LAST week’s Now and Then picture showed one of Newport’s crowning glories Belle Vue Park.

The land on which the park stands was a gift to the town from Lord Tredegar in 1891.

An open competition to design and construct the park was won by Thomas Mawson (1861-1933) of Windermere whose winning design was, in fact, designed for the neighbouring field, the site of the current Royal Gwent Hospital, after Mawson misunderstood directions on his first visit to the Newport.

The mistake wasn’t realised until the first site visit, after the contract had been awarded and he had to quickly rethink some of his plans!

Mawson went on to become one of the foremost landscape architects of his time, responsible for the design of many gardens in his adopted Cumbria, including Holker Hall and Rydal Hall as well as Dyffryn Botanic Garden in Cardiff.

In November 1892 Lord Tredegar performed the ceremony of cutting the first sod; construction began and the Park opened on 8 September 1894. The final cost of the Park is recorded as £19,500.

The Now and Then picture is of Belle Vue park, Newport.

I have many memories of the park as back in the 1940s my grandfather, Thomas Head of Blackwood and my uncle used to play in the bandstand. They played in a local brass band and every Sunday I was taken to listen to them.

Mrs Winfield, Newport I think the Now and Then picture is of Belle Vue Park, and I can make out the top of the bandstand in the picture. Opposite the bandstand going up steps used to be a conservatory and a café, which recently was about to close.

The front of the park is turned over to Dig for Victory.

Opposite the park used to be a steelworks called Godins which has now closed.

Going up Belle Vue Lane on the right of the park is the Royal Gwent Hospital and then at the top is St Woolos Hospital.

If I remember rightly the park was used for children to convalesce.

Mrs M Reardon