Rock Park

The park was donated to the public by William Frederick Rock and officially opened 12 August 1879.[2] It was designed and laid out by RD Gould.[3] The opening was commemorated with an obelisk at the entrance to the park which is a listed structure with Historic England.[4] William Rock was born in Barnstaple and educated at Christ's Hospital London, he started a successful printing business and became wealthy. He became a benefactor to the town founding the literary and scientific foundation in 1845, Rock Park in 1879 and North Devon Athenaeum in 1888.[1]

The park contains a number of structures listed with Historic England. These include Rock Park Lodge which was built in Queen Anne style.[5] There are a number of historic lamp posts with one erected around the time of the park's opening designed in a Free Baroque style.[6] There are a pair of lampstands with pedestal bottoms dating to the same time at the entrance to the park.[3]

There is a children's play area, tennis, crown green bowling, basketball, football, a skatepark, footpaths and walking along the River Taw, an outdoor gym and refreshment kiosk.[1] Barnstaple Parkrun takes place in the park every Saturday morning at 9am, it is 5 km in length and run on the park's footpaths.[7]