foundry in Kirkintilloch.The bandstand at Clapham Common in the London Borough of Lambeth dates from 1890 and was restored in 2006.So loved were bandstands that they often featured in postcards. This Elmbank Foundry structure in Sheffield's Weston Park dates from 1875 and has recently been restored.
Recent years have seen a renaissance in Britain's bandstands, with many being restored or rebuilt using lottery funding.Paul says:"All that was left was the remnants of the plinth, which became a flowerbed and then a fishpond and then an empty piece of open space.Image copyrightThe bandstand at Wilton Lodge Park in Hawick is one of more than 100 brought back to life with lottery funding.
The Victoria era was the last time this country had vision, we have been in decline ever since.
I love 💕 listening 👂 to bands from bandstands 🎺
Here's us playing a few weeks ago in Chorley
Social engineering, with its inherent negative connotations, is quite a strong phrase to use. Especially if it’s so positive. Must Britain feel ashamed of everything in its past. My goodness.
so is the BBC.
The one at Chesterfield is in use summer Sundays with brass bands,; what better on a Sunday? - lovely
Bandstands in all the parks in bury when I was a kid, 60's. Now a few have been done up and there has been some music on Sundays. Believe it has gone down well.
Not nearly as beautiful as these, but here is the old bandstand in my home town park in Indiana, USA. In the 50's-70's every summer Sunday there was a band that played for all the people who came to the park after church for socials, family reunions or just the kids playing.
Thanks for this history lesson and the beautiful photos.