BUILE HILL MANSION ASSOCIATION WANT YOUR SUGGESTIONS FOR A TRIBUTE SCULPTURE FOR SALFORD 1590'S PLAGUE VICTIMS

Our good friends over at the Buile Hill Mansion Association have been instrumental in two things, firstly the phenomenally successful campaign which will now see the beloved Mansion house within the park restored to its former beauty and soon to be put back into public use, as well as alongside the sensory garden restoration team, building a thriving community of new visitors to the park.

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Last year the team managed to secure lottery funding for a new sculpture trail within the park, which is now set to see an extension courtesy of funding from Oaklands Hospital who are sponsoring an additional structure to commemorate the plague pit victims interred at the brow of Hart Hill (Top of the Golf Course).

The team even saved a tree at the front of the mansion holding historical importance which had sadly died, it was repurposed into a stunning community bench by sculptures.

The plague of 1590

In the year 1590, plague rampaged across both Salford and Manchester which lead to countless victims being buried within a communal grave pit in which was then Hart Hill Meadow, now lying within the boundary of the current day park.

The exact location of the grave site was lost in memory for sometime but it is now thought to be around the area towards the top of the Golf Course which would match with descriptions of it being located at the brow of Hart Hill as was common practice at the time so that the dead interred as close to god as possible.

The site was cleared awhile ago and has been transformed into a relaxing area with seating and some of the best views across Salford, Eccles and Trafford Park.

This latest project is being carried out to respectfully remember and commemorate the lives of those poor souls who sadly lost their lives during which was to be one of the final instances of plague in England.

Each of the existing seven sculptures carries a QR code which can be scanned by visitors phones, which will take them to a page which gives more information about them.

The BHMA are asking for the public to suggest ideas for the new eighth sculpture, which will be chosen by Oaklands Hospital before being created and installed in situ for generations to come to enjoy.

The association is also planning to plant new flower beds around the area and the local council have helped by reinstating the pathway which leads through it, allowing for better accessibility.

Additionally, just a few months back, 95 new trees were planted close by to mark the coming Queens Platinum Jubilee as part of the Queens Canopy Project.

The BHMA plans to hold a community 'family' tea party within the park on Thursday 2 June, 2pm to 4pm. With games and family activities including a parade of crowns.  

Meanwhile work to restore the sensory garden continues with volunteers meeting regularly on Sunday mornings to maintain the garden which itself recently celebrated 60-years since the first turf turning by former Salford Mayor Ellen Mallinson, founder of the garden for the blind.

The sensory garden restoration project has been a huge influence in bringing people both local and from further afield to engage within the park once more, also helping to draw support for other projects within the park.

The park has been transformed over the past few years and now sees regular use with even an 80's themes pop concert planned in the coming months, thanks to the power of people it has become a much nicer and in turn safer place to visit.

We will be following up this article with another, covering the transformation of the mansion and following the story of the people who were instrumental in making what was for decades a dream, into a reality.

Photos: BHMA and Sensory Garden