Witton Country Park

Park in Blackburn, Lancashire, United Kingdom

Witton Country Park

Witton Park Country Park Visitors Centre

Witton Country Park

Location within Blackburn

Show map of Blackburn

Witton Country Park

Location within Blackburn with Darwen

Show map of Blackburn with Darwen

Witton Country Park

Location within Lancashire

Show map of Lancashire

Type| Urban park
Location| Blackburn, Lancashire, England
Coordinates| 53°44′35″N 2°31′09″W﻿ / ﻿53.743123°N 2.519150°W﻿ / 53.743123; -2.519150﻿ (Witton Country Park)
Area| 480 acres (190 ha)
Operated by| Blackburn with Darwen Council
Open| Open all year

Witton Country Park is a 480-acre (1.9 km2) public park in the west of Blackburn, Lancashire, England. Around half of the country park is mixed woodland and parkland, while the rest is either farmland or rough grassland with open access. A visitors' centre features stables with exhibitions of old horse-drawn farm machinery, farm hand-tools and a natural history room. A mammal centre houses shrews, voles, ferrets, rabbits and other animals, which are on display.

## History

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Witton House and its gardens were created for Joseph Feilden in 1800.[1] Lieutenant General Randle Joseph Feilden, his second son, was a member of parliament.[2] The estate was used by the British Army in both world wars and then, in 1946, thanks in part due to a large donation by Robert Edward Hart, it was acquired by Blackburn Council.[1] After dry rot was found the house was demolished in 1952.[1]

On 11 April 2011, Prince William and Catherine Middleton visited Witton Country Park and greeted the Blackburn Harriers and Athletic Club.[3]

## Events in the park

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The park is also the venue for the annual Blackburn Race for Life charity fundraising event.[4]

## See also

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* Witton Park Academy

## References

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1. ^ a b c "Witton Park history". Blackburn Council. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
2. ^ Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Joseph Feilden
3. ^ "Royal couple on pre-wedding visit". 11 April 2011 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
4. ^ raceforlife.org Accessed 2011

## External links

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* Witton Country Park on Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council website
* Footage from the 2011 Race for Life event

* v
* t
* e

Geography of Blackburn with Darwen

Towns|

* Blackburn
* Darwen

Suburbs|

* Brownhill
* Bank Hey
* Cherry Tree
* Little Harwood
* Whalley Range
* Whitebirk

Villages|

* Bank Fold
* Beardwood
* Belmont
* Belthorn
* Blackamoor
* Cadshaw
* Chapeltown
* Eccleshill
* Edgworth
* Entwistle
* Feniscowles
* Grimshaw
* Guide
* Hoddlesden
* Lower Darwen
* Pickup Bank
* Pleasington
* Tockholes
* Waterside

Parishes|

* Darwen
* Eccleshill
* Livesey
* North Turton
* Pleasington
* Tockholes
* Yate and Pickup Bank

Topography|

| Waterways|

* R Blakewater
* R Darwen
* R Roddlesworth
* Leeds and Liverpool Canal

|

Reservoirs|

* Belmont
* Dingle
* Turton & Entwistle
* Ward's
* Wayoh

Hills|

* Billinge Hill
* Great Hill
* Noon Hill
* West Pennine Moors
* Winter Hill

Parks|

* Corporation Park
* Darwen Cemetery
* Witton Country Park

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