The second phase of this project has been the construction
of a small section of the footprint of the mansion, matching the area
excavated by volunteers in November 2007, and therefore providing a permanent
reminder of the park's important historical heritage, the hard work to uncover
the site by local volunteers and a new focus for visitors.
Interpretational
signage provides details of the mansion and of its inhabitants. The construction
has been created from gabion
baskets, dressed with sandstone, providing a unique, modern interpretation
of the site. Two columns are sited where the original entrance used to be.
We are hoping to encourage the use of the site for Victorian themed plays and educational projects.
Phase 2 site construction images are at the bottom of the Images page.
November 12th 2008
The
official opening ceremony of the Gladstone Roots site took place at 11.am
on Wednesday the 12th of November 2008.
We were very lucky with the weather following a spate of
typical November freezing cold and wet days prior to the event and so we had
to take this into consideration.
Arriving at 7.30 in the morning we were pleased to see that it was going to
be a dry and sunny day with little wind - this meant our gazebo would not
go into orbit this time!
After we had just set up the gazebo, Friends Chairman Bob Dutton gave an interview
to BBC Radio Merseyside's 'Man
in the van'.
Later on as guests arrived we directed them to the Gladstone Roots site and
just before 11.am Bob greeted the Mayor and Mayoress and they were directed
to seating in our gazebo so they could comfortably observe the proceedings.
We were also very grateful for Sir William Gladstone from Hawarden to take
part. Picture
The event was opened with a speech from the Mayor of Knowsley, Councillor Michael Foulkes and then by Councillor Eddie Connor, Knowsley council’s cabinet member for leisure, he said: “This unique project has provided both a lasting historical interpretation of the house which once stood here and an important education resource for our schools and young people. “The legacy left by this project will be a further asset to our award-winning green flag park.”
Bob
Dutton next spoke to the assembled visitors to thank all those that took
part in the project and then asked the Mayor to open the site by cutting a
ribbon across the two main columns at the entrance to the mansion. Guests
were then invited to step through the entrance to the site by members of the
friends dressed as the Gladstone family and servants.
Photographs were
taken and Bob handed over to storyteller John
Hughes. John had been commissioned by the friends to
write a special 'rap' style poem to entertain and inform the schoolchildren
present. John led the children and guests from room to room as he provided
a unique insight to life in the mansion house many years ago. 'Walk
in the footprints' MP3 file here.
The children from
St Margaret Mary's were very well behaved and took part in the 'rap' until
we completed our event at the site. Later on we invited all of our guests
back to the National Wildflower Centre cafe for a lovely buffet that we had
arranged.
We had also set out an exhibition in the NWC conservatory of interesting finds from the Heritage Lottery funded archaeological dig back in 2007 .
Liverpool Echo report here.
Opening Ceremony images
Pictures below courtesy of Jan Pell of Landlife.
