The Boating Lake

Boats are still available through the Spring and Summer months and can be hired from the Boathouse. A selection of Pedal and Rowing boats are available to hire for 30 minutes at a time.

Laid out on the north and south-facing slopes of a shallow valley in which the Grove Brook and Handsworth Brook are dammed to form a wide, approximately oval-shaped lake with an island towards the centre. The lake was created to the design of Edwin Kenworthy as a boating pond in 1897, submerging the remains of a medieval moat; much of the former pleasure grounds associated with the rectory were also flooded. A half-timbered and gabled boathouse, also designed by Kenworthy in 1897, which stood at the south-west end of the lake, does not survive; neither do the late 19th Century low railings shown surrounding the lake in early 20th century photographs. Source

The path as you walk in between the lake and the Victoria Jubilee Allotments is adjoined by a level lawn terraced into the north-facing slope and partly enclosed by holly hedges. This was a late 19th Century bowling green and was created on the site of the walled garden associated with the original rectory. Source

The Lake in 1959 The Boating Lake in 1959. Taken by John Ball and shared by This Is Birmingham on Facebook.	Boating Lake in April 2015 A photo taken by Anthony Sartin and shared on Facebook.	Black and White Boating Lake An old photo of the lake shared on Birmingham History Forum on Facebook.
The View From The Lake Looking towards St. Mary's church from one of the pedal boats. Shared by John Hayes on Twitter.	The View From The Boathouse Taken by John Hayes and shared on Twitter.	Looking Down At The Lake Thanks to Leonard Price on Birmingham History Forum for sharing.
Very Early Spring Lake Thank you to Linda Baddeley for sharing on Facebook.	The View From The Railway Bridge Thank you to Rob Kewley for sharing on Twitter.	April 2015 Another picture taken and shared by Anthony Sartin on Facebook.
View across lake and uphill	Promenade by the Lake	View of Lake and Boathouse
Boats out on the Lake	View across the lake to the Church	Lined up boats
	1913	Boat Canopy Does anyone know anything else about this 1930s look?
Frozen Lake A rare Tinted postcard, and a rare freeze up of the Lake.	1913	1913






1962 Frozen Lake It was a very cold winter, and the ice was well over 4 inches thick. The event attracted the attention of the Birmingham Mail, and I have it in the back of mind, that supervised Ice Skating took place. The Lake is less than 3 foot deep, and that thickness of Ice would have rendered it very safe to skate on. - Dennis Neale	1962 Frozen Lake It was a very cold winter, and the ice was well over 4 inches thick. The event attracted the attention of the Birmingham Mail, and I have it in the back of mind, that supervised Ice Skating took place. The Lake is less than 3 foot deep, and that thickness of Ice would have rendered it very safe to skate on. - Dennis Neale	Early Photo One of the very early, and rare, photographs of the Lake in the Park, dated from the 1890s. Not a bad picture either, given the equipment that was availiable at the time.
Lake to Boathouse	1912	Lake Improvements The Boating Lake hasn't always been the shape it is now. There were some extensive improvements in 1955, and more work was undertaken in 2006 as well.
Another Frozen lake 1970s	April 2016	December 2017
December 2017	October 2014	April 2016