Stamford Park, Tameside
Stamford Park is a public park in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester. It covers about 26 hectares and is open all year. In 1986 it was given a Grade II listing by Historic England.
The land was owned by the Earl of Stamford in 1668 and was part of a deer park. During the Industrial era, local people wanted a park to enjoy on days off. In 1856 a letter asked cotton mill workers to raise money for a park. Fundraising began, and in 1872 Highfield House and grounds were bought. The Earl donated nearby land, and Stamford Park opened on 12 July 1873. The Lord and Lady Stamford attended, and up to 80,000 people watched the opening.
Over the next two decades the park grew with more land purchases. A reservoir was turned into a boating lake in the south and a fishing lake in the north. The Coronation Gates were added in the 1950s to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation.
The park has two Grade II listed features: a pair of stone stocks dating from 1730 (inscribed “John Wood Constable 1730”) and a stone cross inscribed “Erected by Thos. Walker, John Knight, Robert Lees, Constables 1793.”
Today the park contains floral and shrub beds, a grassy area for games and picnics, The Dingle woodland, a children's play area, a water fountain, bowling greens, and a multi-use games area for football, basketball, cricket and other sports. A Parkrun takes place every Saturday morning. There used to be a conservatory, but it was demolished in 2025, and there is also an aviary. In summer the boating lake is in use and there is a land train visiting the park.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 13:33 (CET).