Broomfield History 1719 ~ 1899

In 1719 a local heiress called Dorothy Parkes had an indenture of lease and release drawn up. This document was used as a settlement of land from owner to trustees. The land which Dorothy Parkes owned has always focused on the Old Chapel (now "The Old Church") but it also included much of the land along The Uplands and Broomfield. Dorothy Parkes died in 1727, the land then transferring to the trustees under the Dorothy Parkes Trust / Charity.

A description of the land circa 1825-1827 by a local resident reads: "Broomfield and the fields between The Uplands and Smethwick House were then a forest, abounding principally in Oaks and Beeches. Squire Hanson to whom the estate belonged, compelled by untoward circumstances sold the property to Mr Darby a coal-master who parted with his Oaks to the contractors engaged on the Great Western Railway, thereby destroying the sylvan beauty of the district." It is to be assumed that Squire Hanson and Mr Darby rented the land from the Dorothy Parkes trustees before Smethwick Cricket Club did.

A title map of 1842 shows the 14 acre estate as three fields. The green field is what would become Smethwick Cricket Club, its boundary would eventually extend towards the field shaded in blue. The Old Chapel (now called The Old Church) is marked in red, this is Smethwick's oldest surviving building, consecrated in 1732.

Smethwick Cricket Club may date from 1835 and was certainly in existence by 1840. In the early 1860's the club began playing on their current ground 'Broomfield'. This land was rented from the Dorothy Parkes trustees and also included the fields which now site Harry Mitchell Leisure Centre and Harry Mitchell Park. A club fixture card from 1876 showed that it went by the name 'Smethwick Cricket & Quoit Club'. By 1883 part of the land was being used as a second cricket field while it was normal to let the remaining field for farming purposes. The following year (1884) the tenancy of the farming field had reverted back to the club and it was considered desirable to organise a football section.

"Smethwick Cricket & Quoit Club" - A fixture book from 1876

The football section did not last long and by 1887 the club had fallen into arrears with the rent of the ground from the Dorothy Parkes trustees. In August 1887 there was another attempt to revive the football section. The name was altered to 'Smethwick Cricket & Football Club'. The football club colours were all white but the section again did not long survive and after only one season the tenancy of the football field was taken over by Smethwick Wesleyan Rovers F.C. The first mention of bowls at Broomfield came in 1888 in which committee meeting minutes read "it was decided to provide tennis and bowls facilities".

It wasn't all doom and gloom, the 1880's were a golden period for the cricket team. Described by many as one of the strongest sides in the Midlands and certainly the most successful, during this decade very few local players got in the side as they were not considered good enough. Smethwick won the Birmingham & District Challenge Cup in 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886 and 1888. They even made the 1887 final only for the organising committee to award the trophy to Mitchells & Butlers - the game lasted five days with no result. In 1899 they joined the Birmingham & District Cricket League, a league now recognised as the oldest cricket league in the world. This also coincided with a new era for club itself, courtesy of one Henry Mitchell.

Henry Mitchell and the Deed Of Gift

Henry Mitchell was an astute businessman with high standards and will be best remembered as one half of the famous brewery "Mitchells & Butlers". In 1897 he purchased 14 acres of land from the Dorothy Parkes trustees. By this period the 14 acre estate consisted of the cricket ground, a park and a drill hall. The following extract is taken from the Smethwick Cricket Club AGM minutes of 27 th March 1897:

"The chairman mentioned that although Mr Henry Mitchell had purchased the land upon which Smethwick Cricket Club had played for forty years past, he had expressed his intention not to interfere with the occupancy of the club (Applause)."

In July 1899 Henry Mitchell presented all the land to the Smethwick Corporation (now Sandwell Council) as a gift to the volunteers of Smethwick in memory of his son Harry. The park was named 'Harry's Park' (now 'Harry Mitchell Park') and contained gymnasium facilities. The drill hall was home to the H Company Of The First Volunteer Battalion Of The South Staffordshire Regiment Of Rifle Volunteers (now 'Harry Mitchell Leisure Centre'). The cricket ground 'Broomfield' was given to the club itself providing they had 25 subscribing members and paid the Smethwick Corporation an annual peppercorn rent of £12.

All three sites are still to this day vested in trust to Sandwell Council and the lease between the Council and Smethwick Cricket Club is still active. The land is still classed as 'unregistered' at Land Registry because there has been no change of ownership. This means the original deeds are still held by the Council in their original format.

Henry Mitchell

"Harry Mitchell Park" Registered Charity 231695

Governing Document: Deed Of Gift 11/07/1899 (U.V. 104 P.438)

Objects Of Charity: "To provide 1. A drill hall for the H Company Of The First Volunteer Battalion Of The South Staffordshire Regiment Of Rifle Volunteers. 2. Cricket ground for Smethwick Cricket Club. 3. Such purposes in connection with gymnastics, athletics, games and recreation generally as the Council in their absolute and uncontrolled discretion shall think fit."

Area Of Benefit: Smethwick

Area Of Operation: Sandwell

Trustees: Sandwell HBC Legal & Democratic

Harry Mitchell

Henry Mitchell Jnr was known to his family as 'Harry' and was well liked by his colleagues at the Cape Hill brewery. He was a managing director of his fathers company and superintendent of the breweries own fire brigade. His career was a tragically short one. In 1894 he contracted typhoid fever and died from the effects aged just 32 years. Harry had been known for his interest in sport and the deed of gift by his father to the borough was a fitting way to remember him.

Harry Mitchell

A marble plaque is still in place on the wall as you enter the Harry Mitchell Leisure Centre and reads:

THIS DRILL HALL

FOR USE OF THE SMETHWICK VOLUNTEERS

AND THE SURROUNDING RECREATION GROUNDS

CALLED 'HARRY'S PARK' WERE PRESENTED TO

THE INHABITANTS OF SMETHWICK IN MEMORY OF

CAPTAIN HENRY MITCHELL

OF THE SMETHWICK RIFLE VOLUNTEERS AND

CAPE HILL BREWERY FIRE BRIGADE

BORN AT SMETHWICK SEPTEMBER 11 TH 1862

The Drill Hall (now the lesiure centre). Two photographs below of 'Harry's Park' which also provided outdoor gymnasium facilities.