Management Plan for Firth Park - MP4-Interreg

connection through the area to and from the Sheffield/Barnsley road; this connection
was not previously easily made
• Boundaries: the western boundary is long and irregular, excluding part of the stream
course, but largely following the line of the stream; Firth Park Road forms the eastern
boundary of the main part of the park; the old field line forms the southern boundary, to
the east Brush House Wood is bounded by Firth Park Road to the west, Firth Park
Avenue to the north and the old line of Hinde Common Lane (with a narrow buffer strip)
• Park entrances: the main carriage entrance is on Firth Park Road by the Clocktower;
the main pedestrian entrances are north of the north lodge, opposite Firth Park
Avenue, opposite the lake, opposite the Clocktower and there is an informal connecting
route off Hinde Common Lane
• Two lodges: the Clocktower lodge (refreshment rooms) is in the south-east corner of
the Park with a large garden to the rear; and the lodge at the northern point of Park is
adjacent to the Bell House farm buildings
• Ornamental water: ‘lake’ on 1887 map, adapted from original reservoir, shape
modified from the original (see 1850 map).
• Plantings: the new plantings associated with the Park include the avenue of trees
along Firth Park Road north of junction with Firth Park Avenue; the small shrubberies
adjacent to the north lodge; the shrub/tree planting at the Park entrances, for example,
opposite Firth Park Avenue and opposite the Clocktower; the planting along the east
facing bank opposite the Clocktower and lake; note the typical arrangement of new
plantings in bold groupings, particularly along the western bank of Firth Park Road,
providing a future buffer separating the Park from the road; also the plantings that
reach into the Park, opposite Firth Park Avenue junction, would enhance the element of
surprise and a feeling of extent as the wide open spaces of the main Park come into
view
• Gymnasium: or what would be known today as a children’s playground, is near the
north lodge; from contemporary accounts, there are descriptions of swings and a giant
stride
• Shelter: there is a large shelter adjacent to the main space
• Drinking fountain: this is situated north of the lake
• Cricket ground: this is likely to be the large northern space with more level ground and
peripheral footpaths
• Ha-ha: this was an existing feature before the Park formed, following the former field
boundary, as can be seen from the 1887 map; a ha-ha was a way of containing
livestock without the fencing to spoil the view; it is thought this could have been for the
benefit of the large house called The Brushes which looked across in this direction.
• Housing development: there is limited housing development shown at Firth Park
Avenue on the 1887 map.
17