Ongoing research; last updated 31 october 2012
This page contains information discovered since the "Heydays of Selly Oak Park" was written.
1st February 1899 – BCC Parks Department (Operations Card 26 A1)[1]
Acquisition
Area 1 - This area (11.53 acres = 4.6660 hectares, in Gibbins Road, Selly Oak, 29) was presented on the 1st February 1899 to the Kings Norton and Northfield U.D.C. by E.J. Gibbins and others and it came under the control of the Corporation on the extension of the City in 1911. (Deed No. 622) Restrictive Covenants: Area 1 - To be used as a public recreation ground. No buildings other than those for use in connection therein. To be open daily, but power reserved to close for two days continuously or seven days in all for flower shows or other like purposes with or without renewal. No intoxicating liquors or Sunday games allowed. Note: Area no. 1 only. The Corporation is responsible for supplying and maintaining adequate fencing.
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The following are photographs of a transcription of the Conveyance of the land for the Park held, and kindly made available, by the Property Services Department of Birmingham City Council:
(Click or double click on a photograph to enlarge it)
4th April
1899 – Birmingham Daily Gazette
Opening of Selly Oak Park
Noble Gift to the
People
Selly Oak has now its park, a breezy space over 11 acres in
extent, properly laid out, planted and fenced, and open to the inhabitants of
this vastly growing neighbourhood “for ever”.
The provision is one which has been much desired for a considerable
period, and in 1896 the Northfield Parish Council, which has been superseded by
the present body, the District Council, agitated for a suitable open space for
the people. The movement met with an
amount of disapproval in certain quarters, supposed difficulties were
mentioned, and the inevitable Local Government Board inquiry was fixed. At this inquiry Mr. Simeon Hill (chairman of
the Parish Council) was able to announce the receipt of a letter from Mrs.
Gibbins, and her four sons, Messrs. Thomas, John, Benjamin and William Gibbins,
offering to provide the necessary land and lay out the park and present it to
the populace. All quibbling then ceased,
controversial points were put on one side, and the handsome offer was accepted
with open arms. The work of carrying
into effect the offer was commissioned by the Parish Council, and when this
body no longer existed, and the locality became an Urban instead of a Rural
district, and controlled by the King’s Norton and Northfield Urban District
Council, the work was taken up by them.
The result is that Selly Oak and district have now a park of which they
may well be proud.
The opening ceremony took place yesterday afternoon, and was
attended by between 6,000 and 7,000 people.
At three o’clock District Councillor J.R. Oswald, on behalf of the
Council, presented to Mrs. Gibbins a silver key with which she unlocked the
entrance gates. In a feeble voice, she
being considerably over 80 years of age, she declared the park open to the
public, and the large crowd which had assembled entered and proceeded to the
shelter, where Mr. William Gibbins, on behalf of the donors, transferred the
park to the keeping of the Distriuct Council “in trust for the use of the
public”. The company included Messrs. T.
Gibbins (chairman), G.P. Underhill, F. Smith, T.H. Bladon, J.J. Brydon, W. May,
J.W.B. Brown, G. Tallis, J. Norris (members of the District Council), Alderman
Clayton and Alderman White (Birmingham), Councillor Johnson (chairman of the
Birmingham Baths and Parks Committee), Messrs J. Gibbins, H.W. Elliot, S. Hill,
J.C. Aston, W. Haddon, W. Hall, J.S. Keep, &c. Mr. W. Gibbins, on behalf of his mother, his
brothers, and himself, transferred the grounds to the District Council for the
use of the inhabitants of the rapidly growing neighbourhood which they
controlled. When the scheme was first
proposed, he said, it met with their hearty sympathy, and they felt that they
would like to assist with it. They
communicated with the then Parish Council and offered to undertake the scheme,
and they were present that day to complete the work and hand over the park to
the District Council – (applause). He pointed
out the extent of the land explaining that beds and walks had been laid out all
round, and a good space for grass was still left for play. The beds were planted with shrubs and trees,
and he hoped flowering plants would soon be added. It was to be regretted that there were so few
trees on the land; but the donors had planted a great many, and hoped that the
needful want would be amply supplied.
They had also built a parkkeeper’s lodge and a large shelter in case of
rain, which would not only be a shelter but a place in which the children could
play in showery weather. He associated
with the work the names of Mr. S. Hill, members of the Parish Council, and the
Parish Council clerk (Mr. J. Whitehouse), who were most interested in the
work. They found the land, and the
donors came in to complete it. They were
also indebted to the Baths and Parks Committee of the Birmingham City Council
for allowing Mr. Hearne (Baths and Parks Superintendent) to superintend the lay-out
of the land. Mr. Gibbins also spoke of
the assistance of Mr. J.G. Ledsam and Mr. J.T. Middlemore, M.P., in joining to
make a good road to the park in place of the old lane. He hoped that the park might be a source of
health and recreation to all who visited it.
Mr. T. Gibbins, as chaiman of the District Council, accepted
the gift on behalf of that authority, and explaining the conditions under which
the park was presented, pointed out that the Council was to maintain the ground
as a recreation ground for the use of the inhabitants of Selly Oak, Bournbrook,
Northfield, and neighbourhood for ever – (hear, hear and applause) - that it should be opened on week days and on
Sundays during such hours as the Council should fix, that no intoxicationg
beverages should be sold on the grounds – (hear, hear) - and that power could be exercised to lend the
land for the holding of flower shows and for other similar purposes –
(applause).
Mr. J.R. Oswald read the resolution of the Council in which
they accepted the offer, and expressed their thanks to the donors. He asked the older folk to assist in
preventing damage to the grounds, shrubs, &c., and added that everyone from
the bottom of their hearts thanked the donors for their great generosity. He moved a vote of thanks to the donors, and
asked their acceptance of an engrossment on vellum of the resolution passed by the
Council accepting the gift.
Mr. S. Hill as chairman of the late Parish Council, and on
behalf of the Foresters (Court Royal Oak), seconded the motion, and spoke of
the movement which had been on foot since 1896 for providing a park, and its
culmination in the offer of Mrs. Gibbins and her sons.
Mr. W. Haddon, on behalf of the Oddfellows (Selly Oak
Pride), supported the motion. Alderman
White and Mr. H.W. Elliott also spoke, and referred to the magnanimity of the
gift.
Mr. J. Gibbins replied, and thanked the people on behalf of
his mother, his brothers, and himself.
All the work they had done in connection with the park and its
laying-out, he said, had been to them a source of very much pleasure and
satisfaction, and their hope was that the park would be a great enjoyment to
those who lived around – (applause).
The proceedings were enlivened
by the Selly Oak Victoria and the Stirchley Brass Band.
