Aldershot Park

About

Aldershot Park is an urban park in the town of Aldershot in Hampshire. The park is located on Guildford Road near Aldershot Cricket Club and the Lido and is owned and maintained by Rushmoor Borough Council.

There is some evidence that the original manor in Aldershot Park dated to the early medieval period. This manor was acquired in the 16th century by Sir John White whose family were originally traders in wool. In 1599 his son Robert White died without male heirs and his estate was left to his two daughters - Ellen, the wife of Sir Richard Tichborne, and Mary, the wife of Walter Tichborne, brother of Richard and so the manor passed to the Tichborne family. The Tichbornes were the biggest landowners in Aldershot and the brothers Sir Richard and Sir Walter Tichborne were favourites of James I who was godfather to Walter’s son James, born in 1611, and the king travelled to Aldershot for the christening at nearby St Michael's church. James I returned to Aldershot in 1618, 1622 and 1623 when he stayed with the Tichbornes at their mansion in Aldershot Park built in the style of a castle with a moat and large garden. However, by the time of Charles I this was becoming run down...