Cannon Hill Park
Encyclopedia
Cannon Hill Park is a park
located in south Birmingham
, England
. It is the most popular park in the city, covering 250 acre (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
.
(1814-89) of Barford Hill House, Warwickshire, gave 57 acres (230,671 m²) 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 (28,328 m²) were given by Sir John Holder-Bart in 1897, and in 1898 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) were acquired to straighten the River Rea
, which is now culvert
ed and runs along the western edge.
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.
A free 5 kilometre Parkrun
event is held in the park every Saturday morning at 9.00 am.
British Military Fitness
hold fitness classes up to six days a week.
The Great Birmingham Run
half-marathon also passes through the park at around the 9-mile point of the course.
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
located in south Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is the most popular park in the city, covering 250 acre (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
Birmingham Nature Centre
Birmingham Nature Centre is a small zoo on the edge of Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham, England. It is managed by Birmingham City Council.-Animals:The zoo features mainly small mammals...
, the mac
Mac (Birmingham)
mac is a non-profit arts centre situated in Cannon Hill Park, Edgbaston, Birmingham, England. It was established in 1962 and is registered as an educational charity which host plays, concerts and films shows; and holds art exhibitions, music classes, and workshops for all ages.The centre re-opened...
theatre, and adjacent to the park is Edgbaston Cricket Ground
Edgbaston Cricket Ground
Edgbaston Cricket Ground, also known as the County Ground or Edgbaston Stadium, is a cricket ground in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, England...
.
History
In April 1873, a local benefactor, Miss Louisa Ann RylandLouisa Ryland
Louisa Ann Ryland was a major benefactor to the town of Birmingham, England. Her donations included several large areas of land that were used to create public parks. The largest of these, donated in 1873, was some and became Cannon Hill Park. She also contributed to the building of Birmingham...
(1814-89) of Barford Hill House, Warwickshire, gave 57 acres (230,671 m²) 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
Battersea
Battersea is an area of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is an inner-city district of South London, situated on the south side of the River Thames, 2.9 miles south-west of Charing Cross. Battersea spans from Fairfield in the west to Queenstown in the east...
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 (28,328 m²) were given by Sir John Holder-Bart in 1897, and in 1898 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) were acquired to straighten the River Rea
River Rea
The River Rea is a small river which passes through Birmingham, England. The name of the river derives from a root found in many Indo-European languages and means "to run" or "to flow". It frequently bursts its banks after heavy rain....
, which is now culvert
Culvert
A culvert is a device used to channel water. It may be used to allow water to pass underneath a road, railway, or embankment. Culverts can be made of many different materials; steel, polyvinyl chloride and concrete are the most common...
ed and runs along the western edge.
In 1911 a 16th century timbered house was moved from Deritend
Deritend
Deritend is an historic area of Birmingham, England, built around a crossing point of the River Rea. It is first mentioned in 1276. Today Deritend is usually considered to be part of Digbeth.-History:...
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.
Elan Valley Reservoirs
The Elan Valley Reservoirs are a chain of man-made lakes and reservoirs in the Elan Valley in Powys, Mid Wales , using the rivers Elan and Claerwen...
, in the form of ornamental ponds, is located in a Japanese garden
Japanese garden
, that is, gardens in traditional Japanese style, can be found at private homes, in neighborhood or city parks, and at historical landmarks such as Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and old castles....
near the mac. It was built in the 1960s.
A free 5 kilometre Parkrun
Parkrun
parkrun is the name given to a collection of 5 km running events that take place every week in several different countries. They are free to take part in and require runners to register on-line for a unique athlete number and to print their own identification barcode before taking part.parkrun...
event is held in the park every Saturday morning at 9.00 am.
British Military Fitness
British Military Fitness
British Military Fitness, or BMF, is an organisation providing fitness classes in over fifty public parks across the United Kingdom. The classes are run by former or serving members of the British armed forces with recognised fitness training qualifications....
hold fitness classes up to six days a week.
The Great Birmingham Run
Great Birmingham Run
The Great Birmingham Run is an annual half marathon road running event held in Birmingham, UK in October. Formerly known as the Birmingham Half Marathon, from 2011 it became part of the Great Run series of road races....
half-marathon also passes through the park at around the 9-mile point of the course.
External links