| Identification and description | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | WARLEY PARK | ||||
| Location |
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| Localisation | Latitude: 52.472131 Longitude: -1.9835270 National Grid Reference: SP 01216 86022 Map: Download a full scale map (PDF) |
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| Overview | Heritage Category: Park and Garden Grade: II List Entry Number: 1001301 Date first listed: 22-Sep-1994 |
A landscape park laid out according to the designs of Humphry Repton, who produced
a Red Book for the site in 1795.
HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT
In the early 1790s, Samuel Galton, who had recently purchased the estate, called in
Humphry Repton to draw up plans to convert the existing system of fields into a fitting
setting for a new house. The house was completed by Galton's son, Hughbert, in 1819.
In 1902, the site was purchased by the City of Birmingham, and remains (1999) in use
as a public open space.
DESCRIPTION
LOCATION, AREA, BOUNDARIES, LANDFORM, SETTING Warley Park (40ha) lies 5km west of
the centre of Birmingham, 100m north of the A456 from Halesowen to Birmingham. It
occupies the west and east sides of a small valley, now enveloped by housing.
The western boundary of the site is marked by Harborne Road, the line of which takes
that recommended by Repton, running to the west of its earlier route in order to bring
an existing tower, Warley Tor, into the park. The Tor has since been demolished.
Barclay Road forms the eastern boundary, beyond which is early C20 housing. This is
the extent of the park as suggested by Repton, the land between the park edge and
what is now known as the Wigorn Road, being divided into two large fields, Lower Gold
Field and Upper Gold Field.
An additional area has been incorporated into the park since Repton's time, completing
the south-west corner, but the original boundaries of the park can still be clearly
traced. This land forms part of a golf course.
ENTRANCE AND APPROACHES The main entrance to the park is off Abbey Road, the public
road which forms the northern boundary of the site. From here, the drive sweeps up
to the east of the house site, and continues to join with the entrance from the south,
off Lightwoods Hill. Neither of the two entrance lodges formerly present survive.
PRINCIPAL BUILDING The house built after 1790 was demolished in 1957. It stood towards
the top of the western slope of the valley. The entrance front was to the east side,
rather than the west as advocated by Repton.
GARDENS AND PLEASURE GROUNDS In accordance with Repton's proposals, a 'winter garden',
traces of which survive, was laid out adjacent to the house to the south.
PARK The main expanse of the park lies to the east of the house site and still shows
the remnants of the plantation as put forward in the Red Book. This was a simple scheme,
with a couple of major clumps and a scattering of specimen trees. The planting along
the eastern boundary has been strengthened since the development of the land beyond.
A small stream ran through the valley which was used to form a small pool by the northern
entrance. This has now been filled in, but its outline remains visible in the grass.
Repton incorporated into his design an existing woodland, the Great Copse, which occupied
the south-east corner of the site. He improved its outline, cutting it through with
walks, and adding a Classical temple from which there were views back to the house.
Although the eastern end of this wood has been lost to housing and the temple has
been removed, the western part survives.
Humphry Repton (1752-1818), who first visited Warley in 1794, presented his Red Book
for the site in March 1795, prior to the publication of his Sketches and Hints on
Landscape Gardening. It was unusual as a commission for Repton, in that he was asked
to lay out a 'new' landscape, rather than improve an existing one, and the ground
was still divided into fields when he arrived. His recommendations included the extent
and choice of the style of design (park rather than ferme ornée), the siting of the
house, plantations, approaches, walks and rides, a pond formed from the stream through
the valley bottom, and a temple. His proposals were largely carried out.
KITCHEN GARDEN The remains of the kitchen garden stand to the west of the house site.
It was sited here against Repton's judgement; he recommended that it be kept at a
greater distance from the residence.
REFERENCES
G Carter et al, Humphrey Repton, Landscape Gardener 1752-1818 (1982), p 164
Archival items H Repton, Red Book, 1795 (Sandwell District Library)
Description written: February 1999 Register Inspector: PAS Edited: October 1999
This garden or other land is registered under the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953 within the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens by Historic England for its special historic interest.