In 1928 John Cyril Lees Collingham gave his walled-in enclosure to the National Trust so it could be maintained as the Town Park. The National Trust made an agreement with the Borough Council of Brackley to look after and manage the park. Since then, Brackley Borough and now the Town Council have leased and managed the park on behalf of the Town with permission of the National Trust. The National Trust was less than 50 years old at this point and was focusing on houses and countryside land, which could explain why the council was able to lease it from them so easily. The use of park did, however, come with strings attached. John Collingham, who became known as a benefactor to the poor and to children, wanted to ensure that the park would be used for the right purposes. He had three principal rules. It should be ensured that:

> The park shall be preserved as an open space for the use of the public forever i.e. for all time.

> A recreation playground for young children.

> A place where “Mothers on occasions take their tea there and old people go and rest when the weather is kind.”

For many years this was adhered to explicitly and no major functions took place on the park. In recent years annual town festivals such as the beer festival, music festival and the like have been allowed to operate on the park. They must still abide by the letter of his request, crucially that ‘If bands are permitted they should not play during the times when divine service is being held in the places of worship and the School in the Manor House opposite. I have also been asked not to allow bands to play when there was a serious case of illness in one of the adjoining houses. I think any reasonable request from such quarters should be respected – music should not become a nuisance.’

His suggestions for the addition of paddling pools, fountains and further planting may not have been taken forward by the local council, but the park remains a serene place filled with mature trees and shrubs in the heart of the town.

The park is bounded by Winchester House School, Pebble Lane and the old Fire Station. The back of the park runs a ha-ha. It forms the rear boundary of the park.

The park has become a more central and used resource by the town in recent years. With the development of the Old Fire Station and it serving as a site for many festivals and events, it would seem the town park will go from strength to strength.