Pulham at Worth Park

Pulham at Worth Park

Crawley, West Sussex

Parks and gardens

Allen Scott Ltd

Crawley Borough Council

To preserve and enhance the Pulham design and Pulhamite features, enhance the heritage value and maximise the park's amenity value.

Winner Landscape Institute Awards 2016

Landscape practice: Allen Scott; client: Crawley Borough Council; engineer: Waterman Group; quantity surveyor: PT Projects; project management: Glevum Consulting; main contractor: Blakedown Landscapes; specialist crafts: Pulhamite Reconstruction, Alan Bishop Associates; Pulham terracotta fountain restoration: The Fountain Company; camellia walk: Green Oak Carpentry; Pulham advisor: Claude Hitching

2015

6.5 ha

'£0.9 million

A 1950's ‘new town', Crawley is often derided for its lack of heritage. Following research by Claude Hitching1 and the Parks Officer, Crawley Council (CBC) became aware that Worth Park was an original James Pulham and Sons design, containing remnants of many Pulhamite features. The project devised to save and restore the near-derelict Pulham legacy within an improved setting, as well as improving the amenity value of the wider park, substantially smaller than its original form, which was very overgrown with poor accessibility. Our role was to lead the project, develop and guide the restoration through HLF and LI design stages, work with the Friends, County Archaeologist and CBC and craftspeople experienced in restoring Pulhamite, terracotta, stonework, green oak joinery and pump systems. The project was overseen by CBC's Landscape Officer supported by project manager Glevum Consulting, engineers Waterman and QS PT Projects. The client recognized their responsibility following the Pulham features' Grade II Listing by Historic England. Due to Crawley's reputation, the restoration of the ‘Pulham Park' is tremendously important to CBC and re focused improvements across all parks. The rescue of Worth has informed and strengthened the profession's knowledge surrounding the work of Pulham and the landscapes they created and adorned over a 50 year period. The local community and the wider public have access to a vastly improved park. The Friends run coach tours to historic gardens, the Activity Officer runs events and education programmes and all benefit from a project funded full-time Head Gardener and apprentice. The environment has transformed an overgrown indistinct local park to one of national interest. Major vegetation clearance coupled with significant ornamental and native planting has improved biodiversity of the SNCI covering the lake, evidenced through ecological monitoring.