A public park known as the Promenade Gardens and Recreation Ground was established in this area in 1832. It was created by the building of a new river bank, enclosing and draining the former marshland in this area. Space behind the bank was left for two pieces of water to be formed by tidal water from the river, flowing through controlled sluices into reservoirs, with one of these being used as a public bathing pool. The remainder of the ground was planted with ornamental shrubs and trees, and laid out with gravel walks and paths, forming a pleasant promenade and parkland. {1} Historic Ordnance Survey mapping of this area shows the development of the park and bathing facilities here, with a number of more formal swimming pools and baths having been established by the time of the 1st edition 6" County Series map. The creation of the adjacent Boston Dock in 1882 and its associated railway line had effectively cut the parkland and its promenade into two sections by this time. Whilst access between the two areas still seems to have been possible, the main area of the parkland is clearly in the northern half, where a number of planted areas and pathways are depicted, along with a flagstaff. The formal bathing house named as the Corporation Baths had been established in 1880 (see MLI126458), a few years prior to the surveying of this map. The 2nd edition 25" County Series map shows that most of the southern half of the former parkland had now been turned over to use as allotments. The greater detail of this map shows a bandstand and bowling green had been constructed in the remaining parkland to the north. Later maps show an increasing encroachment of this area by industrial units and dockland facilities, with the parkland and baths thought to have been closed in the mid 1960s. {2}{3}{4}