Zachariah Charles Pearson, who donated the land, was the Mayor of Hull during the American Civil War.
The park features an 'Ice House' which is a rare surviving structure from the 19th century used to store ice harvested from the lake.
It was designated as a Grade II registered park by Historic England due to its historical landscape significance.
The original design was a result of a competition won by landscape gardener James Craig Niven.
The park served as a popular destination for the city's wealthy merchant class in the late 1800s.
Pearson Park is a Grade II registered Victorian public park in Hull, originally opened in 1862. It was the city's first public park, donated to the Hull Corporation by local philanthropist Zachariah Charles Pearson. The park features a central lake, a conservatory, and an ice house that dates back to the park's founding period. Recent restoration efforts have preserved its historic landscape, including the original gate lodges and ornamental features. It currently houses a play area, a bowling green, and various mature specimen trees. The park serves as a community hub for local residents and maintains a distinct Victorian layout design.
The edge of the central lake looking toward the Victorian gatehouse.
Visit the conservatory area to see the preserved architectural details of the park's Victorian roots.
Look for the heritage signage throughout the park to understand its history as Hull's first public green space.
The path network is flat and well-maintained, suitable for leisurely walking throughout the entire site.
Avoid entering the flower beds or climbing on the historic conservatory structure.
