High Lee Park - 1937

High Lee Hall and grounds were put up for auction on the 14th of June 1937 at the Queens Head Hotel. Following much speculation, chief interest for the people of New Mills was whether or not the council would bid.

In the event a decision to bid was made just half an hour before the auction. A resolution in favour of bidding on the estate for use as a public park was passed, at a hastily arranged meeting, by five votes to two.

Councillor Broome-Cooper made the opening bid of two thousand pounds and it rose by hundreds to two thousand three hundred. The last bidder was a Mr Grimshaw, who it later transpired was acting on behalf of the council for he was accompanied to complete the formalities by councillors Heap and Boyle. Mr T. O. Arnfield the former owner expressed his delight that the property had been bought by the council.

It was councillor J. W. Cochrane declared, ˜The greatest day in the civic life of New Mills since the opening of the 'new' bridge which spans the Goyt in Union Road. Many New Mills people of the past generation date New Mills history from the opening of the bridge. Future generations will date it from the opening of High Lee Park.'

A procession headed by councillor Harry Heap, chairman of New Mills Council left the Town Hall shortly before three o'clock and passed through the crowds on Market Street to St Mary's Road and the gates of High Lee Estate. On arriving at the gates, councillor Cochrane handed councillor Heap a presentation key with which to open them. The key was inscribed ˜presented to councillor Heap J.P. Chairman of New Mills Urban District Council. Opening of High Lee Park August 7th 1937'.

Immediately the gates were thrown open, hundreds of people passed through them. A huge crowd gathered to see the formal opening on the terrace in front of High Lee Hall.
Councillor Cochrane called on councillor Heap to declare the park open. ‘I feel today' said councillor Heap, ˜that New Mills is taking another step forward. There is no such thing as standing still, we are either going forward or slipping back. It is up to the council and those who may come after to see to it that New Mills keeps on the path to progress. High Lee Hall Estate has been looked upon with longing eyes for a long time by quite a large number of people as a place suitable for a public park. From this date it will be the town's first public park. I have great pleasure in declaring the park open.'

Cllr Cochrane addresses the crowd

Councillor Cochrane replied ˜New Mills people ought to be proud that the park was not a gift, but purchased with their own money. Mr Arnfield, the former owner had confided that he was heartily glad that the council had acquired it.'

The public were soon inspecting the amenities and the beauty of the park. Twenty new seats for the park were put into use and visitors had a good look round admiring the view along the valley to Whaley Bridge and Disley. The gardens behind High Lee Hall, the tennis court by the side of it and the delightful wooded area were all praised.

The press reported ˜through the wood runs a stream and there is a small pool with an island in the centre which conjures up a vision of a bathing pool in the future. Few people have had the opportunity of going over the grounds which had been in private hands, but the more New Mills folk saw of it the more they were convinced of the wisdom of purchasing the estate for two thousand three hundred pounds. The possibilities of developing it into one of the finest little parks in the country were seen by many to be limitless for there is everything in High Lee Park that nature can give for the enjoyment of the people.'

Reverend Robert Noble of Mount Pleasant Methodist Church suggested that New Mills could congratulate itself on adding a third jewel to its crown ' a very good Secondary School, an excellent Public Library and now a Public Park.'

 

 

 

This site is listed in the British Towns and Villages Encyclopaedia of Great Britain and we can be found in the entry for New Mills