West Smethwick Park

West Smethwick Park
Type	Public park
Location	Smethwick, England
Coordinates	52.4960555°N 1.991063°W / 52.4960555; -1.991063
Created	7 September 1895 (1895-09-07)
Operated by	Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

The Chance memorial

Drinking fountain

West Smethwick Park is a public park in the St Pauls ward of Smethwick, England. It opened on 7 September 1895.

Smethwick – and thus the park – was traditionally in Staffordshire, but has been administered by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, as part of the West Midlands county, since 1974.

In June 2015, it was announced that a £4.8 million Heritage Lottery Fund grant had been reserved for the park, subject to final approval. It would allow for the restoration of the pavilion, bandstand and memorials.

History

At the time of its opening on 7 September 1895, a small stream running through the park formed part of the boundary between the urban districts of Smethwick in Staffordshire and Oldbury in Worcestershire. The layout of the park's 50 acres (20 ha) was planned by Birmingham architect, William Henman. Work included a 600-yard (550 m) new road linking St Paul's Road to Holly Lane, 2,000 yards (1,800 m) of steel railings around the park perimeter and a park keeper's lodge. The stream was used to fill an excavated 5-acre (2 ha) boating lake to an average depth of 4 feet (1.2 m), in the centre of which was an island. Water from a fountain in a smaller pool flowed down fern-covered rocks and under a rustic bridge to the lake. Other features were a boat house with landing stage, a bandstand in the centre of a circular gravelled area and an octagonal refreshment pavilion with a stove for heating and a ventilation turret. The Birmingham Post applauded the generosity of the benefactor. It stated the park was a great asset for the district, as the streets of Black Country towns were "unhealthy, narrow and confined", with meagre provision for green spaces. Local streets were decorated with flags and bunting for the opening ceremony. A procession of marching bands, civic dignitaries, mounted police, fire brigades, a company from the South Staffordshire Volunteers and representatives of trades unions and other associations made its way from the public hall (now Smethwick Library) to the park, where speeches of thanks were given.

In June 1896, a petition was presented to the park trustees by members of local Sunday School Unions, who requested a cessation of Sunday afternoon boating as it was leading to children missing Sunday School. The park trustees after due consideration dismissed concerns for lack of evidence. In the park's early years, ice skating was popular on the frozen lake in Winter, and open-air bathing and fishing at warmer times. Annual fêtes were held to raise money for the West Smethwick Park Band, which gave regular Sunday and bank holiday concerts during the season.

The Smethwick Telephone newspaper conducted a review of Smethwick's parks in August 1908. It said West Smethwick Park was breezy and carried the fumes from several factories, disastrous to some flowers; but the gardeners had learned from experience which plantings would be successful. Plants and flowers on show included Jacoby geraniums, tobacco plant, caster oil plant, perilla, sweet aylssum, echeveria, fuchsia, gladioli, Shirley poppy, ageratum, calceolaria violas, Sweet William and penstemmon. The reported also noted a bowling green had been laid.

Memorials

The park features a memorial, in brick and terracotta, with a bronze bust, to Sir James Timmins Chance, a partner in the nearby glass-making firm, Chance Brothers. Chance purchased the land for the park. Beneath the bust is a plaque reading:

James T. Chance
M.A J.P. D.L.
For fifty years a partner in the firm 
of Chance Brothers & Co. 
at the Glass Works Smethwick 
and the Alkali Works, Oldbury
He purchased the land for the park, 
laid it out and endowed it 
and on September 7th 1895 opened it
A gift to the public for ever.
He also made the roads on its East and West boundaries.

A stone drinking fountain, installed in June 1905, commemorates John Chance, chairman of Chance Brothers, who died in November 1900. There is also a memorial to Flight Sergeants Cox and Preston, who crashed nearby on 31 July 1944, during World War II.