“Beautifully laid out with walks and planted, as a promenade ... the prospects from this hill are the finest kind, embracing a full view of the town and a well-cultivated country around.”

So notes Slater’s Directory, 1846, of a notable Fermanagh landmark – Forthill Pleasure Park, in Enniskillen, which recently reopened to the public after a lengthy closure due to refurbishment works.

With Easter almost upon us and spring in the air, this unique part of Enniskillen’s landscape has been enhanced and is one of huge cultural significance and heritage value, according to Catherine Scott, Development Officer at Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.

“Victorian parks, such as Enniskillen’s Forthill Pleasure Grounds, were created in the new Industrial age in the 19th Century,” explains Catherine.

“These parks provided a place for people to enjoy the outdoors in the Victorian period. The Forthill was Enniskillen’s first public ‘green space’.

“The modern fascination with green space and public parks is rooted in this era, and in some instances pre-dates the Industrial Revolution.

“The urbanisation of society and the development of towns essentially created the need to establish spaces where people could congregate in an ordered way.

“Public parks were deliberately designed with this in mind, set against the backdrop of harsh socio-economic conditions and often turbulent politics in Ireland.”

Overlooking

The Forthill Park is a beautiful five and a half-acre wooded area located on a hill overlooking Enniskillen.

“It was originally ‘Commons Hill’, or ‘Cow Green’, where Enniskilleners could graze their cattle.

“The park takes its name from a 1689 star fort located on the site. In 1737, Reverend William Henry noted its importance in defending the town, and that the whole hill was covered in camomile, hence ‘Camomile Hill’.”

Looming over the park and Enniskillen is Cole’s Monument, completed in 1857.

Catherine explains how in 1891, Thomas Plunkett, Chairman of the Town Commissioners, supervised the re-landscaping of the park.

Grounds were landscaped, trees thinned out, and extra land was enclosed; the Forthill steps were added in Belmore Street.

The new Forthill Pleasure Grounds were opened on August 7, 1891, by Lady Erne. Plunkett designed the layout himself, with a Fernery, Dell, Fountain and Waterfall as centrepieces to his plan.

“The opening event was amazing. Mr. Stanley Spenser, from London, was booked for his hot air balloon ascent. Messrs. Paine of London provided a fireworks display.

“The park was decorated with bunting, streamers, and Chinese lanterns. Refreshments tents were provided. At this stage, there was no bandstand, and there was a tennis court on the lawn in front of Cole’s Monument.

“The park gates were opened at 1.30pm and the opening event started at 3pm. Afternoon trains brought hundreds of people from the surrounding counties. It is thought that up to 6,000 people attended.”

Forthill Pleasure Park had been brought back to life in 1891. To celebrate the work of Mr. Plunkett, the people of Enniskillen decided to build the Victorian bandstand as a thank-you to him in 1895.

Great architectural merit

“The bandstand is central to the park and is of great architectural merit. Phase Two of [refurbishment] works in the park will see it restored to its full beauty.

“It was described by Dixon in 1974 as: ‘A little slice of Brighton, perhaps the finest thing of its kind in the province. It deserves to be cherished’.”

The park architecture and monuments are of great significance, notes Catherine. “The recent restoration has secured the future of the park by preserving its past.”

The paths and steps have been greatly improved, and enhanced for the use of everyone.

Cole’s Monument and the statue of Sir Galbraith Lowry Cole atop the column have seen major repair work and the monument is complete.

“The reopening means that visitors, young and old, can again enjoy this beautiful landscape at the very heart of Enniskillen.

“It means too that the annual Easter Monday Picnic in the Park will go ahead this year, with an afternoon of traditional games, chocolate eggs, music from the bandstand, crafts, and a few surprises.

“So, once again, the Forthill Pleasure Park, as Plunkett intended, will welcome all of us to promenade, relax and enjoy the beauty of our own Victorian Pleasure Park,” added Catherine.

Head along to Picnic in the Park on Easter Monday,from 2-5pm, and see for yourself how the park and hill are set to continue delighting visitors for many more years yet to come.