of public parks took the shape of a town’s meeting, Dec. 22, 1853, when the burgesses approved the purchase, and in 1854 an Act was obtained for the formation thereof.  The first to be opened was Adderley Park, Aug. 30, 1856, the gift of Sir Charles Adderley.  Its area is 10A.  Or. 22P., and it is held nominally on a 999 years’ lease, at a rental of 5s. per year.  Calthorpe Park was opened June 1, 1857; its area being 31A. 1R. 13P., and it is held under a grant by the Calthorpe family that is equivalent to a conveyance in fee.  Aston Park was opened Sept. 22, 1864; its area is 49A. 2R. 8P., and it belongs to the town by purchase.  Cannon Hill Park, the gift of Miss Ryland, was opened Sept. 1, 1873; its area being 57A. 1R. 9P.  In 1874, the Town Council gave the Trustees of Holliers’ Charity the sum of L8,300 for the 8A. 8R. 28P. of land situated between the Moseley Road and Alcester Street, and after expending over L5,400 in laying out, fencing, and planting, opened it as Highgate Park June 2, 1876.  In 1876 Summerfield House and grounds covering 12A. 0R. 20P. were purchased from Mr. Henry Weiss for L9,000, and after fencing, &c., was thrown open as Summerfield Park, July 29, 1876.  In the following year, Mr. William Middlemore presented to the town a plot of ground, 4A. 1R. 3p. in extent, in Burbury Street, having spent about L3,500 in fencing and laying it out, principally as a recreation ground for children (the total value being over L12,000), and it was opened as Hockley Park, December 1, 1877.—­Small Heath Park, comprising 41A. 3R. 34p., is another of the gifts of Miss Ryland, who presented it to the town June 2, 1876, and in addition provided L4,000 of the L10,000 the Town Council expended in laying it out.  The formal opening ceremony took place April 5, 1879.  There are still several points of the compass directing to suburbs which would be benefited by the appropriation of a little breathing place or two, and possibly in due time they will be acquired.  The Nechells people have had laid out for their delectation the waste ground near the gas works which may be called Nechells Park for the time being.  The Earl of Dartmouth in June, 1878, gave 56 acres out of Sandwell Park to the inhabitants of West Bromwich, and they call it Dartmouth Park.

Park Street takes its name from the small park or wood surrounding Park House, once existing somewhere near to the burial ground.

Park Street Gardens—­As they are now called, comprise the Park Street Burial Ground and St. Bartholomew’s Churchyard, the possession of which (under a nominal lease for 999 years) was given by the Rectors of St. Martin’s and St. Bartholomew’s to the Corporation according to the provisions of the Closed Burial Grounds Act.  The whole area included a little over five acres, and the size thus given was valued at L50,000.  About half an acre was devoted to the widening of the surrounding streets, the remainder being properly fenced in and laid out as recreating grounds and gardens.  The opening ceremony took place, June 25, 1880.