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Sutton Park History

  • Thread starter Thread starter O.C.
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I was looking at London's Nelson's Column and found out all the carving that was done around the base was by a chap born in Sutton but I will put that in the Pub Postings....A lot of history comes from the park and surroundings but sadly it all seems to be lost as no one seems interested in their heritage in this day and age
 
Oh no Cromwell there are many of us interested in our heritage. Since you posted the piece on Lord Donegal, I have googled and been through my books with no luck. I think there are a lot of people who are very interested in their heritage but the subject is so vast. I love anything to do with Sutton as its where I grew up and had most fun! I will keep looking.
 
But don't you find it sad that in the whole of Cyber Space you cannot find anything and the kids today don't use libraries so all the info will be lost and did ya know over 2 million people visit the park every year..and walk over history they know nothing about ...what lies under the mounds in the park and the folk who lived there and so on ...
 
Yes I do feel sad Cromwell but at least people like us are discussing it. I am glad the Park is still there for people to enjoy, thanks to the royal charter. I can remember as a child when my father took me to visit my aunt. We would drive through the park. We would go through Four Oaks gate, I remember a wonderful old oak tree which actually grew at the side of the road, the road went round its massive trunk. I would imagine all that this tree had seen in the time it was there. I have no idea if its still there. I must pay a visit, its so different now as Mike G says you can't drive through any more
 
Nice old postcard of the Banners Gate Entrance
 
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lord donegals ride

In the 1750s the track just below rowton hill became known as lord donegals ride taking the name of the earl of donegal of fisherwick hall of litchfield.
Who regularly hunted in the park he was allowed to hunt in the park from
the first week in november till the 5th of december
and the 1st till the 23rd of january in each year.
We had a job to find this out in sutton coldfield library archives
when we added it to our first video of the park I am not pushing the video
just its in the script.
 
Historymaker, Thats great I am sure Cromwell will be pleased. I ploughed through my books but could find nothing so I am sure you had a hard search. I am still amazed at the historical knowledge on this site. Many thanks. Wendy
 
Historymaker I applaud you, for plodding on just to find out a piece of info that has been lost ..that was the road I was going down Donegal House in Lichfield ...PM me if you need any help or additional info on the park as I shall be unavailable for a few weeks ( redoing the office)
 
history lost forever

Thank you for your replys yes cromwell most of the kids dont use libararys today reading is not for them its tv or computer screen for them that is why I try to keep history alive with videos and dvds they like them they use them in a lot of the schools of all the peaple interested in the park over the years no one and it amazes me why!! has ever made any films of having a nice walk round the park that why I do it and Aspects Of Sutton Park is free for anyone to use in sutton libarary.also they have​
A walk Around Old Sutton Town AGAIN no one bothered to put a film together sorry to go on but of all the filmakers out there and some of the rubbish they produce nobody bothers to make history.
 
Historymaker, Sutton has some wonderful history and Sutton Park is a vast archaeological site which even today we do not understand some aspects of ....from the ancient druids to the Roman road which only twice has been excavated when a section was cut through an area by the railway line and Streetly Lane and another area south of Lord Donegals Ride by the Royal Oak gate which showed how the Romans built the road (Ickneild Street) which was cambered and had a surface of course gravel and pebbles..
 
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I am a little surprised that no one has mentioned the two horse racing course's the park used to have....?
 
JKC the old racecourse was in between the Midland Gate and main entrance at Holly Knoll just by the maypole....the other one I know of was the old pony course which was to the left of Windley Pool
 
never ending

As you say there is such a lot no way can we comprehend it all only a little the ditch and banks for the deer two racecourses potboilers dont forget the roman road that I was standing on yesterday following on from the driffold where sheep where herded not forgeting to look at the victorian post box. Down the driffold to wyndle dam spelt the old way looking at the sluice that is still there from the old mill following to the watersplash the road from the watersplash takes us to the crossroads-- before we contiue over and on to keepers pool let us first take a look at a remarkably preserved section of roadway.Do you know the private doorway? pass through the door--- and step back in time.
For here lying undisturbed is part of the ancient road negotiated by the early forms of traffic entering the park over wyndle dam.As you can see centuries of use has reduced the road level-high banks laden with trees-bushes and a metal fence now help to obscure and protect it.Back at the top of the road can be observed the centuries ol tradition of beekeeping.
Then we arrive at the nature reserve.
 
