Stratford sub Castle village website
Salisbury, Wiltshire UK
Public Open Spaces around Stratford sub Castle
Hudson's Field
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Hudson’s Field is a large open public space on the southern boundary of Stratford sub Castle. The field is used for a number of sports, with football pitches, rugby pitches and cricket wickets. The Field is accessible from Stratford Road, Castle Road, and the footpath leading from The Portway. Limited parking is available in Hudson's Field by using the Castle Road entrance.
Away from the pitches there are plenty of open areas for running or kite flying and it is popular with walkers. There are benches at the upper part of the field, adjacent to the footpath.
There is pedestrian access to Old Sarum from the adjacent Three Cornered Field and from Hudson's Field itself to the nearby Parliament Stone.
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John Cattrell Hudson
Salisbury Mayor 1926-27
Hudson's Field was named in honour of a former mayor of Salisbury, Alderman J C Hudson, who left money in his will that enabled the then Corporation, (now City of Salisbury) to purchase the land and for it to be designated as "an open space for ever" thus preventing any encroachment by building or otherwise, and preserving for visitors and residents, a fine view of Old Sarum. John Hudson was keenly interested in preserving the natural beauty of the city and adding to its open spaces.
A shelter containing a water fountain has long since gone from Hudson’s Field, as has a tablet
that contained the following inscription:
“This shelter and the 44 acres of land surrounding it were provided by the corporation to safeguard the view of Old Sarum, and as a place of recreation for the public. A grant of one-third was made by the executors under the will of Alderman J.C. Hudson, Mayor of this city.”
Excavations by Wessex Archaeology in 2010
"....confirmed the findings of the geophysical survey that the Site lies on the periphery of the postulated extents of the Roman town of Old Sarum." Details & Image here.
Details are also included in our Timeline of Local Architectural Studies
Victoria Park
Victoria Park, owned and maintained by Salisbury City Council, occupies a wedge of gently sloping land between Stratford Road, Park Lane, and Castle Road, making it easily accessible from Stratford sub Castle.
Its layout of pathways suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs, combined with large areas of grass, shrubberies, flower beds, a fine collection of mature native trees, together with some statues of local dignitaries, make Victoria Park an interesting area to explore.
Other attractions include tennis courts, children's play equipment and a football pitch. There are small parking areas from the vehicular entrances in Stratford Road and Castle Road, and public toilets.
The Embankment
Users of the joint cycleway/footpath that leads from 'the bends' on Stratford Road Stratford sub Castle to Five Rivers Leisure Centre will pass to the east of this embankment.
It occupies land between the River Avon on the west side and allotments and housing on the eastern side.
This is public land: there are several walking paths around and over the embankment, with access to the river bank in places.
This area was at one time a 20th century landfill site but there is no longer any evidence of its former use other than its height above the surrounding landscape.
This article supplies the answer to Question No. 1 in the website's
Local History Photo Quiz.