Splash Park
The Splash Park at Bennett Memorial Recreation Ground offers a fantastic family day out, ideal for children of all ages to have fun and stay active. This water play area is safe, exciting, and perfect for cooling off on a hot day. Best of all, it’s completely FREE to use, making it an affordable and enjoyable option for families looking for outdoor fun!
Play Areas
Bennett's Adventure Play
Features a durable Robinia wooden play adventure, consisting of five platform multiplay units with two slides, adventure trail climbing jungle, climbing boulder, a ground trampoline, a rustic seesaw, a multi child swing, low level trail climbing path, 3 low level bridge jungle climbing routes, 35 stepping posts set at various heights and a double zip wire aerial runway.
Small Play Area
The traditional play area is 1500m2 in size and is enclosed by a 1m high bow top fence and is classed as a Neighbourhood Equipped Area for Play (NEAP). It provides a wide range of play equipment including swings, see-saws, rockers, climbing frames, nets and slides. A particular favourite is the old Wicksteed rocking horse see-saw. It has been repaired many times over the years to ensure its safe retention in the play area.
The Swan Jewel Wooden Sculpture
A beautiful wooden sculpture at Bennett Memorial Recreation Grounds celebrates the famous discovery of the excavations at Dunstable Friary in 1965 where they ground, a gold and enamel brooch of the Dunstable Swan Jewel.
The original Swan Jewel, made around 1400, is now held in the British Museum. Shaped like a swan, it symbolised loyalty to the powerful House of Lancaster and is believed to have belonged to King Henry V. Its detailed design, featuring a coronet around the swan’s neck and a gold chain, highlights its importance as a badge of allegiance during medieval times.
Bennett Memorial Recreation Ground, commonly known as Bennett’s Rec, has a rich history that dates back to the early 20th century. When Benjamin Bennett passed away in 1911, his widow, Mary Bennett, sought to create a lasting memorial in his honour. Rather than a statue, the Borough of Dunstable decided to use her generous donation to purchase land near Bull Pond Lane and establish a much-needed Recreation Ground for the town.
The idea of creating a Recreation Ground had been discussed for over 20 years, and in 1920, following Mary’s death, the local Councillors moved forward with the plan. The land was purchased, and Bennett’s Rec was born, providing a valuable open space for sports and leisure activities.
Benjamin Bennett, the eldest son of a successful hat manufacturer, also ventured into the brewing industry and acquired the North-Western Brewery in 1887, renaming it Bennett’s Brewery. He was an influential figure in the community, serving as Town Mayor in 1871-72 and marrying into the prosperous Anstees family. At the time of his death, his estate was valued at £150,000 (equivalent to around £17 million today).
The site of Bennett’s Rec sits on former agricultural land, once part of the Osborn Close and West Close estates. The nearby Bull Pond, after which Bull Pond Lane is named, was once located on the property. In the 1890s, a railway track was laid to transport chalk from a local pit to nearby whiting works, which produced materials for products like toothpaste and whitewash.
From its early days, the Recreation Ground was cared for by a park keeper who maintained the area and ensured it was safely locked and unlocked. The last park keeper, Len, retired in the early 1980s, and the role was not replaced. Over the years, Bennett’s Rec became a cherished space, particularly known for its play area and the famous Wicksteed rocking horse see-saw, which brought joy to generations of local children.
In the 1960s, the park saw the addition of a sports pavilion, supporting local football and cricket teams, and tennis courts were established. In recent years, the Town Council has invested in upgrading the site, including the addition of a splash park, a large adventure play area, and the refurbishment of the sports pavilion, which now also houses a café and modern facilities for visitors.
Today, Bennett’s Rec continues to be a hub for recreation, sport, and community events, with a deep connection to Dunstable’s history and a place where new memories are made every day.
When visiting Bennett Memorial Recreation Ground, it is strongly advised to use Ashton Square Car Park, due to parking restrictions in place on the roads and limited parking spaces in the car park on Canesworde Road. Ashton Square car park is only a minute’ walk from the park.
