Walsall Arboretum

Walsall Arboretum is a Victorian public park located very close to Walsall town centre in the West Midlands. Part of the park and surrounding housing are covered by the Arboretum conservation area. The park is currently (from 2012) undergoing a major restoration and redevelopment programme funded largely by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

In 1848, John Eglington, a local surveyor, valued the estate at £160,000. In the 1860s, E. A. Foden first mooted the idea of turning the estate into a park and in 1871, the Walsall Arboretum and Lake Company was formed and issued a prospectus for shareholders describing the principal features. In 1873, a lease was drawn up for the creating of a park and the flooding of more land. The Arboretum was officially opened on 4 May 1874 by Lady Hatherton. The park consisted of two lakes, two lodges, a boathouse, bandstand, several summerhouses, a tree lined promenade, space for dancing, a flagpole, croquet lawns and a cricket ground. On 20 May 1875, severe weather caused extensive damage to the lake area.

Visitor numbers started to fall as a result of complaints over the lack of provision for children's activities. A cycle track was opened in 1876 as an attempt at boosting visitor numbers, however, in 1877, the company went into liquidation and the lease was surrendered to Lord Hatherton and a management committee of local businessmen took over. On 4 September 1877, an Article of Agreement stated that the land should only be used as a park. In the following year, a steam boat named "Lady of the Lake" was launched. In 1880, Thomas Everton was appointed the first park keeper and he moved into the main lodge. Heavy rain caused flooding and damage to the cycle track on 27 October 1880.

Due to public demand, the town council took over the Arboretum in 1881 on a three-year lease. Admissions became free. The park was officially re-opened on 21 July 1884 as the council's first "people's park". In 1885, bathing, boating, fishing and skating were banned from the lake, although fishing was allowed by permit. In January 1886, skating and curling were allowed. In May 1886, heavy rain caused more flooding and this caused the "Lady of the Lake" to sink. In 1889, the park received a cash injection which was used to improve the cycle path, greenhouse, lodges and flower beds.

In 1890, talks began between the town's clerk and Lord Hatherton to extend the Arboretum by another 13 acres (5.3 ha). A brick bridge was constructed over the Hoar Brook, replacing a timber one. The extension of the park was approved in 1891, although a proposed swimming baths was rejected. The extension was officially opened in 1892 and consisted of an outdoor gym for young people. Boating was reinstated on Hatherton Lake. In 1899, the bandstand was reconstructed.

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