History of Eden Bridge Gardens.

Eden Bridge Terrace.

In 1919, H.C. Marks the then City Engineer for the Carlisle Corporation submitted plans for the widening of Eden Bridge.   

This narrow crossing of the River Eden was the gateway to Scotland.  

In 1927, Marks' successor Percy Dalton submitted revised plans for a widening scheme which involved the demolition of Eden Bridge Terrace, twelve houses arranged in an 'L' shape and a huddle of cottages adjacent to the 1815 Eden Bridge.  The houses on Eden Bridge Terrace were similar in appearance to those on Devonshire Terrace, on the western side of Stanwix Bank, and were perhaps built around the same time. 

In spite of being hampered by the floods of 1931, the widening of the Eden Bridge was completed in 1932, and opened in October of that year.

The Eden Bridge Scheme.

On the site of the demolished Eden Terrace, it was proposed to construct a new grand entrance to Rickerby Park.  The scheme was used as a means of providing work for the unemployed men of the City. 

The report of the 'Eden Bridge Scheme', written prior to the gardens' opening in 1933, possibly by Percy Dalton himself, describes very well how the the original gardens once looked:

'Behind the terrace of old houses known as Eden Terrace existed a high masonry retaining wall, upholding part of Greenay Bank, which is richly wooded at this spot.  This wall has been used to form an effective background to the garden scheme. 

Immediately in front of the wall has been built a Rose Pergola with square stone pillars and English oak trellis roof.  Next comes a formal terrace with grass plots, flower beds and crazy flag paths flanked by two stone built Rest Houses.  These are constructed in the traditional English style and roofed with old stone flags in a picturesque manner.  The Rest House nearest the Bridge is for general use for anyone to shelter in if caught unawares in a shower, but the other one is to be reserved as a retiring room for ladies only, and a portion of it has been utilised to provide a lavatory for them, a provision which is likely to be appreciated.  A gentlemen's convenience has been completely concealed in another corner of the garden. 

A remarkable feature of the whole scheme has been the economy which has been effected by the use of old materials.  For instance, the white stone forming the Rest Houses came from the demolition of the old Eden Bridge parapets, whilst the stone slates came partly from the demolition of old property standing on the site now occupied by the Margaret Creighton Gardens, the remainder being obtained from an old barn at Caldbeck.

The Terrace flanked by the Rest Houses is supported by a redstone wall in the centre of which is a very fine ornamental stone arched recess, the keystone of the arch being formed with a carved lion's head which spouts water into a small lily pond.  The lily pond is flanked by two broad flights of steps leading from the higher terrace.  These steps provide another example of the artistic use of old material, being formed of broken of broken paving flags.  The same material has been used in all the footpaths on the square terraces.  The red sandstone used in the walls was taken from the old Gaol in English Street. 

Immediately in front of the arched recess and lily pond is a large semi-circular terrace with white crazed paved footpaths and grass plots surrounded by a very fine yew hedge, which will be trimmed square when fully grown.  There is outside this a gradually sloping path leading from the Eden Bridge on to the path which runs along the foot of Greenay Bank through the King's Meadow into Rickerby Park.  This path can be approached from Eden Bridge either by a stone staircase or by an inclined way formed for bathchairs and perambulators.  The white crazy paving is made from the old concrete paving which formed the footpaths on Eden Bridge which were broken up when the Bridge was improved.

The inclined path leading up to Eden Bridge is bounded upon either side by a beautiful rock garden formed of huge blocks of red sandstone laid so as to present the appearance as nearly as possible of a natural outcrop of rock.  The rockery has been furnished with a choice variety of rock plants supplied by Mr. Robt. Leslie of Blackwell.  In the midst of the rockery is a small dripping well where a few water plants will be grown.

Above the main garden and approached by a broad flight of of stone steps is situated a smaller garden adjoining Stanwix Bank, on the north of the site.  It is of very formal design and has a lily pond as its chief central feature.  In the midst of the lily pond will be placed a charming figure of a child holding a duck in its arms.  Water will spout out of the duck's mouth.  The overflow from the lily pond has been utilised to provide water for the dripping well already mentioned.  The extreme north of the garden has been finished off with another Rose Pergola similar to the one in the large garden. 

The whole scheme has been carried out for £3,450.  The estimated cost was £5,000 but the saving effected has been due entirely to the use of the old materials as previously explained. 

The whole scheme has been carried out by Mr. Percy Dalton, City Surveyor, who prepared all the details from a sketch supplied by Mr. Prentice Mawson of London and Lancaster.  The craftsmanship is of a very high order and great credit is due to Mr. W. Mark, Clerk of Works, and the workmen under his charge.  The men worked extremely well and, considering some of them had not been engaged on a similar class of of work for very many years, their efforts deserve great praise.

The planting of the flower beds and shrubberies has been supervised by Mr. Henry, the Corporation Parks Superintendent. 

Electric cables have been laid for floodlighting the garden and it will be floodlighted on the night of the opening day and for a week afterwards.  The Corporation will afterwards consider whether a permanent system of floodlighting should be installed.

On Thursday 21st December 1933, the Eden Bridge Gardens were opened by Councillor Eb Gray, Mayor of Carlisle and the founder of the Parks Committee of the Carlisle Corporation.