PARK OPEN 8AM TILL DUSK At the heart of the city sits Mowbray Park, one of the oldest parks in the North East of England and often described as 'the jewel in the crown of the city centre' The park was opened by John Candlish Lord Mayor on 21 May 1857. The land was purchased from the Mowbray family. The park was extended in 1866 to include a lake, a terrace, and in 1879 the Winter Gardens, museum and art gallery were added. During the Second World War it was hit with numerous German bombs, the iron structures - the Winter Gardens, a cast iron bridge, and the bandstand were melted down for weapons, the open spaces were converted into vegetable patches. The park fell into neglect. The area became known for anti-social behaviour, and was considered generally unsafe. In 1994 work began on restoring the park to its Victorian glory. The park re-opened in 2000. In the first year following re-opening, the park received over 800,000 visitors, making it the most visited attraction outside London.
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