Parks and Open Spaces

Inn-gardens and allotments were popular resorts for townsfolk from at least the Cl8 th . The 'Ship' at Camp Hill, the Apollo in a bend of the Rea (Moseley St., reached by skiff from Deritend), and Vauxhall Gardens in the grounds of Duddeston Manor House, provided entertainment and rendezvous. Allotments were so profitable that they commanded a high rental, being known as 'Guinea Gardens': there were many allotment areas about the town, as the 1731 Map shows. The riverside gardens closed when the stench of the sewage-laden Rea drove away the customers. No provision of open space was made by developers after Pemberton's Square: Borough Surveyor Piggott Smith's plan for leafy squares in Hockley were not accepted in the 1850's, and C.B. Adderley's offer of a public park out of his Saltley Hall estate ('54) was not accepted until 1862. By then the size and the polluted air of the town were such that the need for open space was recognised. Adderley Park was given on a 999 years' lease.

Meanwhile Lord Calthorpe had leased a Reaside strip of land to the Council in 1857, but there were restrictions on its use. In 1894 it was given as a free public space, Calthorpe Park. After the death of James Watt II, Aston Hall and its park of 170 acres was offered to Birmingham (1850). The sale was not made, and a company acquired part of the land for public entertainments, in 1864 the Council bought the Hall and 49 acres of the park, the rest being sold for building. Louisa Ann Ryland laid out Cannon Hill Fields, with pools on old meander courses, and gave it to the town in 1873. With later gifts of land from Sir John Holder of Moor Green and Lord Calthorpe, Cannon Hill Park now covers 80.66 acres. The last grant was made on condition that the Rea be improved between Pebble Mill and Averns Mill, hence the deep stone channel of the river below the Bourn Brook confluence.

Highgate Park was the first to be bought by the Council. 4 acres of Highgate Fields, whence the Prospects of Birmingham were often drawn, were opened by Joseph Chamberlain in 1876: the site had been a sheep-fold for the markets. Summerfield Park, part of the grounds of Summerfield House on what had been the manorial preserve of Rotton Park, was opened in 1876 too, but then covered only 12 acres: it reached its present size of 34 acres in 1892. 43½ acres of Rylands (Little Hey) Farm south of Coventry Road were given for a park by Miss Ryland, and she also provided £4000 for its making. In honour of the Queen who opened it, the park was called Victoria Park: strangely, this name has not lasted except as a telephone exchange (until 1969), and it is now known as Small Heath Park.

In 1878, closure of Park Street (St. Martin's) and St. Bartholomew's burial grounds, following opening of Witton Cemetery, use as public gardens. 1887, Burbury St. Recreation Ground straddling culverted Hockley Brook, 4½ acres. Part of Wallmoor, Walmer St., opened 1892, 2½ acres. Active policy of providing open space from 1890: J.S. Nettle-fold formed an Association for this, bought noisome slum area off Garrison Lane, cleared it and opened rec. ground.

1889, Bilberry Hill leased, Rednal Hill bought, by Assoc. for Preservation of Open Spaces, presented to Corporation. Part of Beacon Hill presented by Cadbury Bros., 1906. Bilberry Hill bought from Lord Plymouth, 1913. Other purchases 1920- '34, '44, '46. Now City owns 529 acres of Lickey Hills.

Neighbouring authorities acquired parks, since brought into City. (Note: Adderley, Aston Hall, Cannon Hill, were outside the Borough when given to it). Thus Handsworth Local Board opened its Handsworth Park in 1888, and Yardley R.D.C. received 40 acres of Great Trust land for parks, including Sparkhill Park, opened 1904. Of many purchases of land for open space since World War One, the largest are the Cole Valley, Chinn Brook Valley including Cocks Moor Wood, Titterford Millpool, Billesley and Yardley Wood Commons, Witton Pools, Perry Hall Park and playing fields, Swanshurst Park, Ward End Park, Senneleys, Pype Hayes, Kings Norton, Fox Hollies, Manor Farm, Warley and Cofton Parks; and Glebe Farm, King George V, Staplehall Farm, Ley Hill playing fields. There are now about 100 pieces of public open space large and small in the city, and a dwindling number of private fields, club grounds, and golf courses.

44.1. Map 28a