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In 1876, Louisa Ann Ryland, who had already given Cannon Hill Park to the
people of Birmingham, gave 17.6ha of Little Hey farmland for a park and
later met a third of the cost of laying it out with walks, flower beds, pool
and bandstand. After the Queen's visit in 1887, it was re-named Victoria
Park, and an open swimming pool was provided. Digby Park, 3.8ha, was given
in 1906 and opened five years later: both parks were at the urban edge when
presented.
The approach of
suburbia, and existing industry at Greet and Hay Mills, threatened the green
peace of the Cole valley. Yardley Rural District Council had neither powers
nor funds to save the Cole from the Rea's fate, but it expressed the hope
that a narrow strip of meadow would be dedicated to the public, through
which a made-up path would stretch, 15km from Solihull Lodge to Sheldon. The
scheme would depend upon the generosity of landowners. Birmingham absorbed
Yardley in 1912 and added the green ribbon to its Town Plans of 1918 and
1924. Charles Hougham and A.H. Foster gave land south of Greet, and although
those reaches of riverbank were not opened until 1969, much had been done
elsewhere in the 1920s. Hay Barn recreation ground was opened, and the Cole
was 'improved': this involved dredging and straightening, which removed the
refuges of fish - the last trout being lifted in 1926. [Since the infilling
of the Burbury claypit and the creation of the Ackers Park paths, the walk
has been completed by a footbridge which links Manor Farm recreation ground
to the Park].
Introduction
What can be seen from Ackers Hill
The natural landscape
Watercourses
Early settlement and boundaries
The Manors
The Warwick canal
Railways
Industry
Urbanisation
Parks and open spaces
Churches and schools
The Ackers leisure park
Itinerary
Maps |
