Sutton Park

[Stephen0002002]

Ok Thx. Im assuming it is close the Boat House end somewhere then ?

 

[Morturn]

Yes that's it, thanks

 

[Wendy]

Smashing picture Terry thanks.

 

[Roy Blakey]

WELL Soaked.
Whilst browsing some of the ' threads ' I see that there has been some interest in the Sutton Park ' Wells '.
Quick Story : Abount 1945 - 1946 some of us lads had been exploring and playing in our favourite space ' Sutton Park'.
Making our way back to Banners Gate we came upon ' Rowtens Well ' which obviously caught our attention. The Well had a
low circular stone wall perimeter and was enclosed within a wooden fence with a double swing gate entrance. I wanted to have a closer look at the water in the Well so I lay down on the top of the Well wall in order to better view the bottom of the Well. I must have been finally balanced because when one of the lads came through the perimeter fence gate, the gate
caught the bottom of my feet, ' Tipped the balance' as they say and next second I was splashing about in the shallow water. The depth of the water was probably only about half a metre but it was enough to fully soak all my clothes.
Ending: I spent about Two hours stripped down to a pair of ' shorts' having hung my clothes on the rails of one of the
' lookout towers ' on the recently discarded ' Prisioner of War Camp ' next to Westwood Coppice. As soon as my clothes
did'nt seem to bare the evidence of recently being soaked ( Mom would go bananas) I got dressed and we all came home.
Did'nt get away with even then. Got ' Banned ' for the next two weeks.

 

[G G Jean]

What a lovely story Roy. I did a similar thing at Salford park when I went fishing. Parents didn't even know I had a two bob pair of split cane rods. I slipped in but was only wet up to my knees. You were lucky as I was banned for good.

 

[Morturn]

I took this in October 2006, I think the well has had some repair work done now

 

[Roy Blakey]

Nights of fun at the Crystal Palace.
Dance Nights. There was certainly no frills about the internal basic infrastructure of the Crystal Palace but what a great venue for the occasional big dance events. It laid on all the primary requirements in the way of a huge dance floor, a large
raised stage for the band,simple seating and tables around the dance floor and an area in which to go and buy your drinks
and light eatables.
A couple of the favourite visiting Bands where Jack Parnell and Ted Heath. Both these Bands came top of the list Nationally
and where frequently on the Radio and also on ' Records'. Ted Heaths vocalists,Dickie Valentine, Lita Rosa and Dennis Lotis where top individual singers in there own right.
As the band struck up for its first number all signs of the infrastructure simplicity would transform into the best dance place in the world. Great big band sounds,big dance floor and a lot of people eager to dance and mix.
After two or three laps round this large dance floor doing the Quick Step most people would start to ' puff and blow ' a bit.
A couple of dances and then bring in a bit of strategy. Go and have a beer whilst you got your breath back.
Great Night. Well worth the attention to that extra fine crease in your trousers, the extra shine you put on your shoes, the
choice of your favourite tie and the smart haircut with a bit of Brylcreem.
The Crystal Palace also went under the other name ' The Orange Grove '. I've wondered once or twice if this might have been us Brummies dissociating it from the London image.
Anyone for a Waltz.

 

[Stephen0002002]

Thanks - I found Druids Well Sunday, I also had an old Sutton Park booklet with a map to help.
If you didnt know roughly where the Well was you would never find it.

Next to the Well is another small Well type brick construction - towards the lake side -
I'm guessing this is a water outlet circa 1970's odd.

 

[Dave M]

Thanks - I found Druids Well Sunday, I also had an old Sutton Park booklet with a map to help.
If you didnt know roughly where the Well was you would never find it.

Next to the Well is another small Well type brick construction - towards the lake side -
I'm guessing this is a water outlet circa 1970's odd.

Glad you found it, as you say Well hidden

 

[Dave M]

Wyndley Pool today

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpfncHViUx4

 

[Stephen0002002]

Thats one of the best pools - would like to have one of the houses there that back on to it at the bottom of their gardens.

 

[SueB58]

Hello
Went to the park the other day (22nd Nov '13) to take some photos. It was a lovely Autumn day.

Longmoor Pool and Queens Coppice
SueB

 

[Dave M]

Little walk today in the park

 

[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.