PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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Plymouth's Central Park could be said to have its origins in the use of fields near Pennycomequick for exhibitions. The site backed on to the Devonport Prison and the fields were all within the Devonport boundary. These fields became known as Exhibition Fields and are shown as such on old maps. The first to be held there was the Royal Agricultural Society of England's Show in July 1865. A railway siding was laid from near the Devonport Junction signal box to a point on the Saltash Road, where a platform was provided. Lower Knolly's Terrace and Wake Street did not exist at that time so on the opposite side of the Saltash Road a long oval drive was laid to enable Members' private carriages to deposit their passengers at the Members' Entrance. Both the London & South Western Railway and the South Devon Railway had offices at the entrance. On exhibition at the lower end of the fields were seeds, agricultural models and implements, and 'machinery in motion'. Between the lower and upper display areas were two second class refreshment tents. Above them were three rows of livestock displays and at the very top was am oval horse run, two dining pavilions and an area set out as a fodder yard. There was a first class refreshment tent adjoining the Saltash Road. Whether the railway siding remained intact is not certain but the Bath & West Agricultural Show used the same site in 1872. It is believed that the Exhibition Fields were also used for a visit from Buffalo Bill's Wild West Rodeo Show circa 1907.
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