Victoria Vase by the Lake

The Victoria Vase by the Lake is a Neo-classical vase dating from 1880, made of limestone ashlar. It features a large vase on a pedestal, which stands on a fluted foot. The base is decorated with acanthus leaves and stump handles adorned with snakes, while a band of anthemion decoration is located above the projecting lip. The pedestal has fielded sides beneath an egg and dart-enriched cornice, and the entire structure is approximately 3 meters high. An inscription on one of the panels on the base reads, "The Victoria Vase to commemorate 50th Anniversary of the Opening of this Park October 23rd 1880."

This vase not only marks the anniversary of the park's opening but also signifies the completion of a new phase in its development. It was placed on a promontory in the lake, which had been enlarged following advice from Edward Milner in 1878 to create a more varied outline. The restoration of the lake to its original extent, as shown in the Ordnance Survey map of 1888, was completed in 1996. Victoria Park was established in 1830 on the former Barton Fields, a common land area, and was opened by the Duchess of Kent and her daughter, Princess Victoria, on October 23rd, 1830. It was the first municipal park in the country.