IT’S a gem in the centre of Abingdon enjoyed by thousands of people every year.

Albert Park has been a haven for those who want to walk, relax or play since the 19th century.

And for those who wonder why it is named Albert Park, there is a constant reminder – a statue of Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria. Now, to mark the park’s 150th anniversary, a book has been published recalling its history.

A recreation ground was one of a number of projects suggested for Abingdon in 1859 to improve life in the town.

The land chosen, part of the Conduit Field, had been controlled by a charity, Christ’s Hospital of Abingdon, since the reign of King Edward VI in 1553.

The Charity Commissioners gave permission for £500 to be spent on turning between 10 and 20 acres into a recreation ground.

In April 1860, Christ’s Hospital put a notice in Jackson’s Oxford Journal offering a prize of 10 guineas (£10.50) “for a design for laying out the pleasure ground in Conduit Field”. It was won by a Mr Chapman of Dulwich.

By late 1862, landscaping and drainage had been completed ready for planting of trees and shrubs.

The sudden death of Prince Albert, the Prince Consort, in December 1861 led to the ground being named Albert Park.

The mayor, Richard Badcock, set up a committee to raise money for a memorial to the Prince. It was designed by John Gibbs of Oxford, while the figure of the Prince was sculpted by a Mr Bolton of Worcester.

The governors of Christ’s Hospital offered a suitable site for the monument, although they were careful to avoid accepting future responsibility for its upkeep.

Although the memorial is dated 1864, its unveiling, by the Earl of Abingdon, did not take place until June 1865.

The Illustrated London News, which carried a picture of crowds around the monument on its front page of July 1, reported: “The Albert Memorial stands upon a commanding site at the upper side of Albert Park and can be seen for many miles around.

“The weather was fine, tradespeople closed their shops and all was gaiety, bands of music parading the streets and flags being displayed in all parts of the town.”

The memorial, which was designated a listed building in 1971, was found in 1982 to be in need of repair, a discovery which highlighted the lack of clarity over its ownership.

After years of argument and discussion, a trust comprising two members each from Christ’s Hospital and the town and district councils was set up in 1997 with the sole purpose of looking after the monument.

The book, Celebrating 150 Years of Albert Park, Abingdon-on-Thames, lists the park’s many features, records the work through the ages to protect and enhance it, and includes nearly 100 pictures as well as illustrations from pupils at Carswell Primary School, near Abingdon.

It is published by the Albert Park Residents’ Association and was launched at a ceremony at St Michael and All Angels Church in Park Road, Abingdon, on Sunday, June 28, by the Earl of Abingdon.