Students mark 150th year of park with ideas for its future

Bishop Burton Art and Design undergraduates have been working on an exhibition to celebrate Pearson Park, which enters its 150th year in 2010.

Pearson park lies about 1 mile (1.5km) northwest of the city centre and was the first public park to be opened in Hull. The land was provided in 1860 by Zachariah Charles Pearson (1821-91) to mark his first term as mayor of Hull.

He shrewdly kept 12 acres surrounding the park to build villa residences. Two years later he bought a large fleet of ships and attempted to run arms through the Federal blockade during the American Civil War. The venture failed and all his vessels were captured.

Financially ruined, Pearson resigned half way through his second term as mayor and spent the last 29 years of his life in obscurity, living in a modest terrace house in a quiet corner of the park which bore his name.

The students have created artworks that reflect their ideas about the park and their vision for its future. Pearson Park Life can be seen at the History Centre until the end of January.

It accompanies a display called Hull's Who's Who, a look at contributors to Hull's history.

For more information visit