john knight
signman
Does anyone know when they stopped charging to go into Sutton Park.
I guess it is far more favourable to use the park as a short cut, than getting cut short in the park!Are you a time lord then Morturn? I'd like to be able to use the past as a short cut!
Are you a time lord then Morturn? I'd like to be able to use the past as a short cut!
I thought that you were only able to go a short distance into the park now before you came to a barrier across the road no matter what gate you entered by. It's been at least a couple of years since I visited the park, but there certainly were no short cuts across the park by road then. I tried to get to the Toby Restaurant via Banners Gate and I had to turn back and drive around the park to use the Town gate.
Why was Friday more expensive than the other week days I wonder? Sunday, I follow, as most likely more people went there.Did the park admission charges cease in 1974 when Sutton became part of Birmingham. I certainly don't remember paying anything after then only parking charges (I think).
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That brought a whole load of memories, the 'parkies' in their green uniforms and stiff peaked caps, those who rode around the park on their bikes. I was born and lived the first three years of my life in Sutton, but in 1939 we crossed the road into Birmingham but I did go to to Bishop Veseys in 1947, so if I was in School Uniform I did not need to pay anyway. But I have to admit we never did pay, just muttered resident as we strolled through the gates and watched the people coming in from Birmingham pay up quite happily 2d or 3d I think it was. Some of those 'parkies' were fierce old characters though, ex WW1 servicemen, the senior ones usually lived in the lodge next to the gate. I believe on the Four Oaks and Streetly side there were gateways for pedestrians with no controls or toll collectors. We used one when we were cross country running. Happy days.In the 1960's I lived very close to the Royal Oak Gate not far from the Parson & Clerk public house. All the gate houses used to have thatched roofs and the Park Keepers wore a green uniform with a peak cap Yes, every gate was manned and two or three extra staff used to ride around the park on bicycles.
Sutton residents could also collect wood which had fallen from the trees, at Christmas time Dad would remove the gas fire from the front room and I would collect pine branches and cones to burn- gave off a wonderful smell.This all changed in the 1970's. The Park Keepers went,the thatched roofs went and I felt the Park never fully recovered after the Scout Jamboree. Still have my wonderful memories though-couldn't take that away. Mike.
In the 1960's I lived very close to the Royal Oak Gate not far from the Parson & Clerk public house. All the gate houses used to have thatched roofs and the Park Keepers wore a green uniform with a peak cap Yes, every gate was manned and two or three extra staff used to ride around the park on bicycles.
Sutton residents could also collect wood which had fallen from the trees, at Christmas time Dad would remove the gas fire from the front room and I would collect pine branches and cones to burn- gave off a wonderful smell.This all changed in the 1970's. The Park Keepers went,the thatched roofs went and I felt the Park never fully recovered after the Scout Jamboree. Still have my wonderful memories though-couldn't take that away. Mike.