Red House Park at www.RedHousePark.org.uk
Red House Park consists of a Victorian house with
playing fields, woods, parkland and lakes in the
Great Barr area of Sandwell. The park is an important
amenity for the local residents and much work is
currently being undertaken to improve many aspects of
the park and the Red House itself. This is being
co-ordinated by the Friends of Red House park. This
web site will support their activities and provide a
focal point for documenting the history of the area.
Meetings
The next meeting of the Friends of
Red House Park will be on
Monday 22nd February 2010 6.45 p.m.,
at Council Training Office at rear of Hill Lane
Clinic.
Please note the full
schedule of meetings and previous minutes are
available on the Meetings page.
Recent News
The weather has had a major impact on the park, at the end of last year the wet weather caused the top pool to flood - see the photo gallery. This year snow has turned the park into a winter play area. Thanks to Great Barr residents David Lewis and Ruth Lawton you can see their pictures here.
The Obelisk has now been repaired - a formal unveiling is planned.
Four hundred white 'iceberg' roses are to be ordered.
Planned additions to the Park in 2010
As part of the The Pathfinder Scheme Sandwell Council are to develop an
area of ‘Natural
Play’ in the Park mainly for 5 to 13 yr olds.The following equipment is being planned to be installed in the Spring.
- A Zip wire
- Large Climbing Frame
- Small Climbing Frame that spins round
- Four Metre High Double Activity Spacenet
- Cable Ride - proposed to be 45 metres long which is the longest cable ride in the Borough.
Save The Red House
The campaign to save the Red House for Community use continues. Further details can be found on the Save The House page. The Red House is still currently on offer for rental as offices. Agent Burley Browne is handling the property
Obelisk Appeal
The
Friends would like to add a plaque to the newly restored Obelisk
in the park which is believed to be in memory of Princess Charlotte.
The
Obelisk
originally had a tablet affixed with a long Latin inscription,
but during a
period in which the house was used as a sanatorium
for Birmingham children the tablet became damaged and
no longer there. The Friends of Red House Park are seeking information
on what the original inscription said so it a new plaque can be
re-created - contact us if you know the wording.
Following an appeal in the Black Country Bugle there has been a reponse from a Joseph Aston of Townsville, Queensland, Australia who lived in Great Barr in the 1930's. His recollection was that there was a stone plaque in the recess at the bottom of the obelisk and at least part of the inscription was in English and was in memory of Princess Charlotte, possibly with a date in Roman numerals. Any further details would be welcomed.
Quick Links
- Click here to
- Please send me photographs and historical information on Red House Park
- This site supports the work of the Friends of Red House Park and is a micro-site within www.B43.co.uk - Great Barr Past and Present