Debdale Parks area of forty eight and a half acres, was acquired by the Manchester Parks Department, through a tenancy agreement. (£240 per annum) with the waterworks committee.
Considerable difficulty was experienced in any scheme to make the land of value for Park purposes. The reason for this was that the city council would not sanction the spending of any money on the provision of bowling greens or tennis courts in case the waterworks department might, sooner or later, require the land once again for the purpose for which it was originally bought.
The Great War (1914-1918) also temporarily put out of the mind thought of spending public money on the purchase of land or improving acquired land for pleasure purposes, however the necessity for finding work for the unemployed, shortly after the war, gave the corporation an opportunity for the development of Parks, especially Debdale Park.
The waterworks committee also decided in the early 1920's that it was inadvisable to use the land area, apart from the reservoirs, for waterworks purposes and as a result Debdale Park was developed.
The two bowling greens were layed in the late 1920's, when eight tennis cours (now reduced to five) a paddling pool and an open-air swimming pool was built.
The swimming pool was opened in 1930, on the spot where the childrens playground is now. Sadly the pool is no longer with us, health and safety standards were increased and it was demolished in 1958.
The glasshouses were built in the early 1950's, to supply the Park with the bedding plants it needed, with the cuts in services the glasshouses were taken down in 1984.
The absence of suitable accommodation for bowlers and tennis players had become so acute that in 1926 the Parks committee decided to erect a pavil ion, which was opened to the public in the spring of 1927.
This is almost a replica of the bowls pavilion which was constructed in Cringle Fields in 1919.
On the 20th September 1946 - a giant draught board of coloured tiles, with logs moved by poles, was added to the games facilities, the facility was later removed through lack of interest.
Although far out from the centre of the city, it was a remarkable fact that through the 1930's, 1940's, and 1950's, the receipts for the letting of chairs at band and concert party performances at the park were almost as high as at Platt Fields where there was at that time a dense population to attract.
At one time the greater portion of the park was undoubtably a playing field, with it's eight football pitches fully occupied throughout the playing season.
Now with just three football pitches, the park is serving the late 1980's with ideas of beautiful gardens and shrub areas, and long summer woodland walks.
| May 24th | Irwell Spring Prize Band | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| May 25th | Baxendales MIC Work's Prize Band | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| May 28,29,30th | Concert Party | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| May 31st | Lancashire Military Band | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| June 7th | Dove Holes Prize Band | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| June 21st | Manchester City Police Band | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| July 5th | Salford City Police Band | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Daily ticket for 9 hole golf 1 shilling
Daily ticket for 18 hole golf 1s-6d
Tennis for 2/3 players 4d per person per hour
Tennis for 4 players 3d per person per hour
Bowling for 2 hours 3d per person per hour