CROQUET GALLERY: Kelvingrove Park

17 August 2008
Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow, Scotland , UK
by Leo Nikora

Croquet Lawn

Kelvingrove Park, overlooked by the University of Glasgow on one side and the Park District on the other, is one of the finest parks in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. Located in the West End of Glasgow, it straddles the River Kelvin and covers 85 acres. It was created as the West End Park in 1852 by Sir Joseph Paxton and has been the site of three exhibitions: the 1888 International Exhibition, the 1901 International Exhibition and the 1911 Scottish Exhibition.

Kelvingrove contains a bandstand, skatepark, bowling, croquet greens, statues and monuments. The largest monument is the Stewart Memorial Fountain, built to commemorate Lord Provost Robert Stewart (1851-1854) and his achievement of providing the city with fresh water from Loch Katrine. There are statues to William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, Joseph Lister, Lord Roberts as well as a memorial to the Cameronians and the Highland Light Infantry. The park is popular with joggers and is the home of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. The area is convenient for tourists, being adjacent to Kelvin Hall Sports Arena and the Glasgow Museum of Transport, both housed in the same building, on the opposite side of Argyle Street.