A BRIEF HISTORY
OF THE ARBORETUM
The area now known as the Arboretum
was, in the 1700’s, part of an open
expanse known as Sansome Fields which occupied the land between
Foregate Street, Rainbow Hill and Merriman’s Hill. A villa
was built here and the land was laid out as a park where people could
stroll.
In the early 1800’s the estate was
sold off in lots and the Worcester
Public Pleasure Grounds Company bought 25 acres to retain a public
space. Walks, gardens and a crystal pavilion were
constructed and there was a cricket ground, bowling green and
archery. The Pleasure Grounds opened in 1859 but the company went
into liquidation and the land was sold for building in 1866. This
is the area now known as the Arboretum.
The Lodge House and Sansome House
are more or less all that remain of
the pleasure grounds, but many of the streets follow the line of the
original pathways. The present day Arboretum, of mainly
Victorian houses, is bordered approximately by the railway line,
Worcester/Birmingham canal, Sansome Walk and Lansdowne Road.