Swanshurst Park

[Pedrocut]

Birmingham Weekly Post, January 1960.

 

[pjmburns]

Boat house long gone but the base on the bank is still there. I have stood approximately where those people are standing.

 

[jmadone]

Boat house long gone but the base on the bank is still there. I have stood approximately where those people are standing.

And I've sat there fishing many times!

 

[pjmburns]

Often see people fishing but down far end. To left of that photo. Where the man and child are tends to be where the Canada geese congregate.

 

[izzy eckerslike]

My aunt & uncle used to live in one of the prefabs there in the 1950's. When we visited on the number 11 bus we always talked uncle Tom into taking us along with dad to the pitch & put.

 

[pjmburns]

Swanshurst Park is celebrating its centenary. Apparently it opened as a park in 1923. To celebrate they have commisioned (not sure who "they" are but it may be the Friends of Swanshurst Park) a totem pole.
I first saw the log lying on the floor in the park a few months ago but as they have used logs to surround the park (in a bid to stop caravans getting on the park) I wasn't sure where it had come from.
The next time I went past it was clear someone was carving it. Then it was upright. So I did some searching.
All I could find was a facebook post from the Friends of Swanshurst Park (I don't use facebook but I was able to read a small section).

Some of you will have seen our Centenary Pole taking shape in the park. Tomorrow at 2pm (Friday 6th Oct) the Fire Service will be helping Graham - the artist creating the pole - to lift it into its permanent spot. Please do head down if you’re interested in seeing this important milestone in the creation of the latest park attraction.
Today I managed to get ome pictures. I tried to get the carving of Swanshurst but the sun was in my eyes and on one I lost the "S" and the othere I lost the "T". The road is on the left and the railings at the start of the lake can be seen on the right.

 

[pjmburns]

When I first saw it upright I wasn't sure if the bird on the top was one of the local residents or a carving.
Here is the answer

 

[pjmburns]

As a strigiformesphile (owl lover) I was particularly taken by this carving

 

[pjmburns]

finally on the opposite side to Welcome it says Swanshurst.

 

[Astoness]

what lovely unusual carvings jan...thanks for taking the photos and sharing them

lyn

 

[RobT]

finally on the opposite side to Welcome it says Swanshurst.

For pjmburns

 

[uxoriousdad]

Boat house long gone but the base on the bank is still there. I have stood approximately where those people are standing.

I remember the boathouse with a tinge of regret. As children we'd run down the bank to jump up onto the roof and overlook the lake. One day I slipped at the top and fell backwards. That simple event changed the course of my life.