Broomhill Park
Encyclopedia
Broomhill Park is a semi-natural woodland park between Sherrington Road and Valley Road in Ipswich
, Suffolk
, England
. In older times it was called Broom Hill.
The park contains many fine historic oaks and an abundance of Scots Pines. The park contains Broomhill Pool
, a Grade II listed lido, which the Broomhill Pool Trust is campaigning to re-open.
In 1925 George Sherrington sold Broom Hill to Ipswich Borough Council.
A ring road around Ipswich was built in 1926 and Valley Road then divided the woodland in half, with a larger piece to the North of Valley Road, and a smaller piece to the South.
.
Ipswich Town Association Football Club played their first matches from 1877 to 1883 at Broom Hill. The land was owned by George Sherrington, who was a driving force in forming and administering the club in its first 20 years. George Sherrington and his brother, William, who were educated at Ipswich School
, both played for Ipswich Town Association F.C. in the 1870/80s.
Graham Timson writes:
In 1883 when Ipswich Town AFC moved to its ground at Portman Road
, the Broom Hill ground was used by the Rugby Club.
In 1888 ITAFC merged with Ipswich Rugby Club to form Ipswich Town Football Club.
A public library called Westbourne Library, on Sherrington Road, backs onto the park. The building is believed to have been built as a decontamination unit in 1938.
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. In older times it was called Broom Hill.
The park contains many fine historic oaks and an abundance of Scots Pines. The park contains Broomhill Pool
Broomhill Pool, Ipswich
Broomhill Pool is a Grade II listed lido on Sherrington Road in Ipswich, Suffolk, England.-Status:Broomhill Pool opened on April 30th 1938 and closed in the autumn of 2002...
, a Grade II listed lido, which the Broomhill Pool Trust is campaigning to re-open.
History
For many years this was a privately-owned hilltop wood on the outskirts of Ipswich called Broom Hill. In the 19th and early 20th century the land between the hill and Norwich Road was sold for housing, e.g. Broom Hill Road was built in 1888.In 1925 George Sherrington sold Broom Hill to Ipswich Borough Council.
A ring road around Ipswich was built in 1926 and Valley Road then divided the woodland in half, with a larger piece to the North of Valley Road, and a smaller piece to the South.
Football Ground
The park has historical importance for Ipswich Town Football ClubIpswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
.
Ipswich Town Association Football Club played their first matches from 1877 to 1883 at Broom Hill. The land was owned by George Sherrington, who was a driving force in forming and administering the club in its first 20 years. George Sherrington and his brother, William, who were educated at Ipswich School
Ipswich School
Ipswich School is a co-educational public school for girls and boys aged 3 to 18. Situated in Suffolk, England in the town of Ipswich, it was founded in its current form as The King's School, Ipswich by Thomas Wolsey in 1528....
, both played for Ipswich Town Association F.C. in the 1870/80s.
Graham Timson writes:
the players used to use a shed at the Inkerman Pub across the road as a dressing room.
In 1883 when Ipswich Town AFC moved to its ground at Portman Road
Portman Road
Portman Road is an association football stadium in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. It has been the home ground of Ipswich Town F.C. since 1884. The stadium has also hosted a number of England youth international matches, and one senior England friendly international match, against Croatia in 2003...
, the Broom Hill ground was used by the Rugby Club.
In 1888 ITAFC merged with Ipswich Rugby Club to form Ipswich Town Football Club.
Facilities
The park has no facilities as such, as it is just semi-natural woodland. The park is popular for walkers, dog walkers, bird and insect spotting; and for children, who can play in natural sandpits, tree roots, and lush grass.A public library called Westbourne Library, on Sherrington Road, backs onto the park. The building is believed to have been built as a decontamination unit in 1938.