Musgrave Park, Belfast

Musgrave Park is a public park in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Situated in the south west of the city, in Ballygammon townland off Stockman's Lane, the surrounding area is a mix of trading estates and residential housing, with the M1 motorway passing close to one end.

Facilities include a bowling pavilion, playing fields, walks, nature areas and bottle banks. Since 2010, it has been developing a therapy garden. The adjoining Musgrave Park Hospital specialises in rehabilitation for all ages.

Grovelands, a smaller park running alongside and to the south, is connected to Musgrave by the main pathway which runs through both.

The land on which Musgrave Park was built was donated to Belfast in 1921 by Henry Musgrave (1827-1922). It was another three years before the park was open to the public. 250 gardeners worked during this time to landscape the ground, as part of a job creation scheme.

The park was opened in 1924 by Lady Edith Dixon, who was later herself to donate Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park to the city.

The Musgrave family made their fortune in great part through the Ulster Convector Stove, used for heating and ventilation processes worldwide during the 19th and 20th centuries. The Musgraves were a philanthropic family and the park is not the only landmark that bears their name. Musgrave Channel in Belfast harbour is named in honour of a brother of Henry Musgrave, Sir James Musgrave, who was chairman of Belfast Harbour Board.Sir James also founded the chair of pathology at Queen's College, Belfast, now Queen's University.

...
Wikipedia