Ongoing research; last updated 8 December 2013
5th January 1942 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
The
Treasurer submitted a report in which it was recorded that in the period 1st
April to 20th December 1941 the amount received from the sale of produce
grown at King’s Heath Park was for
Tomatoes £76. 6s. 3d.; Potatoes £9. 12s. 0d. and for Pig Potatoes £1. 18s. 0d.
The General
Manager submitted the following report:-
Cultivation of Lands – Food Production
Referring to your Minute No. 4628 instructing me to prepare and submit
quarterly a comprehensive report on the progress made in the cultivation of
lands under the control of the Committee, I submit herewith (annexed) Schedules
of the sites under cultivation, and particulars of the crops grown during the
1941 season. The particulars of the
agricultural sites (Schedule No. 1) also shows the proposed crops for the 1942
season.
Schedule No. 2 includes particulars of the produce grown in the
greenhouses and ground previously used as flower beds in various parks,
recreation grounds and cemeteries.
With regard to Onion plants, approximately 50,000 were grown at Warley
Park, and 10,000 at King’s Heath Park, but these were distributed among various
other parks and cemeteries to meet the demand for same in the different
locations.
As the Committee is already aware, a grant of £2 per acre has been
obtained from the Government in respect of newly ploughed up grassland
sites. This grant is based upon the area
actually ploughed, i.e. it does not include headings and ditches. The Government, through the Ministry of Food,
have, in addition, made a grant of £10 per acre in respect of acreage set apart
for the growing of Potatoes during the 1941 season. The acreage in this case is the total
acreage, i.e. including headings and ditches.
A claim for this grant was made on behalf of the Committee, and a cheque
for £1,221-9.-6. has been received from the Ministry of Food in settlement of
the claim.
As the Committee is also aware, a licence was obtained from the Ministry
of Food early last year for the sale of Tomatoes by retail. As the British Restaurants have not been
taking all the fresh vegetables now being grown in the parks, an application
was recently made on behalf of the Committee for the licence to be extended, so
as to include the sale by retail of Potatoes and other fresh vegetables. The
Food Control Committee have approved the application, and the amended licence
has been issued.
With regard to the 1942 season, it is suggested that Lettuces, Leeks,
and a restricted number of Cabbage, Cucumber and Marrow plants, as well as
Tomato plants, should be grown for sale for transplanting, in addition to the
growing for sale of Onion plants and Tomatoes.
A number of Lettuces are already being grown in some of the greenhouses,
and will shortly be ready for sale.
(Schedule 2)
Schedule of Small Sites and
Greenhouses in various Parks and Cemeteries showing the approximate Yield for
the 1941 Season
Kings’s Heath Park:
Potatoes 1.3
tons
Tomatoes 1340
lbs
Leeks 490
Cultivation
of Lands – Food Production
4654 Resolved:-
That the arrangements made for the disposal of the 1941 food crops and
the proposals for sowing during the 1942 season, as set out in the foregoing
report, be approved.
2nd February 1942 – Parks Committee
The General
Manager submitted the following report:-
Refreshment Room Tenancies
Attached is a list of Refreshment Room tenancies which expire of 25th
March next. The list includes the
tenancies usually granted for the period of three years, and those usually
granted for one year only. As the
Committee is aware, it is necessary to advertise in the Press for tenancies in
the case of three years’ tenancies of refreshment rooms in public parks, but to
do this at the present time would, I think, be a useless expense, and with the
approval of your Chairman, the various tenants have been approached with a view
to ascertaining whether they are prepared to continue their present tenancies
for one year only, on the existing terms.
There are a few exceptions …………………..
The list attached shows the cases where the present tenants have
accepted the suggestion that they should continue for another year on the
present terms, and the Committee’s approval of the proposed arrangements is
desired.
List of Refreshment Tenancies
expiring on the 25th March 1942
Park King’s
Heath
Present Tenant Miss Grace
Summers,
16, Hazelhurst Road,
King’s Heath, 14.
Usual period of Tenancy 3 years
Usual Rental per annum £65
Present rental per annum £60
Remarks The tenancy was transferred
from Mr. W.M. Parker to Miss Grace Summers in April, 1940, at the reduced
rental of £60. Agreed.
Refreshment
Room Tenancies
4682 Resolved:-
That the terms arranged for the renewal of certain Refreshmnet Room
tenancies as now reported by the General Manager, be approved, and the Town
Clerk instructed to prepare and seal any necessary documents; …………….
