Simon Baddeley
18 Nov 2013
The establishment of Handsworth Park in 1888 was a political victory. It was not gifted by a wealthy family but its original 44 acres were purchased by local ratepayers after five years of controversy.
Handsworth was then a village in Staffordshire with a population of 14,000 at the 1871 Census. St Mary’s church was a 12th century foundation with a large parish. This included the Soho Manufactory built by Matthew Boulton in 1761-3. He and his fellow industrialists, James Watt and William Murdock, were buried in the church. Although the factory was demolished in 1862-3, Handsworth continued to grow as successful Birmingham families moved into the surrounding countryside. By 1881 the population was almost 30,000; the railway station opened in 1896 (and closed in 1941). Development was disorderly with many speculative builders not controlled by an overall plan, and the necessary infrastructure was added only haphazardly.
The Handsworth Sanitary Board had been established (like others) by the 1872 Public Health Act to deal with drainage and sewerage. It also took over responsibilities from the Board of Guardians to provide welfare for the poor. It was funded by levying a rate on local properties. In a meeting in March 1883 some members of the Board considered that a park would provide a desirable amenity for residents. This was opposed by those who considered the surrounding countryside sufficed. Other ideas were for a library, police station, clinic or swimming pool, but the majority were against increasing the rates for such purposes. A new sewer from Smethwick to Saltley, however, required funding by a loan of £79,000 and the rates had to be increased to pay this off: the proponents of the amenities secured a slightly higher increase than was necessary.
Over the next few years its supporters continued to press for a park, which would provide playing fields and a lake for swimming/boating. Land prices fell temporarily and the Grove Estate came on the market. After a vote of 10 to 1 in favour, the Board offered £6,000 for the 44 acres, and then £7,000: both were rejected. Finally a bid of £7,500 was accepted.
A public meeting was held in the local Council House (now part of South Birmingham College) on 11 January 1887, chaired by Joseph Wainwright, to endorse the Board’s proposal. Only male ratepayers were entitled to vote, and they were assured that purchase of the land would not add to the rates as sufficient reserves were available. It was a noisy meeting with much heckling by opponents. One was the Rector, Dr Randle, who said that a park would not benefit the community – “We have an agricultural parish, some of the finest air in the kingdom, and I believe the park will be more for the benefit for the roughs of Birmingham.” Others argued that the rates should be reduced as the inhabitants were not receiving value for money – there was still flooding, no kerbstones – and the Board was extravagant. The motion to establish the park was carried. It was interesting to note that a few months later an Anti-Park candidate, Mr Blackler, stood at a local election and came bottom of the poll.
The Park was designed by Richard Hartland Vertegens, a professional landscape gardener who had laid out Wolverhampton’s West Park, using Japanese ideas on the selection and arrangement of trees. He was not awarded the contract, but his preliminary plans were retained, and used, by the Board. Apparently he bore no grudge. The Park was opened on 20 June 1888.
In 1898 the Rev’d Prebendary Hodgson, Dr Randle’s successor as Rector, obtained the Church Commissioners’ agreement to donate the 19 acres of glebe land on the east side of the railway line to the Park. The Rectory was demolished – its site is now the lake – and a new one built elsewhere. The extension was laid out by Edwin Kenworthy, Surveyor to the new Handsworth UDC. It was formally opened by the 6th Earl of Dartmouth on 30 March 1898 to be “open to the people forever.” In 1911 Handsworth, now with a population of 68,000, was transferred from Staffordshire to the City of Birmingham.
A park need to be well maintained and for many years there was a dedicated team of local gardeners. But after WWII it was just one of the city’s parks served by an itinerant staff with no local loyalties. In the 1970-1980s it deteriorated badly, as did the whole area. Neglect and graffiti were widespread. In 1994 a campaign was launched by local residents for the Park’s restoration, and in 2006 it was refurbished at a cost of £9 million including money from the Heritage Lottery, European Development Fund and the City Council. Dedicated gardeners now continue to keep it in excellent condition.