The First Racecourse

JKC

Before the birmingham to sutton railway was built in 1862
visitors to sutton and the park came by omnibus-- a journey whith took the horse buses about 80 minutes.
In the 1840s an added attraction was the construction of a race course
in sutton park covering the plateau above blackroot gravel pit and extending from north of holly knoll to just beyond the present railway line--which at that time did not exist.In 1847 it was the venue for the birmingham races and where Tiny Wells a popular jockey of the time
won his first race.For over 20 years racing was held there and was very popular and a grandstand was built to accomadate the punters.
But sutton corporation had misgivings about the impact on the park
and with the structures erected-- and in 1849 ordered them to be taken down.Racing ceased there when in 1868 a new racecourse was constructed between westwood coppice and longmore pool.
Over 139 years later evidence of the old first racecourse can still be seen
take the right fork over the bridge by park house--past holly knoll
and further up on our left the curve of the track can be seen sweeping through the cutting the section behind is now overgrown with trees and bushes.
 
All this is so facinating to me and has sparked so many memories. I remember the train track in the park although I never saw many trains. The most exciting memorie for me was going with my Dad and brothers to fetch our Christmas tree, holly and misletoe from a place in the park just opposite to Blackroot Pool it was just across the road, a sort of depot, I would assume this was done by the council. I can still remember how excited I was!
 
I read an article in last night's Mail that Dr. Mike Hodder an archaeologist with Birmingham City Council has uncovered evidence of prehistoric life in Sutton Coldfield's New Hall Valley. He spotted "a slight rise in the ground" and recognised it as a burnt mound, a pile of heat shattered stone, charcoal and ash that was used either as a sauna or part of a kitchen. Subsequent research has revealed the area was used by possibly a small family group more than 3,000 years ago. The mound is similar to others found in Sutton Park and more than 30 other sites across the city.
 
Free Holly

Moma P

Holly was distributed in bundles to the residents of sutton coldfield for many years but the demand became so great-- it was abandoned as being impractical in 1965.
 
Historymaker, In days of old when the stagecoach traveled over Sutton Park thundered along the Chester Rd the roads were that busy most of the Inns were often full, by the Bell & Cuckoo houses were set up just to accommodate the traveler a story that passed down over the years told of a women pedlar who use to sell her jewelery going from Inn to Inn
One night she came out of the Bell & Cuckoo and was seen going in the Inn on the other side of the road..........
It was not till she was missed from her usual haunts that folk started to ask questions on what had happened to her and a reward was put up ...
it all was soon forgotten about till fresh people took over the Inn and one night while merrymaking someone screamed and everyone turned around to see the apparition of a women slowly fading away ...it quickly got a reputation for being haunted and was deserted when the people moved on....when the house was pulled down a skeleton of a women was found under the floorboards and buried in the local churchyard.
Have you ever seen a pic of the Bell & Cuckoo ? At one time I pinpointed it around the crossroads of the Chester Rd and the Birmingham Rd by the old turnpike
 
pics

No Cromwell have not come across that pic yet still looking would like to follow it up about the bell and cuckoo myself but will keep looking for it
and let you know if I find it.
I have hundreds of pics that I would like to share with you on here-- but big brother copyright prevents me from putting them on for you.Here is what may be a teaser for every one------ we pause and on our left look up to the top of a tall tree there secured to a branch is a flagpole placed there by???who by and???what date.
 
Historymaker as much as I love talking to you I will be gone for a little while as must upgrade my computers and other things but will be watching and hope to get back before long..take care
 
And you

And you cromwell all the best mind the floods
hope to here from you soon ttfn
 
The Crusader

I wonder what happened to the boat Crusader that took you on a trip round Blackroot pool for 2p.
 
Moma P

The Crusader or as it was called the Steamboat Nancy-- if my memory serves me right was at the wood yard for a long time then broken up.
 
Thank you Historymaker for the information, I am a little sad now. How I loved all those boats a trip on the Crusader was a big treat!
 
Thank you for the photo's I must say it is so beautiful. This area of the park will always be in my heart as it was my childhood. I am a bit misty (some will say no chane there then) about the ring was it a well? can you tell me the location. Thank you Wendy:)
 
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