Wharton Park

Durham County Council secured £2.45 million from Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery, to undertak

Wharton Park is the main public park in Durham City, covering approximately 4.7 hectares. It was formerly under the ownership of William Lloyd Wharton as part of the extension of his grounds at Dryburn House in the mid-nineteenth century. It was he who financed and designed the original park layout made available to the people of Durham in 1857. The original park layout, as well as its most significant landscape features, are largely intact today and serve as a reminder of the role that the park has played in the social history of Durham City. The park is located just to the north of the city centre within the Durham City Centre Conservation Area. There are a number of listed structures within and around the park. There is a single Grade II listed structure, the belvedere or Battery, within the park and several listed buildings and structures around the park which have a significant relationship to it. After a restoration of the park, in May 2016, Wharton Park re-opened with a new heritage centre, café, outdoor fitness equipment, improvements to the play equipment and restoration works to the amphitheatre, miniature car track, putting green, battlements, footpaths, signs and entrance features. The ‘People’s Park’ of Durham City is fast becoming a destination in its own right with plans to assist in achieving and retaining Green Flag status and re-establishing itself as a venue for events, activities and live performances. In line with the original aims and objectives of William Wharton, this project will contribute to improving the health and fitness of the local community which is just as important today as it was 150 years ago.

02/09/2025

WE ARE RECRUITING!
Are you interested or do you know someone who would like to join the Parks and Countryside Education Team? We are recruiting Casual Education Assistants to support with the delivery of our learning and events programme at our destination parks Hardwick Park and Wharton Park.
This is a casual position and as such you will need to be willing to work during busy seasonal term time periods as well as school holidays and be able to work weekends when required.
WHAT IS INVOLVED?
• Assist in delivering a range of formal education workshops during term time
• Assist in the delivery of our informal school holiday programme events
• Assist in the delivery of the weekend birthday party programme
• Assist in the preparation of relevant educational and event resources
INTERESTED?
To find out more about the job, click on the below link to visit North East Jobs
https://www.northeastjobs.org.uk/job/Education_Assistant_Parks_and_Countryside_CASUAL/285376
Closing date for online application is midnight Monday 15 September.

01/09/2025

Today is the start of meteorological Autumn and the new school year.
We are delighted to announce the launch of our new look website for school visits to Hardwick and Wharton Parks. We have been working behind the scenes to refresh the pages, make them easier to navigate, give an overview of each terms workshop offer and include the most up to date information.

Please take a look to see what workshops we offer that fit with your termly topics at https://www.durham.gov.uk/outdoorlearning

30/08/2025

Join NASUWT Concert Band at Wharton Park this Sunday 31 August between 1-3pm in our park amphitheatre. They will bring music to the ears of out visitors a fantastic way to spend an afternoon.

Pack a picnic, bring a blanket and sit back and enjoy the music.

Overflow parking is available at County Hall car park on Sunday 31 August for our visitors a short walk from the park.

16/08/2025

Join Trimdon Brass Band this Sunday 17 August between 1-3pm where they will treat visitors to a performance in our amphitheatre.

Bring a blanket to sit on and sit back and enjoy the music.

Free overflow parking will be available at County Hall car park on Sunday 17 August for visitors this is a short walk from the park.

15/08/2025

Let the show begin! Much Ado About Nothing the perfect evening for outdoor theatre 🎭 with The HandleBards

13/08/2025

The HandleBards return to Wharton Park this Friday 15 August for an outdoor theatre performance of Much Ado About Nothing in our park amphitheatre show time 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

Tickets can purchased online by visiting https://www.handlebards.com/

Pedalling from venue to venue with their set, props and costumes on the back of their bikes, the HandleBards are a four-strong troupe of actors who are spending the summer bringing environmentally sustainable Shakespeare to venues across the UK.

Join the troupe at Wharton Park for a bicycle-powered production of Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ like you’ve never seen before. In usual HandleBards style, expect riotous amounts of energy, a fair old whack of chaos, and a great deal of laughter.

Seating is on the grassed banks or hardstand, ticket holders are advised to dress for the weather and bring a blanket or a low backed seat to sit on.

Any visitors with accessibility issues can sit on the hard stand of the amphitheatre accessed from the lower level of the park or alternatively from the viewing area around the top of the Amphitheatre accessed from the car park.

Wharton Park car park will be open on the evening with limited parking spaces available. On street parking can be found on Framwellgate Peth and North Road as well as county hall car park being open accessed from the North entrance due to the main entrance being currently closed for road works.

13/08/2025

The sun is set to continue to shine on Friday and we still have spaces to join sports coaches from LK Health & Wellbeing for our Active Fridays sessions between 10-2pm.

Families who are eligible can book on the Fun and Food online booking system before midnight tonight to join us this Friday 15 August. All children will be provided with a free packed lunch.

05/08/2025

Active Fridays are back this summer at Wharton Park! Book a place for this Friday 8 August, 10am - 2pm.

LK Health and Wellbeing sports coaches bring weekly multi sports sessions for primary school aged children in receipt of free school meals.

Spaces are FREE booking is required via the Fun & Food online booking system (information issued via your school if eligible)

28/07/2025

The first of our Active Fridays sessions took place last week at Wharton Park. Coaches from LK Health & Wellbeing worked with booked primary school aged children to enjoy a range of multi sports activities on the putting green.

Active Fridays sessions take place each Friday over the summer holiday between 10am-2pm and include a packed lunch for attending children.

Places must be booked in advance, children in receipt of free school meals are eligible for a free place. Booking can be made via the Fun & Food online booking system (information was issued from schools to eligible families)

We look forward to seeing new and returning children this Friday 1 August, get your child's place booked today!

Address

Durham City

Telephone

+443000262655

Website

http://www.durham.gov.uk/whartonpark

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