Ongoing research; last updated 11 August 2011
22nd January 1907 – Minute of KN&N UDC Baths, Parks & Cemeteries Committee
Proposed Recreation Ground
(g) King’s Heath – Continued
13th February 1907 – Minute of KN&N UDC Baths, Parks & Cemeteries Committee
Recreation Grounds
(h) Proposed Recreation Ground at King’s Heath – Continued.
13th March 1907 – Minute of KN&N UDC Baths, Parks & Cemeteries Committee
Recreation Grounds
(g) Proposed Recreation Ground at King’s Heath
Resolved:- That the Surveyor be instructed to interview Messrs. Wilmott, Fowler & Wilmott, agents for Mr. G.W. Taylor, with a view to ascertaining whether he would be willing to give to the Council a piece of land at King’s Heath for the purposes of a recreation ground.
15th May 1907 – Minute of KN&N UDC Baths, Parks & Cemeteries Committee
Proposed Recreation Grounds
(a) King’s Heath, Continued.
28th May 1907 – Minute of KN&N UDC Baths, Parks & Cemeteries Committee (Special meeting)
Proposed Recreation Ground at King’s Heath
Mr. Councillor Fryer submitted a plan of land on the Priory Estate, King’s Heath for consideration by the Committee as to the advisability of purchasing it for a recreation ground.
Resolved:- That the matter be referred to a Sub-Committee consisting of Councillors Coley, Grant and Shann.
12th June 1907 – KN&N UDC, Baths, Parks and Cemeteries Committee
Proposed Recreation Grounds
(a) Kings Heath
Mr. Councillor Coley reported that the question of acquiring certain land on the Priory Estate, Kings Heath for the purposes of a park had been considered eighteen months ago, but that owing to there being onerous covenants relating to the land it was thought advisable not to proceed further in the matter. It was therefore resolved:- That the matter be not further considered.
11th September 1907 – KN&N UDC, Baths, Parks and Cemeteries Committee
Proposed Recreation Grounds
(a) Kings Heath
Mr. Councillor Coley reported that he had had several interviews with Mr. Cartland with reference to the acquisition by the Council of part of the Priory Estate, Kings Heath for the purposes of a park. He stated that Mr. Cartland required about £900 per acre for the land and he could not advise the Committee to purchase at that price. He also reported that, with the Surveyor, he was in negotiation with Messrs. Wilmott, Fowler & Wilmott, agents for Mr. Taylor, with a view to inducing Mr. Taylor to give some land at Kings Heath for the purposes of a park.
Resolved:- That the matter be again referred to Mr. Councillor Coley and the Surveyor and that they be requested to report thereon to the next meeting of the Committee.
9th October 1907 – KN&N UDC, Baths, Parks and Cemeteries Committee
Proposed Recreation Grounds
(a) Kings Heath
Mr. Councillor Coley reported that, with the Surveyor, he had again seen Messrs. Wilmott, Fowler & Wilmott, agents for Mr. Taylor, with a view to ascertaining if Mr. Taylor would be prepared to give any land at Kings Heath for the purposes of a park, but that, owing to Mr. Taylor’s absence from home nothing could be done in the matter.
He also reported that he had been in further communication with Major J. Howard Cartland with reference to the purchase of part of the Priory Estate, King’s Heath. He stated that the syndicate which Major Cartland represented would be prepared to sell the land offered for the sum of £1,000 per acre, but would give the sum of £3,000 towards laying out the park. Mr. Councillor Coley suggested that possibly the land might be obtained for £500 per acre if the offer were made. After consideration it was Resolved:- That Mr. Councillor Coley be requested to again see Major Cartland to ascertain if it would be possible to obtain the land for the sum of £500 per acre or for such sum as, with a donation from the syndicate represented by Major Cartland towards laying out the park, would reduce the purchase money to £500 per acre.
19th October 1907 – KN&N UDC, Baths, Parks and Cemeteries Committee (Special meeting)
Proposed Park at Kings Heath
The Committee visited King’s Heath House and the grounds surrounding it, at the invitation of Major Cartland, who had offered to sell the property to the Council for the purposes of a public park. The committee were of opinion that they could not do better than purchase the property for a park, providing satisfactory terms could be arranged.
13th November 1907 – KN&N UDC, Baths, Parks and Cemeteries Committee
Proposed Recreation Grounds
(a) Kings Heath
The Committee again considered the question of the acquisition from Major Cartland of part of the Priory Estate, King’s Heath, for the purposes of a public park. Mr. Councillor Coley reported that as a result of further negotiations he did not think the property could be acquired for £500 per acre, but he was of opinion that the land, 15 acres in extent, with the mansion and lodge thereon, could be acquired for the sum of £10,000.
Resolved:- That a Sub-Committee consisting of Councillors Shann, Coley, Fryer, and Brown be appointed to negotiate with Major Cartland with a view to the land comprising 15 acres, with the mansion and lodge thereon, part of the Priory Estate, King’s Heath, offered by him for sale to the Council for the purposes of a public park, being acquired, if possible, for a sum not exceeding £10,000, but on condition that if a road shall at any time be made abutting on such property, the Council shall not be called upon to contribute towards the cost of making such road.
3rd December 1907 – KN&N UDC, Baths, Parks and Cemeteries Committee (Sub Committee)
Proposed Park at King’s Heath
The Sub-Committee fully considered the question of the acquisition of the property on the Priory Estate, King’s Heath offered by Major Cartland for sale to the Council for the purposes of a public park, and as to the highest price for which they would be prepared to recommend the Council to purchase the same, and they were of opinion that they could not recommend the Council give more than £10,000.
Major Cartland attended the meeting and stated that the Company which had the development of the Priory Estate in hand would not accept less than £1,000 per acre but would be prepared to give the sum of £3,000 towards laying out the park, which would make the purchase money £12,000 for the 15 acres. He promised however, to lay the offer of the Sub-Committee before his co-directors at an early date and to let the Committee know their decision as soon as possible.
11th December 1907 – KN&N UDC, Baths, Parks and Cemeteries Committee
Proposed Recreation Grounds
(a) Kings Heath – report of Sub-Committee
The Minutes of a meeting of the Sub-Committee appointed to negotiate with Major Cartland as to the acquisition by the Council of part of the Priory Estate, King’s Heath for the purposes of a public park, held on the 3rd December last, were read as a report of such Sub-Committee and the report was accepted.
The Chairman read a letter he had received from Major Cartland stating that his Company could not see their way to accept less than £12,000 for the 15 acres but they would be prepared to take £14,000 for the 18 acres.
After some discussion it was Resolved:- That the Sub-Committee be requested to further negotiate with Major Cartland with a view to the 15 acres being acquired for £10,000, and that the Sub-Committee be empowered to offer a further £500 or to pay half of the cost of making a road on the north western boundary of the land. (Mr. Councillor Harbun dissentient.)
