Promenade Park
Promenade Park, known colloquially as ‘The Prom’, is Maldon’s centrepiece. Visitors come from all over Essex to amble round its 23.5 hectares and partake of some of its attractions. For local families, it offers the most obvious choice for a day out. For local kids, The Prom is the height of excitement and adventure. For local teens, it provides the swings and slides they love to occupy as dusk dawns.
Opened in 1895, The Prom today performs the same role it did back then – to give locals a bit of fresh air and some relief from their dreary lives.
Opened in 1895, The Prom today performs the same role it did back then – to give locals a bit of fresh air and some relief from their dreary lives.
First things first, and most importantly, there are free toilets within the park – a sure sign of a civilised town. In nearby Braintree, the locals have been known to mark their territory on the tree trunks of Marshalls Park.
The Prom has undergone extensive changes within the last decade, including the death of the Maldon Marine Lake – a free swimming area for nearly 100 years.
Swimmers here took their last dip in September 2003. The previous year, a 47 year old man had died after hitting his head on a submerged post. The Health and Safety Executive began litigation proceedings against Maldon District Council with the council having to pay up £200,000 (£75k fine, £125k costs) after breaching health and safety regulations.
Fearful of more legal battles in the courts, and unwilling to comply with the bulky health and safety rules, the council decided an ornamental lake was the safest option.
A group of outraged local residents mounted a fierce campaign entitled ‘Save Maldon Marine Lake’. Alas, the council stood firm and, in 2006, an ornamental lake, complete with fountains and swans, was opened.
The Prom has undergone extensive changes within the last decade, including the death of the Maldon Marine Lake – a free swimming area for nearly 100 years.
Swimmers here took their last dip in September 2003. The previous year, a 47 year old man had died after hitting his head on a submerged post. The Health and Safety Executive began litigation proceedings against Maldon District Council with the council having to pay up £200,000 (£75k fine, £125k costs) after breaching health and safety regulations.
Fearful of more legal battles in the courts, and unwilling to comply with the bulky health and safety rules, the council decided an ornamental lake was the safest option.
A group of outraged local residents mounted a fierce campaign entitled ‘Save Maldon Marine Lake’. Alas, the council stood firm and, in 2006, an ornamental lake, complete with fountains and swans, was opened.
This move did coincide with the addition of a separate water feature for kids, the Splash Park, open from 11am – 5pm on weekends from May to September and throughout the school summer holidays.
A 20 minute session costs £2 although there may be a queue – the council is clearly concerned about having too many sprogs running around at the same time. |
In health and safety gone mad, the council also warns parents of what they call ‘little mishaps’ (poo to you and me) which may shut down the amusement for up to 4 hours. Although they don’t say so, presumably this is aimed at visitors coming from the Braintree area.
Next to the Splash Park is the Galleon – a large wooden ship for little ones to climb all over. A little further up is the model boating and crabbing lake. Here you might see some miniature replicas of the Thames barges found at Hythe Quay.
At the very end of The Prom is a statue of Byrhtnoth, the bungling leader of the Anglo-Saxon army against the invading Vikings in the Battle of Maldon.
Next to the Splash Park is the Galleon – a large wooden ship for little ones to climb all over. A little further up is the model boating and crabbing lake. Here you might see some miniature replicas of the Thames barges found at Hythe Quay.
At the very end of The Prom is a statue of Byrhtnoth, the bungling leader of the Anglo-Saxon army against the invading Vikings in the Battle of Maldon.
In an almost unending journey of enchantment, The Prom also serves up a BMX and skate park, a small maze, a traditional children’s playground and 1,000 trees of 65 different species. Tree enthusiasts, unfairly ridiculed for the most part, can take part in guided walks.
Well-behaved dogs are welcome to the park – the dogs’ behaviour apparently related to the presence of two sand pits. Disobedient mutts will be escorted from the premises and banned for life. |
The sports fields at the front of the park host football and
cricket matches. There are also tennis courts which are not free and, come to
think of it, I have never worked out how to book a court. I would be delighted
to know.
From the kiosks besides the ornamental lake, visitors can gorge on ice cream, fries and burgers until their hearts are content, or at least full of cholesterol.
Near the main entrance of The Prom is Maldon Museum where, amongst other things, you can find the XXXXXXXXXL waistcoat of Edward Bright (aka The Fat Man of Maldon). The museum is open from March to November and admission is £2 for adults and 50p for children.
From the kiosks besides the ornamental lake, visitors can gorge on ice cream, fries and burgers until their hearts are content, or at least full of cholesterol.
Near the main entrance of The Prom is Maldon Museum where, amongst other things, you can find the XXXXXXXXXL waistcoat of Edward Bright (aka The Fat Man of Maldon). The museum is open from March to November and admission is £2 for adults and 50p for children.