Tudor Grange Park: former estate of the Bird family, now near Solihull College

Tudor Grange Park is the other main park near Solihull Town Centre. With entrances on Blossomfield Road and Homer Road. Also near Monkspath Hall Road. Originally the estate of the Bird family (of Bird's Custard fame). Solihull Council bought the park in 1946. The Alder Brook, a stream flows into a lake with many geese, ducks and swans etc. Good for walks. Also a cycling track.

Previous related post on Alfred Bird here: Alfred Bird & Sons: the inventor of eggless custard.

Tudor Grange Park

The park was originally the estate of the Bird family, famed for their Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham. They lived in the nearby Tudor Grange House. Solihull Council bought the former farmland in 1946 and turned it into a park. Solihull College is quite close to the park on Blossomfield Road. Solihull Station is also in close walking distance from the park.

The park is quite close to my bus route, and you can walk in and out of the park from Solihull Town Centre. There is a path that goes under a railway bridge that carries the Chiltern Mainline between Birmingham Snow Hill / Moor Street and London Marylebone. Another bridge carries Prince's Way. The other major path for me is the one near Solihull College leading to the bus stop on Blossomfield Road. To the back is Monkspath Hall Road (near a car park).

I've been to this park several times over the years in different seasons so a gallery from different years.

May 2011

Starting from the Blossomfield Road in Solihull Town Centre. One of the paths close to Solihull Station (other side of the road) leads to Tudor Grange Leisure Centre.

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A look at the modern Tudor Grange Leisure Centre.

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Trees lush and green in the spring to the side of the leisure centre.

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One of the paths in the park. Not far from the Alder Brook and the lake.

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The skate park covered in graffiti. It is also close to the speedway or cycleway figure of eight. The skate park was built in 2003.

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This sign welcomes you to Tudor Grange Park and shows a map of the Cycle and Wheeled Sports Track.

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Another path. Feel it is best to stick to the path. The grass isn't too bad in the spring. In the colder months the grass gets a bit wet and muddy.

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The lake is where you would find various birds such as ducks, geese, swans and gulls etc.

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Another Welcome to Tudor Grange Park sign with a history of the park.

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Central area with benches. The park improvements were done in 2008.

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February 2014

The next visit in the late winter of 2014 at the beginning of February. Fingerpost pointing to the Town Centre, Play Area, Sports Area. Also to the Leisure Centre & Cafe.

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Swings on the playground.

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Slide in the playground.

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Another view of the skate park. Interesting street art there at the time.

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The path to Homer Road and the Town Centre. First bridge is the railway bridge that carries the Chiltern Mainline. The nearby railway station is Solihull Station which is to the left of here. Widney Manor and Dorridge are the next two local stations to the right. The next bridge down carries the road Prince's Way.

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Now just before the road bridge for Prince's Way. Halfway to Homer Road. In the distance is the John Lewis Car Park (also near the Touchwood Shopping Centre).

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For some reason I turned around and got another view of the railway bridge then turned back around and headed up the path to Homer Road. Probably wanted the bridges from both sides. In the distance is the playground.

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A man (I think) carries his shopping bags down the path under the Prince's Way road bridge, before heading under the railway bridge. It is possible to see trains from the park, but trees are usually in the way for good views.

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December 2015

It was Christmas Eve in December 2015 when I made this visit to Tudor Grange Park. Some of the birds in the lake. A coot.

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A gull.

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More gulls in the lake.

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A moorhen on the lawn near the leaves.

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January 2016

About a month later, but only had my then mobile camera on me. On this sunny lunchtime walk in the park. Close to the lake towards the leisure centre.

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Rays of the sunshine on the lake full of birds.

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December 2017

Snow in Tudor Grange Park near the end of December 2017. Mostly covering the grass. This was the snow from Boxing Day evening, the next day I headed to the park. But wasn't like the snow from 2 weeks earlier.

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Snow on the grass either side of the Alder Brook.

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End of the Alder Brook towards the lake. Wasn't cold enough to be iced over.

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Gulls flying around the lake as a the sun catches on the surface of the lake.

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Snow around the skate park.

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Towards the playground on the left. Interesting lighting effects with the sun and clouds.

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This is the athletics track at Tudor Grange Leisure Centre seen through the fence. A lot of snow here. Can hardly tell that it's an athletics track like this! There is a football field in the middle hence the goalpost.

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Ducks behind the fence having their lunch. As well as the usual Mallards, was several Domestic ducks here.

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More ducks and some swans as well.

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December 2018

Another walk into Tudor Grange Park (a quick one). Got on this time from the path on Blossomfield Road (near Solihull College) and headed towards Monkspath Hall Road before going into the town centre.

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The fingerpost and welcome sign again. Sometimes of later visits can't recall if I've previously taken something until I later check out my previous photos.

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This is the railway bridge on Monkspath Hall Road, just outside of Tudor Grange Park. From here you can walk to Prince's Way and around to Homer Road. Either entering the shopping area at Touchwood or heading up Church Hill Road to the end of the Solihull High Street.

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November 2019

An autumnal walk around Tudor Grange Park. This time starting from the path from Homer Road (I had been to the Town Centre again). Heading under the railway bridge into the park with lots of leaves on the ground.

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Trees looking autumnal in browns and yellow colours. But still some green to be seen here.

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The Alder Brook in the direction of the footbridge and lake. A caution sign here "No access to unauthorised persons". Went on the grass for this photo.

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Leaving the park briefly at Monkspath Hall Road, this path takes you back into the park. Under this canopy of trees. Leaves completely covered the path.

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Back in the park, now walking straight down the cycle way path or speedway path. Trees with brown leaves everywhere.

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The path went round in a circle when I got to the far end, but did not see a connecting path to the path I wanted to take. Also a path to Solihull College had no access.

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Cyclists can go round in a figure of eight. Here the path curving to the right. Trees in leaf fall, leaves on the ground.

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Eventually cut past the skate park and playground, and made it to the path towards Blossomfield Road. Almost took the wrong path to Solihull College, before I found the familar path out of the park.

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Looking on Google Maps, there is another park in Solihull called Hillfield Park. It is near Monkspath and Widney Manor. It might be possible to walk there from Solihull Town Centre, or just get the no 5 bus there instead. The weather has not been to great recently for park walks. It needs to be dry. I have been on the 5 past here a few times in the past, but not recently.

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

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