WEB SITE UNDER CONSTRUCTION
TUESDAY 14TH AUGUST 2007
HELP NEEDED!!!!
"TO CREATE A FREE PEOPLES GARDEN"
THE ELFORD HALL GARDEN PROJECT
Help is needed to restore a lovely Georgian walled garden in the village of Elford near Lichfield. This Garden and the Elford Estate was gifted to Birmingham by the Squire in 1936. The details of the Gift are below. Following lengthy negotiations with Birmingham and with assistance of Councillor Mathew Ellis the opportunity now exists for restoration to take place. Birmingham are prepared to lease the property at a peppercorn rent.
You can take a visual tour around the garden as it now is by clicking on "photos" and then "Tour around the garden". At the moment it is an overgrown wilderness. It can be seen that the site has huge potential. If you click on "links" you can connect to our village web site for further history. There is a "playground" section which will show a previous heritage project the the village completed.
The walled garden is of Georgian origin and Grade 11 listed. At one time there would have been 1/2 mile of fruit trees around the inner and outer faces of the wall. There is also a Victorian gardeners cottage alongside the garden. An aplication is already with the National Tree planting sceme for an apple orchard. Land surrounding the garden leads to the bank of the river Tame.
The plan is to restore the structure and pathways of the garden. Fruit trees will be replanted around the walls. Ultimately it is hoped to have a bowling green and tennis courts within the walls. Partial cultivation of the garden will also take place. Walkways will lead to picnic areas by the riverbank.
The house will display history of the village and the Elford Estate. Our village school will be involved and schools from the wider area. Education and awakening heritage will be central to the project. Flat pathways would make it ideal for physically challenged children to become involved.
It is hoped that Swinfen Hall Young Offenders will take part in the project. It is a unique opportunity to be involved in meaningful work that will show wilderness being turned to a thing of beauty.
A society of "Friends of the Walled Garden" will be formed. An annual £20.00" membership will contribute to the upkeep of the garden. Everyone is welcome to join. Those interested in phsically becoming involved will also be very welcome. A range of skills is required.
Funding has to be sought for the project. Likely avenues are being explored.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Become a "Friend of the Walled Garden". (What a nice present for someone - to feel that they have contributed to a part of the garden). Any donation would be very welcome.
Physically become involved in "Community Building" Creating friendships and creating a peoples garden go hand in hand. Particular skills include gardening, plumbing, electrician, brickwork, carpenter and so on. There is also a lot of basic work that any of us can do.
Businesses which have the capacity to help would be very welcome. Spear and Jackson have already donated a number of handtools for the project. A quantity of timber was also generously donated. Further tools are needed. Grasscutting machinery, mini digger, materials. Sometimes at the end of the tax year there is capacity for making donations. Any would be gratefully received and carefully used.
we have formed a Limited Company and are appying for Charitable Status.l
This is the second project that the group has taken on. The previous one a Heritage Playground was achieved at a fraction of the real cost through people working together. You can join us in creating a "Peoples Garden"
"Together we can make it Happen"
Contact us
Writing to
Elford Hall Gardens Project
The Warren, The Shrubbery, Elford, Tamworth, Staffs, B799BX
or contact
Richard Cowley
ccandrcplus3@aol.com
ELFORD VILLAGE BALLOT RESULT!!!!
FOR 251
AGAINST 51
SPOILT BALLOTS 8
UNRETURNED 195
A fantastic result that takes us a step nearer the restoration of a walled garden and the carrying out of a dream.
Fifty one people obviously had concerns and that is important. Those concerns will be looked at and everything possible done to deal with or minimise them.
This is a beautiful village and the project team have no intention of doing anything that would spoil it in any way.
Preserving our rural heritage is now a real possibility.
THE ROAD BACK TO A WALLED GARDEN
YOU CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!!!
TAKE A TOUR AROUND THE LOVELY GARDEN!!!!
CLICK ON PHOTOS (ABOVE LEFT) TO SEE THE GARDEN AND GARDENERS COTTAGE
"THIS IS A PROJECT ABOUT HOW WE HOPE TO RESTORE THE GEORGIAN WALLED GARDEN AND GARDENERS COTTAGE AT ELFORD".
WHAT WE HAVE IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A PART OF OUR RURAL HERITAGE PRESERVED.!!!!
THIS SHIP WILL ONLY SAIL PAST THE VILLAGE ONCE. WHEN GONE THE OPPORTUNITY WILL BE LOST FOREVER.
A GENEROUS MANS WISH TO HAVE AN OPEN SPACE PRESERVED FOR THE PUBLIC IN IT'S RURAL CHARACTER HAS NEVER BEEN CARRIED OUT.
GOOD NEWS!!!!
BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL - SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE VILLAGE MAY BE WILLING TO GRANT A LONG LEASE ON THE WALLED GARDENS.
IN TWO WEEKS A QUESTIONAIRE WILL BE COMING AROUND THE VILLAGE ASKING YOUR VIEWS.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE KEEN TO SEE THE PROJECT TAKE PLACE IT IS A SIMPLE CHOICE.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NO STRONG FEELINGS EITHER WAY. PLEASE GIVE THE PROJECT A CHANCE. AS YOU SEE THE RESTORATION TAKE PLACE THE BENEFITS AND BEAUTY OF IT WILL BE OBVIOUS.
THOSE WHO ARE STRONGLY AGAINST IT SHOULD CONSIDER THIS. YOU WILL NEVER KNOW THE PROJECT EXISTS UNLESS YOU CHOSE TO GO THERE. DON'T TAKE AWAY THE PLEASURE FROM THOSE WHO WANT TO ENJOY THE GARDENS .
THERE WILL SOON BE A LEAFLET DELIVERED TO YOU FROM THE PROJECT TEAM TELLING YOU ABOUT THE PROJECT.
