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Handsworth Park Victoria Park Handsworth

A great collection of photos. Makes you realise there were once many more occupations associated with parks of this size. The Rangers house looks very prestigious. And in photo #34 the boat keepers seem to have a special naval uniform. Or is it the uniform if a boating club? Viv.
 
No Jayell, the picture is correct. The entrance to the baths was on the same side of Grove Lane as the park main entrance. Don't forget there was another ( smaller ) entrance in the road around the corner of the baths ( can't remember the name of the road ).............Mal[/QUOTE]

Thanks Mal. Yes I realised the photo was correct but its just that it's such a long time ago since I used to go to the baths on a Sunday morning and then from there into the park with my pals, and I had completely forgotten that the entrance was on the same side. Loved the photo as it brought back many happy memories, and I am enjoying seeing all the pictures of the park. They are great! Judy
 
As the Grove Lane Baths were on the boundary of Handsworth Park - Will duplicate/add the Baths pictures here.

#1 Grove Lane Baths - Handsworth.
Grove La - Baths (1).jpg

#2 Grove Lane Baths - Handsworth.
Grove La - Baths (2).jpg

#3 Grove Lane Baths - Handsworth.
Grove La - Baths (3).jpg

#4 Grove Lane Baths - Handsworth.
Grove La - Baths (4).jpg
 
Hi Folks, in my 5th year when I should have been revising during my afternoon free periods (especially maths) I could often be found (with my close associates) on the boating pool in Handsworth Park. My chosen vessel: canoe. Not a craft, it would seem, available in 1910 (pic attached) when it also appears, judging by the expression on the guy's face, having the biggest oar wasn't something to celebrate.
Do they still host a fantastic flower show there?
Regards,
Peg.
Handsworth Park Pool.jpg
 
nice photo peg...dont know if the flowers shows are still held there but i suspect not

lyn
 
There's a lovely description of Handsworth Flower Show on the thread of that name started by jennyann. It really takes you there. Well worth a read but sorry I can't do links. I've got a feeling that the show, renamed Birmingham Show, moved to Perry Barr but not absolutely sure.
 
Hi Folks, when aged 5 (1954) and living in Heaton Street, Hockley a trip to Handsworth Park was like a day out, always special, but one Sunday even more so when the day culminated with my mum buying me a pork sandwich at The Endwood, I can remember it like it was yesterday - a pub long gone, I guess.
Ah! Happy Days.

Regards,
Peg.

PS What a mansion the park keeper lived in?!
 
Pegmonkey, I went to the Endwood a few years back to listen to a folk concert. I think the folk club used to meet there on a Friday night. Do hope we don't lose another Grade II listed building. This ones coming up for it's 200th birthday soon. I believe the Muntz family had some connection to it.
 
Yes Lady P, it says in the Post article it was built in 1820 as a family home and called Church Hill House.
The Muntz family moved there in the 1880's
 
#56 - Handsworth Park - Visit by Mayor and Mayoress - 1913
#56 - Handsworth Park - Visit by Mayor and Mayoress - 1913.jpg

#57 - Handsworth Park - Visit by Mayor and Mayoress - 1913
#57 - Handsworth Park - Visit by Mayor and Mayoress - 1913.jpg

#58 - Handsworth Park - Visit by Mayor and Mayoress - 1913
#58 - Handsworth Park - Visit by Mayor and Mayoress - 1913.jpg

#59 - Handsworth Park - Visit by Mayor and Mayoress - 1913
#59 - Handsworth Park - Visit by Mayor and Mayoress - 1913.jpg

#60 - Handsworth Park - Visit by Mayor and Mayoress - 1913
#60 - Handsworth Park - Visit by Mayor and Mayoress - 1913.jpg
 
hi folks can anyone recall this building being in handsworth park please obviously on the edge of the park because we can see houses but which end of the park??

lyn

handsworth park query.jpg
 
Hi Oldbrit. The press cuttings are from the British Newspaper Archive, subscription needed https://www.britishnewspaperarchive...gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CKGq3N3MjtoCFUsaGwodxaoPoA

I've looked through the 1950/51 dates. Can't find any further reports. I wonder if this is because the cycle facilities in parks were just being developed in Birmingham. The focus in the papers at this time seems to be on the Salford track which was widely reported - it was in the process of being agreed and developed in September 1950. I've seen a press cutting which talks about the need for more cycle facilities in Birmingham parks at the start of the 1950s. Viv.
 
Radiorails said:
Lyn, in posts 150 and 151, of this thread, there are a few photos of this building. They might help you to place it.
Click to expand...

thanks alan had a look but im still none the wiser as to the exact location of this building within the park i certainly cant remember seeing it before

lyn
 
Lyn. The house was Grove House, near Grove Lane - later became Park House. Found a reference to Grove House going back to 1830 - see attached below. Viv.

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According to this Historic England extract a villa existed there in 1780 built by Mr Bratt (presumably the husband of Mrs Bratt who lost her Pointer in the extract in #179) and is described as having a pleasure ground:

The Grove Estate comprised some 20 acres (c 8ha) of mid and late C19 pleasure grounds and meadows associated with a villa built in 1780 by William Bratt, a Birmingham steel toy manufacturer (ibid). The property had been improved by various owners in the 1870s and early 1880s, and a sale catalogue of 1883 describes pleasure grounds comprising shrubberies, a tennis lawn, conservatory, vineries, aviaries, an aquarium and fishpond, and a kitchen garden.

Following the purchase of The Grove, R H Vertegans of the Chad Valley Nurseries, Edgbaston, was approached to provide a plan 'shewing the way in which he would recommend the committee to lay out and plant the [estate] as public pleasure grounds' (Local Board Minute 284). Vertegans had already laid out several parks and recreation grounds in and around Birmingham, including, in 1879-81, West Park, Wolverhampton (qv).

At Handsworth, the new park incorporated The Grove and its gardens, the former walled garden and tennis lawn becoming a bowling green; a terrace walk and cricket ground were also provided (Birmingham Mail 1888). The planting of the park was undertaken by the Sheffield nursery of Fisher, Son and Sibray, and the completed park was opened on 20 June 1888, a year after Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee; by permission of the Queen, the park was known as Victoria Park. In the mid and late C20 the park has been known as Handsworth Park.

Link to Handsworth/Victoria Park's Historic England listing is here https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1001473

Viv.
 
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