11th February 1942 - Parks Department (Operations Card 55 M1)
40th R.War. HG to use the park for training on an occasional Saturday night or Sunday morning – also use of outbuildings for accommodation.
2nd March 1942 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
2nd March 1942 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
The General
Manager submitted the following report:-
Wages of Manual Employees
I beg to recommend the following increases in wages of Manual employees
to take effect as from the 28th instant, viz:-
Name Position Park Present wages Increase
Dafforn, S Gardnr. Labr. King’s Heath £3-9-0. 2/-
Heeley, H.V. Pk. Keeper King’s Heath £5-10-0. 2/6
(including
emoluments)
King’s Heath Park – The Priory, Vicarage Road
A communication was recently received from Mr. H.C. Weston, one of the
Executors of the late Major J.H. Cartland, drawing attention to the fact that
during the summer of 1941 a high brick wall dividing the Park from the kitchen
garden of The Priory collapsed on to the garden causing some damage to fruit trees
and growing crops. The wall belongs to
your Committee, and Mr Weston accordingly called upon the Committee to repair
same and pay compensation for damage.
As a result of an interview I had with Mr. Weston on the site, he agreed
to withdraw his claim for compensation if your Committee would undertake to
rebuild the wall as soon as possible, in the meantime clearing the debris from
The Priory garden and temporarily making good the gap in the wall so that the
garden can be utilized for food production.
I gave Mr. Weston this undertaking, and the Committee’s approval is
desired. The rebuilding of the wall will
be carried out with the old bricks as and when circumstances permit.
Wages - Manual
Employees
4711 Resolved:-
That the increases in wages of manual employees, as set out in the
foregoing report, to take effect from 28th March, 1942, be approved.
King’s
Heath Park – “The Priory”, Vicarage Road
4714 Resolved:-
That the arrangement for the re-building by the Parks Department of the
collapsed portion of the wall dividing King’s Heath Park from “The Priory”,
Vicarage Road, and the temporary closing of the gap and clearing of the debris
from “The Priory” garden, referred to in the foregoing report, be approved.
2nd March 1942 - Parks Department (Operations Card 55 D1)
By minute No. 4714 of the 2nd March 1942, arrangements were made for the wall between the Park and “The Priory”, Vicarage Road, to be rebuilt by the Parks Dept.
30th March 1942 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
30th March 1942 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
The General
Manager submitted the following report:-
Cultivation of Lands – Food Production
………………….
Onion plants are being grown under glass at King’s Heath, Ward End and
Warley Parks, and it is anticipated that between 70,000 and 80,000 plants will
be available for sale and for departmental use.
Similar arrangements to those of last year are being made with regard to
the growing of Tomatoes.
…………………
Home Guard
Since your last meeting, further facilities have been granted to various
units of the Home Guard as follows:-
King’s Heath Park - 40th
Battalion, Warwickshire Home Guard, The G.E.C. Magent Company, Landor Street,
Birmingham, 8.
Permission
to utilize the men’s messroom as Platoon Headquarters about once a month at
night-times, and occasionally at weekends.
The Committee’s approval is
desired.
4742 Resolved:-
That the granting of further facilities to units of the Home Guard,as
set out in the foregoing report, be approved.
4th May 1942 – BCC Parks Committee
Minute
The City
Treasurer submitted the following report:-
Schedule of amounts received (or
due) from the sale of produce at various parks and cemeteries during the period
1st April 1941 to 31st March 1942
King’s Heath Park:
Tomatoes £76. 6s.
3d.
Potatoes £9. 12s.
0d.
Pig Potatoes £1. 18s.
0d.
Leeks 10s.0d.
1st June 1942 – BCC Parks Committee
Minute
The General
Manager submitted the following report:-
Home Guard
Since your last meeting, further facilities have been granted to various
units of the Home Guard, as follows:-
King’s Heath Park - “D” Company, 24th
Warwickshire Battalion. Permission to
hold their second Anniversary Parade and Display on Sunday, the 10th
May.
Home
Guard
4803 Resolved:-
That the granting of further facilities to units of the Home Guard, as set
out in the foregoing report, be approved.
Post-war
Reconstruction
Schedule of War Damage to Buildings
Buildings Damaged which will require to be
repaired or reconditioned
Position of Property Particulars
of Building Estimated
cost of
and damage thereto rebuilding or repairs
King’s Heath Park, * Greenhouse – broken glass £10. 0s. 0d.
Vicarage Road, * King’s heath House – damage to £7.
