History of Dartmouth Park

A local benefactor of the town called Reuben Farley, served three terms as Mayor of West Bromwich and wanted to improve the conditions of the "man in the street" with the provision of a park. He contacted the Earl of Dartmouth, who had previously offered some land:

"The want of a public park at West Bromwich has long been felt and would indeed be a great bon to the hardy sons of toil whose life it is to dwell here."

Upper pool looking towards the pavillionThe Earl suggested two alternative sites, one of 50 acres next to Cooper's Hill near West Bromwich and the other, of 44 acres, on the Handsworth border. The former was selected because it was close to the town centre. It was acquired by the West Bromwich Improvement Commissioners in August 1876,at the nominal rent of £1 per year on a 99 year lease.

The site occupied an area of high ground in the south-western corner of the Sandwell Valley, with a commanding view over the River Tame Valley.

West Bromwich lay to the north-west and had undergone recent vast expansion by prosperous Victorian industrialists, who had constructed the 'Golden Mile' through the Town Centre along the old Wolverhampton to Birmingham road.

Main entrance at the junction of Lloyd Street and Reform StreetThe busy road junction at Mayer's Green offered the most convenient entrance point into the park, allowing easy access for the surrounding populace from Lindon, Mayer's Green and West Bromwich in the north. A lodge was proposed to house the resident keeper who would control the adjacent park gates and maintain order in the park.

The Earl gave permission for the Commissioners to name the new park Dartmouth Park. The design of the park was put out to competition, advertised in the Gardener's Chronicle at a construction budget of £2,500. After deliberating for two days, the judges chose a design by one John MacClean over the other six entries.

The Park Opens

The park was opened by the Earl of Dartmouth on June 3rd 1878. Construction far exceeded its original budget of £2,500 with the total cost of £12,623. A general holiday was declared for the procession from the Town Hall to the new park and attendance was so great that the gates had to be shut, keeping out hundreds of people.