Sitting on the north-western edge of Derby, Markeaton Park covers 207 acres of open land that has been shaped by centuries of use, from medieval farming to an 18th-century private estate and, finally, a public park that now draws around one million visitors each year. That figure places it among the most visited parks in the East Midlands. Markeaton Brook flows through the grounds, adding a natural thread to what is otherwise a well-equipped recreational space maintained by Derby City Council.
A History Going Back Centuries
The story of Markeaton Park begins in the medieval period, when the land was first laid out as a park. In 1516, Sir John Mundy – a London goldsmith who later became Mayor of London in 1522 and was knighted in 1529 – purchased the Manor of Markeaton from Sir John Tuchet, 8th Baron Audley. The property passed through successive generations of the Mundy family until 1753, when Wrightson Mundy demolished the existing house and built a new Hall, which has since been demolished. His son, Francis Noel Clarke Mundy, inherited the estate and commissioned the construction of an orangery and stables around 1772, believed to have been designed by Derby architect Joseph Pickford. Francis Noel Clarke Mundy was not only a landowner and magistrate but also a published poet. The Mundy family eventually gave the park to Derby City Council in the early 20th century. Ancient veteran trees, traces of historic lost roads, old arable field patterns, the 18th-century buildings, and the remains of a Second World War army camp are all still visible across the grounds today.
Things to Do in the Park
The park is well set up for a full day out. Visitors can hire rowing boats, try the pitch and putt course, play tennis, or fish in the park’s water. The refurbished Orangery Cafe and Craft Village, a Grade II listed building, is a draw in its own right. For younger visitors, there are playgrounds, a paddling pool, donkey rides, crazy golf, Skyline High Ropes, and a light railway. Walking and cycling routes run throughout the grounds, and picnics are a popular reason to visit when the weather allows. A Friends of Markeaton Park group, registered as a charity, runs educational activities and manages the park’s walled garden.
Events and Running
Every Saturday morning at 9:00am, Markeaton parkrun takes place in the park – a free, timed 5k run that relocated here from its previous spot at Darley. Throughout the year the park also hosts the Race for Life, the Resolution Run, and a triathlon organised by the Jenson Button Trust.