West Smethwick Park

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 acre was planned by Birmingham architect, William Henman. Work included a 600 yard new road linking St Paul's Road to Holly Lane, 2000 yards of steel railings around the park perimeter and a park keeper's lodge. The stream was used to fill an excavated 5 acre boating lake to an average depth of 4 ft, 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…