Elf ’n’ safety look away... world’s first slide is rebuilt and, crikey, it has no sides!
FASHIONS may have changed, but a child’s fun in going down a slide is clearly the same today as it was nearly a century ago.
However, the youngsters who played on what is said to be the world’s first public playground slide certainly didn’t let any health and safety rules get in the way.
With no sides or handrails, a tumble on to steps or the hard ground was a risk they were happy to take. And now a near replica of the 1922 wooden slide has been unveiled at Wicksteed Park in Kettering, Northamptonshire, where the original was built.
There was no shortage of youngsters keen to give it a try yesterday – but to keep health and safety officials happy, rubber matting has been put down to prevent injuries. The original slide with wooden steps and 30ft long timber planks has been re-created as part of a project to bring the history of children’s play to life. Back in 1922, owner Charles Wicksteed had a vision to encourage play and made the slides for his park before manufacturing and selling them around the world.
These days, Wicksteed Park has more hi-tech rides for children to have fun on. But the traditional swings and slides remain relatively unchanged and are as popular as ever.