PARKS IN TOWNS AND MUNICIPAL FORESTS 35 
inflicted on towns by buildings erected on their outskirts. 
Inasmuch as proprietors obtained accession of value as the 
town spreads, through no exertion of their own, such a tax 
would be equitable. Thomson, however, being a practical 
man, did not desire people to stand idly by till such a tax 
was imposed, but to proceed by private subscriptions to 
acquire land for public parks, aided by public grants. 
The creation and development of the numerous public 
parks and open spaces in Birmingham illustrate well the 
enlightened progress of a great municipality, since 1852, 
“ when there were no public walks in Birmingham.” It will 
be seen how voluntary effort stimulated and brought into 
being the necessary municipal enterprise. The story of the 
Birmingham public parks is doubtless typical, and will 
stand for the history of this movement all over Great 
Britain. 
It was not until 1851 that an Improvement Act gave 
the Corporation powers to acquire land for purposes of 
health and recreation. Adderley Park, the first public 
park of Birmingham, was laid out in 1856 on a plot of 
building land of about 10 acres, which was a gift for this 
purpose to the Corporation by Mr. Adderley. Calthorpe 
Park, 31 acres in area, was opened in 1857; but the fee 
simple on the ground was not conveyed to the Corporation 
until 1894. Aston Park, now 49 acres in extent, first 
opened as a recreation ground by a private company in 
1858, was purchased for £26,000 in 1864, the Corporation 
contributing to the price £19,000, and seventeen citizens 
the balance of £7000. Miss Ryland presented the city 
with Cannon Hill Park in 1873. It was then pasture 
land with fine old trees, and has since been abundantly 
planted with shrubs and trees, and enriched by an arboretum 
and beautiful gardens, one of which (Fig. 4) is set apart 
for the use of botanical students. The area, at first 57 
acres, has been increased gradually to 73 acres. Highgate 
Park, 8 acres of waste land, was purchased by the Corporation 
for £8000 and opened in 1881. Summerfield Park, a 
well-wooded demesne, originally 12 acres in area, was also 
