Cannon Hill Park
| Cannon Hill Park | |
|---|---|
 Cannon Hill Park lake |
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| Type | Public park |
| Location | Birmingham, England |
| Coordinates | 52°27′11″N 1°54′04″W / 52.453°N 1.901°WCoordinates: 52°27′11″N 1°54′04″W / 52.453°N 1.901°W |
| Operated by | Birmingham City Council |
| Status | Open year round |
| Website | birmingham.gov.uk/cannonhillpark |
Cannon Hill Park is a park located in south Birmingham, England. It is the most popular park in the city, covering 250 acres (101 ha) consisting of formal, conservation, woodland and sports areas. Recreational activities at the park include boating, fishing, bowls, tennis, putting and picnic areas.
It also contains Birmingham Nature Centre, the mac theatre, and adjacent to the park is Edgbaston Cricket Ground.
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[edit] History
In April 1873, a local benefactor, Miss Louisa Ann Ryland (1814-89) of Barford Hill House, Warwickshire, gave 57 acres (23 ha) of meadow land, known as Cannon Hill Fields, to the Corporation and paid for the draining of the site to create a public park. J.T Gibson of Battersea was employed to transform the site. He constructed two large lakes, the smaller ornamental ponds and a bathing pool. 35 acres were devoted to ornamental gardens and shrub borders. Kew Gardens donated seeds and plants to establish the collection, this collection was used by students to enable them to study Botany. It opened to the public in September 1873. A further 7 acres (2.8 ha) were given by Sir John Holder-Bart in 1897, and in 1898 5 acres (2.0 ha) were acquired to straighten the River Rea, which is now culverted and runs along the western edge.
[edit] Features
A 1906 granite and bronze memorial to the dead of the Second Boer War by Albert Toft, stands on the western edge of the park. It is scheduled for refurbishment in 2012.[1]
In 1911 a 16th century timbered house was moved from Deritend and re-erected in the park by the Birmingham Archaeological Society, to serve as a refreshment room and cricket pavilion. Named the Golden Lion Inn it is a Grade II listed building but is now in a very poor state of repair and fenced-off. The bandstand, the bridge over the lake, and Cannon Hill House are also Grade II Listed.
A scale model of the Elan Valley Reservoirs, in the form of ornamental ponds, is located in a Japanese garden near the mac. It was built in the 1960s.
[edit] Events
A free 5 kilometre Parkrun event is held in the park every Saturday morning at 9am.[citation needed]
British Military Fitness hold fitness classes up to six days a week.[citation needed]
The Great Birmingham Run half-marathon also passes through the park at around the 9-mile point of the course.[citation needed]
[edit] References
- ^ "Birmingham war memorial to be restored". The Birmingham Press. 2012-01-04. http://www.thebirminghampress.com/2012/01/04/birmingham-war-memorial-to-be-restored/. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
[edit] External links
- Birmingham City Council - Cannon Hill Park
- 1890 Ordnance Survey map of Cannon Hill Park
- Details from listed building database (216854) Bandstand. Images of England. English Heritage.
- Details from listed building database (216855) Bridge over lake. Images of England. English Heritage.
- Details from listed building database (216853) Golden Lion Inn. Images of England. English Heritage.
- Details from listed building database (217545) Cannon Hill House. Images of England. English Heritage.
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