IT WILL HAVE TWO DATES ON IT WHEN WE WILL BE ORGANISING WALKS AROUND THE GARDEN TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE PROJECT.
THEY WILL START AT 8PM FROM THE PLAYGROUND. THE DATES ARE :-
12TH JULY
13TH JULY
WHATEVER YOUR VIEWS COME AND EXPERIENCE THE GARDEN.
BIRMINGHAM WILL DEFINITELY BEING DOING SOMETHING WITH THTE PROPERTY/ IT WILL NOT BE LEFT STANDING EMPTY.
THERE ARE BASICALLY THREE OPTIONS:-
THE PROJECT WILL TAKE PLACE.
THE PROPERTY WILL GO INTO PRIVATE OWNERSHIP AND ACCESS WILL BE LOST FOREVER.
THE GARDENERS COTTAGE WILL BE SOLD. THERE MAY ALSO BE DEVELOPEMENT OF THE SITE WITH EXECUTIVE HOUSES ON THE SURROUNDING LAND.
ARE YOU INTERESTED? - READ ON!! WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET INVOLVED? - WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU!!.
TO SEE A GARDEN SUCH AS THIS LIVE AGAIN WOULD BE FANTASTIC!!!
HISTORY OF THE GARDEN
THE WALL IS GEORGIAN HAVING BEEN BUILT IN THE LATE 1700'S. THE GARDENERS COTTAGE IS A VICTORIAN STRUCTURE.
THE ELFORD ESTATE WAS GIVEN TO BIRMINGHAM IN 1936
ELFORD HALL CIRCA 1936
This is as it was when given to Birmingham in 1936. It was demolished in 1964 having fallen into disrepair. The plan is to restore the Grade 11 listed Georgian walled garden that was part of this estate.
BIRMINGHAM POST FRIDAY JULY 3RD 1936
70 YEARS ON!!!!
THE NEWS OF THE GIFT
Elford village residents were stunned in 1936. The evening papers had arrived in the village having been carried from the Railway Station. Their squire F. Howard Paget had given the Elford Estate of 600 acres to the City of Birmingham. The decision had been kept a closely guarded secret until the announcment. One can only imagine the concern amongst the villagers as to what was to become of them and of their lovely village.
The gift was a very substantial one. It included the Georgian Hall and 600 acres of land. Numerous properties were included There was a gardeners cottage and walled garden. The estate woodyard and also the stables were part of the gift. The blacksmiths forge and the forge cottage. were include as was the woodyard. The details of the gift were set out in a substantial trust document.
The Squires father had died the year previously. Local rumour has it that on his deathbed he asked his son to promise never to sell the estate. F. Howard Paget had served in the army in the First War and had vowed to do something for his fellow man after the conflict.
He heard a speech by the prime minister, Stanley Baldwin . To honour the reign of King George V Baldwin encouraged wealthy people to make land available for parks for the people. Reflecting upon this Howard Paget wondered what he should do with the Elford Estate.
An artist called Sidney Metyard was working on Elford church and met Paget. He introduced the Squire to the then Mayor of Birmingham. So the stage was set and the Elford Estates were given over in a formal ceremony at Birmingham Council House. A sod of earth was cut from the Elford ground with a sword. This was presented to the Lord Mayor in a silver casket. It had the emblems of the Howard Family and Birmingham on the front.
Mr Paget made a speech in which he concluded
"I AM SURE THAT BY BEING DELIVERED TO THE CORPORATION OF BIRMINGHAM THE ESTATE WILL LOSE NONE OF IT'S OLD TIME SPLENDOURAND BEAUTY, AND THAT IT WILL BE USED TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF CITIZENS".
His intentions were quite specific. He himself could not see how to maintain the estate in the manner that he felt appropriate.He saw Birmingham as a City of vision. The deed of gift document sets out the following purpose of the gift:-
"FOR THE FULLFILLMENT OF PROMOTING THE HEALTHFUL RECREATION OF THE CITIZENS OF BIRMINGHAM WILL PRESERVE AS FAR AS POSSIBLE THE RURAL CHARACTER WHICH THE HERRIDATMENTS POSSESS AND HAVE POSSESSED DURING HIS OWNERSHIP AND OCCUPATION BY THE GRANTOR AND HIS ANCESTORS"
AN ACCOUNT OF HIS REASONS IN THE PRESS
(AFTER HIS DEATH)
VOW MADE IN THE TRENCHES
ORIGIN OF ELFORD HALL GIFT
The circumstances in which Mr F Howard Paget, whop died this week at Broadstairs, determined to giveElford Hall to Broad stairs can now be told - the embargo under which he placed two persons having ended.
The two people who recived Mr Pagets confidence were the late Alderman S J Grey who was Lord Mayor when the property came into possessionof the city and a member of staff of the Birmingham Post.
Mr Paget told the member of staff that he resolved to make the gift to spome public body when he was in a trench in France in the last war. After imposing a pledge of secrecy during his lifetime, Mr Paget explained that there was to be a charge by the men in the section in which he was serving. One lot of men were to " go over the top" and after a while the others were to follow.
"My pal and I talked together" and then parted as he was to go with the first batch. At the appointed time he went and I saw him go. Later I followed and in the mad rush that took place in those awful minutes "I came across my pal" he'd been blinded by a grenade. We got him into a trench and the little we could do to help him we did. I shall never forget it. I got down on my hands and kness and prayed as I had never prayed before and I vowed to the Almighty, Architect of the Universe that if I came out of the war with my eyes and able to see that I would serve him better then I had done. I came out of the army only to find that I was poor. A business in which I had a substantial interest when I went into the Army had gone to pieces,and I had very little possessions indeed with which to face life. I
