Sutton Park History

[Dave M]

Few more

 

[G G Jean]

Lovely photo's Sue and Dave. Will look at the Wyndley video later Dave.

 

[Stephen0002002]

I found the 3 wells in the park - took me 3 trips.

Which is your favourite areas of the park and monuments or points of interest.
And favourite walks.

 

[Smudger]

That donkey in jpg35 ( the one rolling on the grass ) I `ve just told him this Tommy Cooper joke " I went to the cemetery yesterday to lay some flowers on a grave. As I was standing there I noticed 4 grave diggers walking about with a coffin, 3 hours later and they're still walking about with it. I thought to myself, they've lost the plot!!

Few more

 

[dek carr]

For me it was always the 20 odd bridges at Bracebridge very slippy on your bike when wet but knew that just around the corner was a little sandy beach where we could have a nice swim without the fuss of Keepers Pool and it was free too.

 

[wallyb71]

My favorite place in the park back in the 1940,s when we lived in Kingstanding was to ride my bike to the Parson&Clerk gate make a left turn and follow the trail up to the Golf Links where I would ride around on the smooth grass and up and down the hills.Also we used to go swimming a lot at Powel's Pool. I had a friend who lived 2 doors away from us who would always go with me. Also, later, I started making model planes and I would go to the golf links to fly them. HAPPY DAYS!!!!.

Have a nice day, Wally.

 

[Stephen0002002]

Nice thoughts. I like the part by Banners gate just past the car park and it follows the trees adjacent to Chester Rd. They're currently doing some work up there. Its a nice jog up there and a right turn then up to a stone bridge and past the butts (I think its called).

 

[G G Jean]

We live not far from Banners Gate Stephen and walk our dog there quite often. Wally what lovely memories. You will have to link up with David Weaver who posts a lot about his time as a youngster in Sutton Park.

 

[Wendy]

That has triggerd a memory Dec those bridges were very slippery on foot but on a bike it was a nightmare. Did you swim to the island in the middle of Bracebridge. Wonderful childhood memories of carefree sunny days!

For me it was always the 20 odd bridges at Bracebridge very slippy on your bike when wet but knew that just around the corner was a little sandy beach where we could have a nice swim without the fuss of Keepers Pool and it was free too.

 

[dek carr]

That has triggerd a memory Dec those bridges were very slippery on foot but on a bike it was a nightmare. Did you swim to the island in the middle of Bracebridge. Wonderful childhood memories of carefree sunny days!

Yes Wendy many times. Sometimes the water felt so cold it was just great to get there and very hard to get back in the water to swim back lol.

 

[Stephen0002002]

I can understand why your avatars a bulldog now Dek.

 

[Stephen0002002]

Does anyone know what the butts were ?

 

[Morturn]

They were a rifle range, used for the troops to practice during the war the remains are on what we call the cinder track to the north of Longmore Pool.

 

[Dave M]

Wyndley Gate area today 4c and bitter cold.

 

[G G Jean]

Thanks for the photo's Dave. Cold enough up the Beacon yesterday too.

 

[David Weaver]

My memory tells me it was called 'The Forty Bridges' but I can only remember finding thirty odd. Someone once told me the others were off to the right because of the deep mud but I never found them. With reference to the island I once swam across to it with a girl and it was so beautiful I asked her to marry me. Thank goodness she forgot my name because my girlfriend would not have been at all understanding. Kind Regards, David.

 

[David Weaver]

Hello Jean, All these photos are so beautiful I get a bit homesick for times long gone. It's like returning to the footsteps of yore and listening to the crows calling from those huge trees when following the brick wall from the Four Oaks Gate to Blackroot Pool. Kind regards, David.

 

[Alberta]

We took the dogs to walk over the bridges as far as the beach in Autumn 2013, beautiful day in a beautiful season.
I didn't spend much time in Sutton park as a youngster but my husband and his mates used to cycle from Alum rock to the park and spend time swimming to the island.

Sadly nowadays due to irresponsible dog owners much of the park is not nice to walk in.

 

[csmith604]

My grans first husband Sidney Nicholls lived at The Coldfield,which I think was next to Sutton Park. It must have been so beautiful and 'spacey' in those days.

 

[John Owen]

View attachment 78689....View attachment 78690
From a recent issue of the Mail.
No1 mounted Home Guard in sutton Park. 1940
No2 Swimmers just before their annual Christmas Day dip.

This is the only evidence I have found so far of the existence of the mounted section. There was some connection with the Steele-Bodgers - did they own the horses/stables? Were they a section of the 6th Warwickshire (Sutton) Battalion? Members included S/M Priddy, Sgt. Whitehead, Cpl. Price, Vtr. Greensell, Vtr. Owen. Does anyone have any further information?

Newbie Brummie

 

[Rupert]

#1228
I love dogs but with the number around, a 'stoop and scoop' routine is a must have and most dog owners adhere to this mandated requirement around here. It's not much to do. In large parks I think that less care is taken to follow this requirement especially so if the animal is running free. Frequently located collection bins help to encourage adherence. Carrying a used bag for an hour is a chore.

 

[ChrisM]

This is the only evidence I have found so far of the existence of the mounted section.........

Thanks for that interesting comment and question, John. The Steele-Bodgers were vets, weren't they? In which case the horse connection sounds likely. Can you tell us more about this and HG activities in general in the Park of which you aware?

Chris

 

[Stephen0002002]

Next to Powels pool on the side opposite the boat houses there are a few small hillocks and lumps in the grass - I'm guessing they were the remnants of the dredging for Powels pool when it was built ?

 

[pipmk]

Steele-Bodgers rather more famous for Rugby. Steele-Bodgers XV v Cambridge University a fixture for rugger fans.

 

[Morturn]

There was a vet in Tamworth called Steele-Bodger, when I mentioned this to my mom, she said that my grandfather used a vet called Steele-Bodger when he kept pigs at Short Heath, Erdington. I would imagine that they were a local vet.

 

[Rupert]

#1233.
Powels Pool was a mill pond for a water mill and the current road runs over where the dam was. Maybe the mounds had something to do with a concrete exit chute to the tailrace which has been covered over. There should still be a stream leading away which would have been the tailrace to the mill. Steel mill if you can believe it. Map ref below:
There is a photo on here somewhere.

 

[Wendy]

Steele-Bodgers vets is still in Tamworth only under a new name. It is in Lichfield Street Tamworth. Sounds like a large veterinarian family. My aunt Gwendoline Jennings would swim in Powels Pool for her training she was a champion swimmer.

 

[Stephen0002002]

Thx Rupert.
Great pic Wendy - I am assuming swimming runs in the family then ?

 

[Morturn]

Nice map Rupert, but I think the mounds we are talking about are in the vicinity of the red square in the top left hand corner. I certainly would like to know more about the steel mill, if you have any more information.

I know that they made steel wire at what is now the Pens Hall Hotel, the lake being the water sully to the mill.

 

[Lloyd]

Re the Steele-Bodger family:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Steele-Bodger
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alasdair_Steele-Bodger
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micky_Steele-Bodger
and plenty more references here: https://www.google.com/webhp?hl=en#hl=en&q="Steele-Bodger"+vet&start=0