Parkinson’s Park gets its name from Frank and Albert Parkinson, who founded F & A Parkinson Ltd in Guiseley, producing electrical motors. In 1927, the company merged with lighting firm Crompton and Co to become Crompton Parkinson Ltd. During the 1930s, the Parkinsons developed this land, which was previously farmland, to create the park for their employees and the community of Guiseley.
The development of the park initially involved laying footpaths from the old stone walls, building gates at the entrances and adding seats along the ridge where you stand now to admire the view of Hawksworth Moor (including the famous Windy Ridge, made popular by the novels of Bradford author Willie Riley), and the views up the Guiseley Gap to Wharfedale.
In the 1950s, two copses of trees were planted to celebrate the Queen’s Coronation and the Festival of Britain: one was planted in the shape of Guiseley and the other in the shape of the neighbouring town of Yeadon. A bowling and putting green, a rose garden, tennis courts and a pavilion were also built near the factory. The park hosted children's galas, fireworks displays and was well used by the local community for many years.
However, following a number of buyouts and takeovers, the Crompton Parkinson factories eventually closed completely in 2004 and the factory and park facilities were demolished in 2006. The park fell into neglect and became overgrown. The park was restored in 2011 and can now be enjoyed again by all as the Parkinsons intended.
By the cache location you can admire the view over the former factory site (now a housing estate) up to the moors. Over to the left you can see the green clock tower, which was removed from the demolished Crompton Parkinson works and repositioned in the Netherfield Road car park. In the centre is the surviving mill chimney at Gordon Mills (formerly Ings Mill). Over to the right in the middle distance you can see the former High Royds Hospital in Menston, which also has a clock tower (now also housing).
For parking suggestions, please see the waypoints. Do not park on Kelcliffe Lane (the single-track unmade road).
This cache was placed with the kind permission of the Friends of Parkinson’s Park.