"This was the first of the open spaces provided for the workers of Wakefield at the end of the 19th century. The Duke of Clarence opened the Technical and Art College on the site of the old Thornes House in 1891, and this adjacent park (29 acres), once grazing land, was opened to the public on 6 July 1893, the day of the marriage of the Duke of York. The bandstand, left, opens out into a huge amphitheatre for musical concerts; built in 1926, it replaced the original less convenient stand at the top of Lowe Hill. The Queen Victoria statue was moved from the Bull Ring to Clarence Park in 1950 and remained here until November 1984, when it was cleaned and returned to its original site. " - Photo by Francis Frith - c1960

Wakefield Lowe Hill - Lowe Hill Castle Mound at the top of Clarence Park is a CLASS I Site of Achaeological Value, Registered on the County Sites and Monuments Record.

Wakefield Corporation did want to buy the grounds of Thornes just after WW1 to use as a council estate - luckily for Wakefield people, land at Lupset was used instead, and we still have a park. Fast Forward to present day...

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Clarence Park; Law Hill; Low Hill; Lawe Hill; Thornes. Described archeologically as:

"Medieval motte with two baileys to the north east. A terrace at the north end at first thought to be a third bailey appears to be the result of levelling for a bandstand in the C19. All earthworks except the motte have been damaged by landscape gardening. Excavation in 1953 indicated that the motte is probably an unfinished C12 adulterine castle. Leland relates the story that the Earls Warren started the building but that as fast as he could build the force of the wind destroyed the work but speculated this was an idle story and that this was just a windmill mound. The archaeology seems to give some support to the story." - SOURCE

"Earthworks and castles were constructed in the 12th century at Lowe Hill and Sandal, either side of the river Calder, to reinforce the presence of the Norman overlords. Lowe Hill was abandoned and Sandal castle became the headquarters of the Manor." - SOURCE

"THORNES, a hamlet and ecclesiastical district in the parish of Wakefield, lower division of Agbrigg wapentake, West Riding county York. It is situated near Wakefield, and is joined with Alverthorpe. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agriculture, but a considerable number in the woollen and worsted manufactures, and in the extensive dye-works; there are also numerous market-gardens. Law Hill was once fortified, protecting the pass of the river Calder, which bounds the chapelry on the W. The living is a perpetual curacy* in the diocese of Ripon, value £160, in the patronage of the Vicar of Wakefield. The church, dedicated to St. James, was erected in 1830. There are National and infant schools." - SOURCE