Fog Lane Park
| Fog Lane Park | |
|---|---|
A scenic view of Fog Lane Park | |
Interactive map of Fog Lane Park | |
| Type | Urban park, recreational area |
| Location | Withington, Didsbury, Manchester, UK |
| Coordinates | 53°25′27.9″N 2°13′24.6″W / 53.424417°N 2.223500°W |
| Area | 10 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Created | 1926 |
| Operated by | Manchester City Council |
| Status | Open year-round |
| Public transit access | Burnage railway station |
| Website | Fog Lane Park information at Manchester City Council |
Fog Lane Park is a public urban park located in the Withington and Didsbury areas of Manchester, England. The park offers a variety of recreational facilities.
History
Until the early 20th century, the area now occupied by Fog Lane Park was farmland. To the east of the park were fields belonging to Pytha Fold Farm, where the first ever powered flight from London to Manchester, piloted by French pilot Louis Paulhan, landed on 28 April 1910. Today, a blue plaque commemorating the landing spot is affixed to a house in Paulhan Road, a few metres from the park boundary.[1][2]
Fog Lane Park was established in 1926 by the Manchester City Council.[3] Fog Lane Park earned its name from a grass commonly known as "Yorkshire Fog", a grass species which grows within the park.[4] Fog Lane Park was one of the first public parks in all of Manchester.[5]
Women's football
Fog Lane Park became part of the history of women's football in England when the Manchester Corinthians L.F.C. team was founded in 1949 and adopted Fog Lane Park as their home ground. At the time, The Football Association banned women from competing in association football, and the team was formed on an amateur basis to offer local female players an opportunity to play. The changing rooms at the park had no running water, and Corinthians players would often wash in the park duck pond. The female ban was lited in the 1960s, and the Corinthians took part in the first Women’s Football Association event in London. Many of the Corinthians later moved into Manchester City W.F.C.. In 2023, the club house in Fog Lane Park was adorned with a mural commemorating the history of Manchester Corinthians, and a blue plaque was mounted.[6][7]
Layout and facilities
The park features several recreational facilities, such as sports areas and a children's play area. It also contains two lakes, grassland and woodland, as well as an area with wild flowers, which attracts wildlife.[8]
Location
Fog Lane Park is situated in the southern part of Manchester. It is easily accessible via public transport, with nearby stops including Burnage railway station and Didsbury Village tram stop.
- History, flora and fauna of Fog Lane Park
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Fog Lane Park map
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Ornamental planting in the park
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The park in spring
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The park in autumn
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The duck pond
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The Ball Brook flows through the park
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Mural commemorating the Manchester Corinthians L.F.C.
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Blue plaque to Manchester Corinthians L.F.C.
See also
References
- ^ "London to Manchester". www.thosemagnificentmen.co.uk. Archived from the original on 20 September 2006. Retrieved 26 December 2006.
- ^ "Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society". Transactions of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society. 100. Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society: 211. 2004.
- ^ "A Record of Municipal Activity". 1926. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
- ^ Gardens (en), Parks and. "Fog Lane Park - Manchester". Parks & Gardens. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
- ^ Society, Didsbury Civic (18 October 2020). "Fog Lane Park | Didsbury Civic Society". Retrieved 26 February 2025.
- ^ Cox, Sam. "Remembering the Corinthians". www.mancity.com. Manchester City F.C.
- ^ Williams, Jean (6 January 2024). Legendary Lionesses: The England Women’s Football Team, 1972–2022. Springer Nature. p. 43. ISBN 978-3-031-36760-1.
- ^ Society, Didsbury Civic (18 October 2020). "Fog Lane Park | Didsbury Civic Society". Retrieved 17 February 2026.