Architect: The land was furnished by Glossop Borough Council after it was gifted by Lord Howard
Donor: Lord Howard of Glossop
Date opened: 22 June 1911
Owner: Glossop Borough Council (1911-1974), High Peak Borough Council (1974-present)
During the 19th Century a row of houses existed along Hadfield Road in front of the Spinners Arms on a piece of land owned by Lord Howard of Glossop. By 1910 these houses had been demolished.
In April 1911 plans were being made by Glossop Borough Council for festivities for the Coronation of George V in June. They sent a letter to Lord Howard asking what his plans were.
Lord Howard made many contributions including providing commemorative medals for school children, illuminations on public buildings and a fireworks display at the Old Cricket Ground, Norfolk Street. He also decided to make a gift of a small piece of open space at Hadfield to Glossop Borough Council.
A special meeting was held by the Council on 19 June 1911 so the Mayor, James Malkin, could accept the gift of the piece of land and affix the common seal to the deed of conveyance.
Thursday 22 June 1911 was Coronation Day and at 10.45am, as part of the celebrations, Lord Howard’s agent C. A. Abraham delivered the deed of gift to the Mayor at the site. Celebrations then continued around the Borough.
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| Crowds at the gifting of the piece of land in Hadfield, 22 June 1911 | |
At a meeting of the Baths and Parks Committee on 28 June 1911 a letter was read from Boddington’s Breweries, who owned the Spinners Arms, donating £5 towards the costs of railings and planting of trees on the plot of land. A Sub Committee was set up and the Head Park Gardener was requested to come up with a scheme for the railing in and planting of the land.
In September 1911, the Hadfield Open Space Sub Committee approved the tender of Messrs. J. Merry & Son to provide and fix the railings. The Head Gardener was authorised to obtain the necessary shrubs and plants.
It was referred to as Hadfield Open Space for several years in the Council minutes but is now known locally as Sparrow Park. The photograph above shows improvements being made to Sparrow Park in March 1957. The ground had been bare for many years but the improvements included seating and gardens being created.
Memories
“In the mid eighties I was the charge hand gardener responsible for adding some solid stone benches and cobbles also some chain link to posts we put in as well as re-turfing. While digging out found evidence of both the houses and railings.
Sparrow Park is a local name I’m assuming because the sparrows gather in the trees to roost at night, I can attest to this as when first married we lived at the Spinners Arms with my then in laws until we managed to buy our first house on Stanyforth Street.”
Mark Jozefczyk, July 2021
Sources
Glossop Borough Council Minutes, various dates
Borough of Glossop. Coronation of His Majesty King George V. Programme of Festivities 21-25 June 1911 (GHT Archive)
Photographs of Sparrow Park and the Spinners Arms area (GHT Archive)
Derbyshire Record Office. D5162/9/9 Copy conveyance of a piece of land in the town-ship of Hadfield for use as a public open space, Francis Edward Lord Howard, Baron Howard of Glossop to the Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of the Borough of Glossop Includes plan 22 Jun 1911. [original not viewed. Catalogue entry accessed 17 July 2021 – D5162/9/9 Catalogue Entry]