I wondered if Pamela Whittaker’s picture of the big old slide in Holland Park would spark up memories, and indeed it did. Today I received this wonderful pair of photos taken there, sent by reader David Cresswell. I love the period feel to them – the pram, the clothing, the fact that the trees in the park hadn’t yet grown very large.
I tried to remember the equipment I played on there; witches hat (replaced by a climbing frame shaped like a boat with a small slide), wooden and metal roundabout, swings, the iron horse and a climbing frame that seemed to be on very tall legs, shaped like a space rocket. I remember playing in that sandpit on a sunny afternoon while my mum sat chatting to other mums on the bench nearby. I can remember sheltering from a sudden summer storm with other kids in the bandstand that used to face the annexe.
I thank David for his wonderful contribution to our collective historical record, and if you have any pictures of Brownhills or Walsall Wood that you’d like to share with other readers, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. That’d be brownhillsbob at googlemail.com – thanks.
That pram is a piece of work. I think that horse was the first of a couple of versions of it - I'm sure I remember a metal one.
I'm sure I remember playing in this sandpit. Anyone remember the bandstand?
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Glad to be of service. You were right about the rocket bob as well.
The pram which I think was a Silver Cross when it had finished the service of all the family, Caroline, Christopher, Michael, linda was not at its best was used to carry a hundred weight of coal from Tuckley’s coal merchants on the high street. I know I pushed the thing along the road to Catshill Road. That was before the days of the coal in those plastic bags called Trend.
At one point in time, there were actully 2 slides – the one in the photo and a second one of a similar height in the main playground area with all the other stuff. It was light blue and red, I seem to remember with silver coloured metal. Somehow it was never quite as good as the one in the photo which was shinier and faster.
There was also a climbing frame shaped like a half moon
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I remeber the sand pit at holland park,there was also a bit of a paddling pool adjacent to the shelter pictured, which had wooden seating for changing wet clothes i think. The bandstand was great and there were bands on regulaly. especially bank holidays, the salvation army band would play there and then go around the Hussey estate on Sunday morns.The back room of the bandstand was used for st. Johns first aid classes for a while. Also on the park was a “GIANT STRIDE” and “THE BOAT”.There was originally 2 slides, one smaller than in pic, which I would go down with a greaseproof breadwrapper under my bum for extra speed. When the teenage lads got on the Giant stride or Boat they would go so high untill it went in a full rotation.Ahh memories….
Could anyone tell me who was the Holland Park named after ?
It’s named after Hyla John Holland, a civic luminary of the time. It’s mentioned here:
http://brownhillsbob.com/2009/07/11/local-history-this-is-my-truth-tell-me-yours/
He was head of Ogley Hay school in the early part of the last century, a JP, councillor and also choirmaster. He campaigned for the establishment of the park in the 1920’s.
The local Freemasons group has this to say on hit’s history page:
http://www.ogleyhaylodge.org.uk/index.php?p=1_5_History
Hope this helps
Bob
Many thanks for details of Holland Park .Hyla Holland was my Great Uncle.
Regards.
Peter dS
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I remember the rocking horse very well fell off it and split my lip while my dad was playing cricket just over the fence