England’s Reform Bill of 1832 was
symbolic of the increased social consciousness
that followed on the heels of
rapid industrialization. The government
acknowledged the need for public green
spaces as one aspect of social reform.
The crown had opened royal properties
to the public in the wealthier West End
of London, but no comparable spaces
existed in poorer neighborhoods. Parks
were part of the housing developments
that industrialists built in the 1830s,
but these green spaces were surrounded
by gates and accessible only to
residents. Birkenhead Park in Liverpool,
the fi rst nonroyal property opened to
the public, was one manifestation of
the progressive trend. However, its
motivation was not only philanthropic;
profi ts were to be made from developing
adjacent lands.