Where is Sutton Park?

Sutton Park is located in The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield. The town has been part of Birmingham and the West Midlands county since boundary changes in 1974. Four Oaks is to the north and Streetly to the west. New Oscott, Oscott, Boldmere and Maney to the south

 

In brief

Most of Sutton Park is a National Nature Reserve and is one of the largest urban parks in the United Kingdom.

Fly past in  Sutton Park on a very cold morning walk. Photography by Barry Whitehead

 

It stretches from Monmouth Drive at the Boldmere Gate northwards to Streetly Lane. There is also the Four Oaks Gate, Hartopp Gate, Banners Gate and the Streetly Gate. As well as the Town Gate and Wyndley Gate.

Town Gate at Sutton Park (June 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The park can sometimes be seen coming into land at Birmingham Airport on a clear day from a plane.

Sutton Park from Flybe coming into land at Birmingham Airport (June 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

History of Sutton Park

The heathland in Sutton Park  has existed since at least since Roman times. Archaeologists have discovered evidence suggesting Ryknild Street (the Roman Road running through Sutton Park) was built on heathland. The park was established as a Royal Forest by the Anglo Saxon kings of Mercia from their seat at Tamworth, around the 9th Century. By the early 12th Century it was being used as a Norman deer park. The land was given to the people of Sutton Coldfield in 1528 by King Henry VIII after Bishop John Vesey asked for it as a present to the people of Sutton Coldfield. The Sutton Park railway line opened in 1879, the park had it's own station. But it closed in 1964, and the line now only serves goods trains. During both World Wars, the park was used for wartime camps. The 50th anniversary of Scouting was celebrated in the park in 1957. The Radio 1 Roadshow was held at Sutton Park in 1992. A Lido was opened in the park in 1887 for open air all weather swimming, at Keepers Pool but it closed in 2003 after arson, and burnt down in 2004.

Sutton Park, Birmingham. Photography by Chris Fletcher

 

Visitor Centre

Sutton Park Visitor Centre is close to the Town Gate in Sutton Park. It is near Town Gate Car Park.

Sutton Park Visitor Centre (June 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Gates

Town Gate

The Sutton Park Town Gate can be accessed on Park Road in Sutton Coldfield. There is a pair of gatehouses on either side, but are boarded up. It is also near Tudor Hill.

Town Gate at Sutton Park (June 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Boldmere Gate

The Sutton Park Boldmere Gate is on Stonehouse Road near Monmouth Drive. Powell's Pool and Miller & Carter are nearby.

Boldmere Gate at Sutton Park on Stonehouse Road (August 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Four Oaks Gate

The Four Oaks entrance to Sutton Park is off Four Oaks Road in Four Oaks. The road leads towards the Bracebridge Pool and the Bracebridge Bakery.

Four Oaks Gate in Sutton Park (October 2024). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Lakes & Fishing

Keepers Pool, Little Bracebridge Pool, Bracebridge Pool and Wyndley Pool were built in the Middle Ages to stock fish. 

 

Bracebridge Pool

This is one of the large pools in the park. It takes it's name from Sir Ralph Bracebridge. He obtained a life lease on the Chase of Sutton Coldfield in 1419 and had the pool constructed at the time. The Boat House Restaurant is at the edge of Bracebridge Pool. This is now the Sip & Slice Bakery and Bracebridge Bakery, Bar & Grill.

Bracebridge Pool in Sutton Park (October 2024). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Blackroot Pool

This pool dates from the 18th Century, and was created to run watermills. It is near the Hartopp Gate, which can be accessed from Hartopp Road and Blackroot Road.

Blackroot Pool, Sutton Park. Photography by Jay Mason - Burns

 

Powell's Pool

This pool dates from the 18th Century, and was created to run watermills. It is near Monmouth Drive and Stonehouse Drive at the Boldmere Gate.

Powell's Pool at Sutton Park (August 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Wyndley Pool

This is the oldest pool in the park dating back to the 12th Century. The house of the Royal Steward sat on a bluff overlooking Wyndley Pool. It is near Somerville Road and Wyndley Lane.

Wyndley Pool at Sutton Park (August 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Keepers Pool

This pool dates to the 15th Century. In 1887 a lido was built here for open air swimming.  But it closed in 2003 after arson, and was burnt down completely in 2004. The lido area has reverted to wetland and woodland.

Keepers Pool at Sutton Park (June 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Arena Field

The Arena Field is the large open area, divided into the Lower Arena Field to the north and Upper Arena Field to the south. It's between Streetley Wood (to the north west), Damel Hurst and the Nut Hurst (to the east).

Arena Field at Sutton Park (October 2024). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Sutton Coldfield Sea Cadets

They are located near the Boldmere Gate on Stonehouse Road. A cadet training ship (on dry land). They are based opposite Powell's Pool.

Sutton Coldfield Sea Cadets at Sutton Park (August 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Big Sleuth Birmingham 2017

In the summer of 2017 if you headed to the Boldmere Gate, you could find a bear called Mother Bear. It was by the artist Jenny Tang and the sponsor was Seesaws. At the time you could walk down into Boldmere to find more little bears, and back into Sutton Coldfield Town Centre to find the other big bears (via Wylde Green and Maney).

Mother Bear (by artist Jenny Tang) at Sutton Park (August 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown