Ancestry search leads man to surprise family park

Richard Wharton (third from left) discovered the statue of his ancestor William Lloyd Wharton in the park

A man whose ancestors created and gifted a city one of its most popular parks has visited it for the first time.

Richard Wharton, a retired doctor from Bath, only discovered his connection to Wharton Park, in Durham after researching his ancestry a few years ago.

The park was originally created by William Lloyd Wharton in 1857, whose elder brother was Richard Wharton's great, great grandfather.

Mr Wharton said finding the park was a "wonderful surprise", adding: "It makes me feel emotional to think that this was all started by my ancestor."

"As a young man, I wanted to make my own way in the world, and I wasn’t interested in the past. I had three children and worked long hours.

"It was only when I inherited all the family documents that I started to take an interest," Mr Wharton said.

Mr Wharton showed a copy of his family tree to members of the Friends of Wharton

Durham City Council said William Lloyd Wharton was an influential figure in County Durham, serving as High Sheriff and as a director of North Eastern Railway.

He was also a trained lawyer, a keen astronomer and helped to launch the annual Durham Regatta event, the local authority added.

The park is currently owned and maintained by the council, after it was gifted to the City of Durham by Mr Wharton's ancestors.

Following Mr Wharton's visit, the park's programme officer Louise Vest said: "The Wharton family wanted the people of Durham to have a peaceful place to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, and – almost 200 years later – it remains just that."