Park was almost a world first
The pictures in the Paisley Daily Express of the Fountain Gardens Gala Day said all that needs to be said about the importance of Paisley’s public parks and the need to keep them out of the hands of housebuilders.
People having fun, families enjoying themselves, smiling children, face painting, balloons, colourful costumes and games – these happy hours epitomise the community role of public parks.
The Fountain Gardens was Paisley’s first public park.
But for a quirk of fate it would have been the first in the world.
Public parks were pioneered by Sir Joseph Paxton, horticulturalist and MP, who created the world’s first at Birkenhead, Cheshire, in 1843.
But 35 years earlier, Paisley had a private park which was partially open to the people of the town.
This Paisley paradise was devised by merchant John Love.
Born in Kilmacolm in 1747, Mr Love came to Paisley as a child. As a young
businessman, he benefited financially from the flourishing trade between Britain and South America. He invested successfully in property and, in 1808, was wealthy enough to purchase land at the Long Lone – now named Love Street in his honour.
There he erected a single-storey building and designed a landscaped area called Hope Temple Gardens.
The building accommodated John’s unusual collection of fossils, shells, stones, stuffed animals, bones and other natural history curios.
The gardens were planted with beautiful flowers, shrubs, ferns, fruit trees and vegetables from across the world. He kept a menagerie of wild animals, including monkeys and a bear.
Bachelor John invited his friends to view his private museum, botanic garden and park.
Later, he went bankrupt and was forced to lease Hope Temple Gardens.
In 1866, the gardens were acquired by thread magnate Thomas Coats of Ferguslie who constructed an ornamental fountain with walruses, dolphins and storks.
Mr Coats named his creation Fountain Gardens and presented them to Paisley in 1868 as its first public park.
John Love, who died in 1827, aged 81, was a public- spirited Buddie who funded libraries and supported deserving charities.
If his generosity had extended to opening Hope Temple Gardens to everyone – instead of just his friends – the world’s first public park would have been in Paisley.