There is another park in the Selly Oak area near Selly Park called Muntz Park. You probably haven't heard about it. It is between Gristhorpe Road and Umberslade Road. The park was named after Frederick Ernest Muntz. The Muntz family originally came from Lithuania. His grandfather George Frederick Muntz was the inventor of 'Muntz metal'. Park formed around 1907.

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Muntz Park: the little known park in Selly Oak





There is another park in the Selly Oak area near Selly Park called Muntz Park. You probably haven't heard about it. It is between Gristhorpe Road and Umberslade Road. The park was named after Frederick Ernest Muntz. The Muntz family originally came from Lithuania. His grandfather George Frederick Muntz was the inventor of 'Muntz metal'. Park formed around 1907.


To be fair, I wasn't expecting to find Muntz Park on my walk around Selly Oak in late December 2018. This was after I saw some nice Selly Oak Police ladies going around the area on patrol (seeing me with my camera). Told them about Birmingham We Are (I think). My idea originally that day was to get to the 11A bus stop on Oak Tree Lane, but I went a bit off route. The walk ended in Stirchley (including passing through Stirchley Park for the first time) and the Fordhouse Lane bus stop for the 11A.

Entering the park on Gristhorpe Road near Raddlebarn Primary & Nursery School. Here we see the modern Nursery building.

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The Muntz Park playground seen from Gristhorpe Road.

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Close up of the slides and climbing frames in this small park.

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This sign tells you all about the history of Muntz Park. Named after Frederick Ernest Muntz, grandson of George Frederick Muntz, who invented 'Muntz metal'. George became one of Birmingham's first MP's in 1840. Frederick inherited the Muntz estates in 1898.

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The Muntz family came from Lithuania, then later moved to France. Phillipe Frederic Muntz settled in Birmingham after the French Revolution. The park was formed from land that was part of Selly Farm. The Council bought the land between 1907 and 1909 and developed it into a park. Birmingham Civic Society got a grant to re-landscape the park in 1923.

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The park also has a big hollow in the ground. It was the remains of a marl pit. They were common in the 19th century. In 2005 the Friends of Muntz Park was formed to celebrate the centenary of the park and to make it more attractive for users.

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Nearby parks to Muntz Park include: Selly Park (up Raddlebarn Road), Hazelwell Park (along the River Rea Route in Stirchley), Stirchley Park (behind the Co-operative Food in Stirchley) and Cotteridge Park to name a few.

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

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