Oak Hill Park is the main public park in Accrington, Lancashire. It occupies a hillside site to the south of the town centre, between Manchester Road and Hollins Lane.
The upper level of the park, on the Hollins Lane side, has a decent selection of sports facilities. There are two crown bowling greens (each with a pavilion), three tennis courts, and a multi-use games area.
Oak Hill Park has a fairly modern play area. It is split into two sections; one suitable for toddlers and another for older children. It’s situated on the lower level of the park, near Manchester Road.
The park’s bandstand is just east of the playground. It was built in 2009, replacing a similar structure that was destroyed by arson in 2004.
The Accrington War Memorial is the most striking feature of the park, consisting of a large stone obelisk and pedestal. It was designed by George Herbert Tyson Smith and unveiled on July 1 1922, the sixth anniversary of the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
There’s a rock garden just to the south of the war memorial. The Japanese style garden features meandering paths, an ornamental pond, and shrubs and grasses. A pagoda provides welcome shelter from an unexpected shower.
The no public toilets or food and drink outlets at Oak Hill Park.
The park opened in 1893 on the site of the Oak Hill estate. The layout of the park has not changed significantly over the years.
The estate’s mansion house, at the northern end of the park, is now a care home for the elderly. Before World War II it housed the collection of Tiffany glass now on display at the Haworth Art Gallery.
Oak Hill Park is located between the A680 Manchester Road and Hollins Lane. There are four entrances to the park; two on Manchester Road and two on Hollins Lane.
There’s no car park apart from a small area for disabled visitors at the southern entrance on Manchester Road. There is plenty of free street parking nearby on both Manchester Road and Hollins Lane.
On our last visit we parked close to the southern entrance on Hollins Lane (postcode BB5 2LB).
Haworth Park and the Haworth Art Gallery are just a quarter of a mile south of Oak Hill Park.
