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Sutton Park History

  • Thread starter Thread starter O.C.
  • Start date Start date
What a great piece of history. Thanks LadyP. A great example of how mills adapted over time, and could change completely for different purposes; corn milling, then button polishing (and for 50 years). The various Perry Barr mills did the same, and it’s always surprised me how different their uses could be. Thanks. Viv.
 
Not sure if I have posted this before but as John Bishop Midland C&AC also knows, we raced our bikes a lot at Sutton Park This is one in 1951 that My Dad (GodBlessHim) took with his Kodak Brownie camera, remember those? as I was passing going up the hill, also one from Midland C&AC Roll Call was taken in 1954 when I was in the RAF, not sure if I am in that one, I may be lurking at the back, waiting to pounce, great fun those races, loved the cheering crowds.
 

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oldbrit said:
Not sure if I have posted this before but as John Bishop Midland C&AC also knows, we raced our bikes a lot at Sutton Park This is one in 1951 that My Dad (GodBlessHim) took with his Kodak Brownie camera, remember those? as I was passing going up the hill, also one from Midland C&AC Roll Call was taken in 1954 when I was in the RAF, not sure if I am in that one, I may be lurking at the back, waiting to pounce, great fun those races, loved the cheering crowds.
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Great memories John!
 
Vivienne14 said:
Would this have been close to Oldmohawk’s image in post #1620 ? Or is it a reference to Baden Powell (and the Scouts jamboree held in the Park) ? Viv.

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Viv, this was the cafe and boathouse built in 1939 which now houses the Miller & Carter restaurant. In his book 'The History of Boldmere', Ken Williams states that the pool could have been named after a farmer but this, I think, is only a guess. At one time the pool was known as New Forge Mill when it was being used as a spade mill. There's a house in Stonehouse Road called Spade Mill House. It didn't become part of the park until 1937 which I suppose is why the boathouse was built then.
 
Vivienne14 said:
Would this have been close to Oldmohawk’s image in post #1620 ? Or is it a reference to Baden Powell (and the Scouts jamboree held in the Park) ? Viv.

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I remember seeing it when it was simply a cafe but it later became 'La Reserve' restaurant...
Vivienne14 said:
The cafe at Powells Pool in the process of construction in 1939. Viv.
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Vivienne14 said:
Someone may remember this. Possibly around 1940s/50s (?).

Viv.
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That picture reminds me of a day in the 1940s when my cousin and and I were told to go and play in Sutton park. She was 9 and I was 8 and we were given 2d each for the park entrance tickets and bus fares to journey on the 107 Midland Red bus from Perry Barr to Sutton. We spent all day roaming across the park including paddling in the stream shown in the picture. It was evening and getting dark when we got back to Perry Barr to a 'telling-off' for being late back.

Happy days ... :)
 
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that rmeminds me of a school trip. we all had a paddle in a stream by the rd. some kid started screeming. the teacher went to see what was wrong and saw she had leeches on her. so off we all went to the first aid hut:worried:
 
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