0s. 0d.
King’s Heath. slating and roof
*
Lodge – Broken glass £5. 0s. 0d.
Note: First Aid repairs only to make same
weatherproof, have been already carried out to the buildings marked *.
4810 Resolved:-
That the schedule of war damaged properties of the Parks Committee with
the approximate estimated cost of rebuilding or repairs, be approved.
Damage
to Model Aeroplane: King’s Heath Park
Councillor
Banks stated that he had been approached by the father of Peter Print (aged 12)
of 14 Highbury Rd., King’s Heath, with reference to an incident which occurred
at King’s Heath Park on 4th May, 1942. The boy’s aeroplane became caught in a tree,
and Parks Police Inspector T.B. Field, with the aid of a rake, disentangled the
plane, which fell to the ground and was irreparably damaged.
4836 Resolved:-
That payment of £2. 2. 0. be made as an ex gratia contribution towards
the cost of replacing a model aeroplane accidentally damage in King’s Heath
Park on 4th May, 1942.
27th June 1942 – Birmingham News
The Week’s News from the Districts
Selly Oak
Gang Cricket – This week has been something of a cricket festival for the Stonehouse Gang members, matches being played on Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
On Saturday the Gang Juniors met Shenley Homes boys at Shenley. Batting first, the Stonehouse side were out very cheaply, and Shenley obtained a lead of 54 on the first innings. The Gang, however, largely due to an excellent knock by Fred Collins, totalled 61 in the second innings and seemed possible winners when the first four of the Shenley batsmen were dismissed with only a few runs on the board. Eventually, however, thanks to their captain, Bill Paterson, the home team won by 26 runs.
The Gang’s “A” team visited Kings Heath Park on Monday, when they lost by 28 runs to the Grove Scouts.
Tuesday’s game at Selly Oak Park resulted in another Gang defeat, Northfield Institute beating the senior Stonehouse team by 28 runs, despite a plucky batting effort by John Pettitt, who carried his bat after going in at the fall of the first wicket, and effective bowling by Bayliss (four for 14) and Norton (four for 13).
The defeats, however, were overwhelmingly revenged on Wednesday, when the Gang Juniors beat Harborne Methodist Boys’ Club – playing their first inter-club match – by 89 runs to nine at Selly Oak Park.
For Stonehouse, Billy Harding had the amazing bowling figures of five wickets for no runs in two overs – including the “hat” trick.
Alan Williams, Billy Harding, Ken Bryant and Ray (“Pongo”) Waring were mainly responsible for the Gang’s excellent batting total.
6th July
1942 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
The General
Manager submitted the following report:-
Use of Parks
The use of parks has been granted
as follows, and the approval of the Committee is desired:-
Date Park Organisation Purpose
10.6.42 King’s Heath R.G.
Parsons Evangelistic
meetings
27th July
1942 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
The General
Manager submitted the following report:-
Use of Parks
The use of parks has been granted
as follows, and the approval of the Committee is desired:-
Date Park Organisation Purpose
29.7.42 King’s Heath R.G.
Parsons Evangelistic
meetings
31st August 1942 - Parks Department (Operations Card 55 M1)
O/C No. 4 Section H.G. granted permission to use a dressing room for storing ammunition. Letter from C.T. 27.8.42 states he has received an offer of £1.0.0. p.a. for compensation in respect of hutting for H.G.
1st October 1942 - Parks Department (Operations Card 55 M1)
Requisition received for dressing rooms adjacent to Avenue Road entrance for H.G.
4909 Resolved:-
That the various appointments to fill vacancies on the staff, as set out
in the foregoing report, be approved.
5th
October 1942 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
The General
Manager submitted the following report:-
Home Guard
Since your last meeting, further
facilities have been granted to various units of the Home Guard, as follows:-
King’s
Heath Park - No. 4 Sector
Home Guard. Permission granted to
utilize the football dressing rooms adjacent to to the Avenue Road entrance, as
an ammunition store.
The
Committee’s confirmation is desired.
Use of Parks
The use of parks has been granted
as follows, and the approval of the Committee is desired:-
Date Park Organisation Purpose
2.9.42 King’s Heath R.
Parsons Evangelistic
meetings
Staff Wages – Appointments
The following appointments have
been made in order to fill vacancies:
Name Grinnell, J.H. (19)
Park King’s Heath
Nature of employment Pk. Labr.
Commencing date 4.8.42
Wages £2-5-9.
Staff Wages
