Alright, take a look to your left-here’s Victoria Park, Newbury’s green and lively playground. These days you’ll find all sorts: a bandstand where you might catch a brass band on a sunny Sunday, neatly-lined tennis courts, and a boating lake that kids splash around in come summer. There’s even a skatepark if you fancy watching some questionable acrobatics......mixed with the sound of wheels rattling across the concrete.
But if you rewind to the 1800s, this wasn’t Victoria Park at all-it was simply called “The Marsh.” Back then, it really earned its name; the area was swampy and, oddly enough, you had every right to graze your cow right here. That gave way to smarter landscaping, a name change, and eventually the addition of a rather regal touch: Queen Victoria herself. Well, her statue, anyway. She was moved here in the 1960s, after being shuffled about town since 1903.
Now, let’s talk war and a bit of local improvisation. During World War II, fear of bombing made the main bridge in town seem a risky crossing. So, the town threw up a “temporary” bridge over the canal-blueprints stamped by the American Army, although the job was all local hands. The “American Bridge,” as folks stubbornly called it, was built worryingly low-at just seven feet. Apparently, the only thing it was good at keeping out was tall people......Still, the bridge stuck around until 2001. Not bad for something meant to last a few months.
Alright, when you’re ready, Parkway Newbury is just a 2-minute walk heading southwest.
