Group brings history of town's park to life

A new booklet on the history of West Bromwich's Dartmouth Park has been published by its Friends' group.

The book has been but together by Carol Hartill, secretary of the Friends of Dartmouth Park.

The group is helping to mastermind the park's £6.3 million makeover. Dartmouth Park was laid out in 1876 and has played a key role at the centre of community life for more than 130 years. It was handed to the people of West Bromwich by the fifth Earl of Dartmouth.

Entitled "The history of the Dartmouth family and their association with West Bromwich and Dartmouth Park" the book tracks the history of the area of land from 1160 to the present day.

The first Earl of Dartmouth bought the land in 1701 and it was in 1876 that William Walter Legge, the fifth Earl of Dartmouth donated it to the people of West Bromwich to be converted into Dartmouth Park.

The booklet features pictures of all the earls including the current Earl of Dartmouth, William Legge, who is the patron of the friends group.

Mrs Hartill, aged 65, said: "I really enjoyed putting together the book. I became fascinated with the family history through my association with the park and when I started looking into it I was amazed by the influence the family had not only in West Bromwich but across the UK.

"The book is based on a presentation that I give to groups across the borough with more detail and we have had 100 copies printed."

Carol has already published one book, Dartmouth Park Past, Present and Future, featuring pictures collected from residents, some of which date back as far as 1912.

Anyone who would like to obtain a copy of the book should sent a cheque for £6 (£5 plus £1 postage and packing) made payable to the The Friends of Dartmouth Park, to Friends of Dartmouth Park, The Lodge, Reform Street, West Bromwich, B71 4AS.