A town centre retreat, a place to relax, a space to unwind.
The Gardens provide an escape from the urban hustle and bustle, a green space in Kettering’s town centre where you can sit and take a breath. Always popular with visitors, whether it’s walking their dog, enjoying their lunch break, or a chance to rest when visiting Cornerstone.
Singing in Manor House Field (Coronation 1911)
History of the Gardens
Like everything at Cornerstone, the Gardens are steeped in history. Known originally as Manor House Fields, the Gardens have been used as an outdoor meeting place by generations of local people. For the coronation of King George V in 1911, thousands flocked to the Gardens to celebrate the new king.
Cenotaph
After the close of World War One, the people of Kettering raised funds for a memorial to honour those that had fought so bravely and lost their lives. The Kettering Cenotaph was unveiled in 1921, located directly in front of the Gallery in Manor House Gardens, and designed by the Gallery’s architect, John Alfred Gotch. Additions were made on the nearby wall for subsequent wars. Today, like the rest of the heritage buildings at Cornerstone, the Cenotaph is Grade II listed.
In 1931, as part of the centenary celebrations for the discoveries of Michael Faraday, a fountain was built in the Manor House Gardens. Named “The Faraday Fountain” after the man whose work pioneered electromagnetic fusion, the fountain was opened to great fanfare, with speakers using a microphone and PA system in Kettering for the first time! Today, the fountain is a lasting landmark, almost 100 years old and easily accessible within the Gardens.
Today, the Gardens are the ideal spot for outdoor Cornerstone events, bringing our popular Family Fun Days out into the sunshine.