Holden Park (also known locally as Oakworth Park) is a public urban park located in the village of Oakworth, West Yorkshire, England. It is the only park in the village.
History
The park occupies the former grounds of Oakworth House, a large Italianate villa built between 1864 and 1874 by architect George Smith at a cost of £80,000 for Sir Isaac Holden, a notable industrialist and inventor. The house replaced a smaller dwelling on the site built by Joseph Sugden. In 1907, ten years after Sir Isaac Holden's death in 1897, the house was partially destroyed by fire and subsequently demolished.
Holden Park was opened by Francis Illingworth in 1925, and in 1927 it was formally given to the people of Oakworth by the family of Sir Isaac Holden. The park is operated by the City of Bradford's Parks and Landscape Services and remains open year-round.
In April 2004, the Friends of Holden Park group was formed by local residents with the aim of preserving and protecting the park's remaining features. In 2011, the summerhouse (known locally as the "bear house") was restored with funding from CNet's grassroots fund. In 2012, a blue plaque commemorating Sir Isaac Holden was unveiled on the portico by Sir Paul Holden (Bart.), Sir Isaac's great-grandson.
Landmarks and Features
Holden Park is noted for its distinctive and unusual features, including:
- Stone Portico Entrance – The only surviving remnant of Oakworth House.
- Grottoes and Caves – Artificial caves and grottoes created during Sir Isaac Holden's time, winding around the bowling green.
- Summerhouse ("Bear House") – A structure made from a steel framework and hypertufa, shaped to resemble wooden branches.
- War Memorial – The local war memorial is located within the park.
- Bowling Green – A crown green bowling green constructed on the site where Oakworth House once stood.
- Woodland and Paths – Extensive wooded areas with paths originally laid out by Sir Isaac Holden.
- Children's Play Area and Basketball Court – Modern recreational facilities.
- Elevated Walkway – A feature within the park grounds.
The park transitions from ornamental caves and grottoes near the entrance to open parkland and then into woodland beyond, offering a varied landscape for visitors.
