Tuesday 5 July 2011

Historical Overview

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW


Ongoing research; last updated 17 March 2014


This volume continues the historical overview of Kings Heath Park; the earlier years having been reported in the previous decade chapters. Again the clippings, listed in the column on the right, contain the more extensive detail upon which it is founded - information from Council committee minutes, newspaper reports, etc.

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2011

During the year the portal through the Refreshment Room (see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVQIfwvW3nU) into the conservatory was boarded up as workmen set about demolishing the conservatory to construct a new one (see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtTTvcx-AOM).  All was done behind the contractors screens and an eager sense of anticipation was generated.


The Refreshment Room in Kings Heath House
 - the doors through to the conservatory boarded whilst a new conservatory is constructed.
2012

By the end of January the building contractor's screen was removed as the new conservatory for the extension of the Refreshment Rooms was completed:

 (Compare this (27.1.12) with the picture on the Introduction page)



Refreshment Room ready to open (2.2.12)






















The conservatory opened for business on Friday, 3rd February.  (Excuse the personal note - I enjoyed my first "cuppa" in there on the following day - a delightful experience and highly recommended!)

Delving into the history of the Park, it was realised that it was just 100 years since the first refreshment room had been let.  On 25th March in 1912, Mr. & Mrs. Blake had been granted the tenancy of the refreshment room for a period of twelve months (see the 1912 clippings in the 1911-1920 History).  Refreshments had been provided in the park earlier in 1910, but that was only seasonally and on a stall provided by Mrs. Blunt, the only respondent to the invitation to tender for the provision of the service (see the 1910 clippings in the 1901-1910 History).

On the 13th February the Birmingham Mail announced that the annual Gardener's Weekend event would return to the Park, organised by a local committee, but supported by the City Council to the extent of £20,000.


Despite a very wet early summer the gardeners did a valiant job in making the Park ready for judging in the national Britain in Bloom competition on 7th August.


   
    


2013

The year opened on a sour note for the tenants of the Victoria Tea Room who resorted to a campaign and petetition (http://savethetearoom.co.uk/?page_id=134) to save their position after more than 16 years occupancy, the Council displacing them in favour of another service provider.





2014

The TV Garden was opened to the public on the third Sunday afternoon of each month from March to October.