CLOSING NORTHERNHAY, EXETER, 1860.

Northernhay was closed to the public for a few hours on the day of the opening of the London and South Western Railway,  (18th July 1860).

While the Mayor, the Corporation and the Railway Directors enjoyed a banquet in marquees borrowed from the Horticultural Society, the citizens of Exeter were locked out of the Gardens.   

'F,C.' who was not invited to the party, wrote to the editor of  The Western Times to express his indignation:

"Sir;  

I regret very much that the authorities should have thought proper to close Northernhay against the public on such a day as this.  

I have never complained of the exercise of this authority by the Council for any object of benevolence or other good purpose,  

I think, however, now it should be intimated to those in authority that they have no right whatever upon this or any other occasion, or for any purpose, to close Northernhay.

The law has ever been most jealous of any encroachment on the rights of the public.  I believe I should be justified in removing any obstruction which I may find in the public thoroughfare from Northernhay Place to Lower Northernhay, or the parties who cause any such obstructions could be indicted. 

F,C,"

I imagine F.C.'s 'law' was a little shaky, as was his sentence construction, but the spirit in which he wrote seems to me to be admirable.  In 1860, Northernhay was closed for part of a day,   In 2021/22, it was hired out to fairground folk for 72 days and 'closed against the people' for more than half  that time.

Source:  The Western Times, 21st July, 1860.