| Description | Signed minutes of the committee initially appointed to consider a report by Professor Yapp [Professor of Botany and 'Honorary Curator of the University Grounds'] on the University grounds and playing fields in April 1926. Minutes survive in the University Archives for the period from 3 June 1926 to 16 September 1954. It is possible that the first meeting was held on 3 June 1926, and it is unclear whether meetings were held after 16 September 1954
In response to Professor Yapp's report, the committee considered questions of finance and staff, having agreed that it was the duty of the University to maintain the grounds 'at least as efficiently as the public parks in Birmingham' and in order to do this it recommended the appointment of a competent Head Gardener and Groundsman, under Professor Yapp's direction, for the grounds and playing fields, and for the control of the ground staff, with the existing Head Gardener to be retained as a second gardener, with duties confined to work on the parks and gardens. The committee listed the equipment and supplies necessary, and ways of funding the work, referring to a grant from the Guild of Students, the possibility of using funds from the Students' Societies Fund, and using part of the balance received form the War Offrice for reparations, due to the fact that the poor condition of the grounds was mostly due to neglect during the occupation by the military authorities [when the University buildings and grounds at Edgbaston were used to accommodate the First Southern General military hospital]
The committee was usually chaired by the Pro-Chancellor. Other members included the Treasurer, Vice-Chancellor, Principal, members of academic staff, and non-academic members of University Council.
Minutes of the meeting held on 3 June 1926 include a copy of the report by Professor Yapp summarising work recently carried out or proposed, with references to the model mine, a hut near the power station, the nursery, trees and shrubs in the grounds, the playing fields and experiments with drainage, and existing grass tennis courts, with mention of new hard tennis courts for students being constructed below the chemistry building. The minutes also include a proposed scheme of hours, holidays, and wages for gardens staff, with the names of individual staff included
Meetings were initially held annually, but more frequent meetings were held in 1928 and 1929 when the committee was involved in discussions about the layout and planning of the central avenue on additional land acquired by the University towards Pritchatts Road. Minutes typically include copies of the annual report of first the Honorary Curatory of the University Grounds, and later the Head Gardener. These reports contain information about the planting of trees, plants, and shrubs, the layout of grounds, maintenance of paths, borders and beds, the drainage and maintenance of the playing fields, and of other sports pitches, including tennis courts and the bowling green. The committee also discussed staff wages, appointments, and resignations, and the cost and purchase of equipment.
The provision of a running track for athletics practice is first mentioned in minutes of the meeting held on 27 May 1927. The possible construction of hockey and cricket pitches is mentioned in minutes of the meeting held on 16 April 1929. Minutes of the meeting held on 1 June 1933 refer to the construciton of a running track around one of the hockey pitches on the land adjoining Pritchatts Road. It appears that a new running track, possibly on a different site, was being planned after the Second World War, as the Head Gardener's report with minutes of the meeting held on 24 October 1950 mentions the construction of a new running track, and there is further discussion about its construction and layout in minutes of meetings held on 6 March 1951 and 4 April 1951
The main business of the committee at its meetings in 1928 and 1929 was the acquisition of additional land north of the original University site, as far as Pritchatt's Road, and its layout 'with a view to the formation of a central avenue'. Minutes of meetings held during this period contain discussion about tree planting, the construction of lodges and the provision of entrance gates and gas lighting of the central avenue.
Minutes of the meeting held on 31 May 1929 discuss extensions to the coal treatment laboratory, and include a copy of a letter from Professor Moss setting out the case for a new laboratory in order to provide practical and theoretical training. Similarly, the committee considered extensions to other buildings on the Edgbaston site during the 1930s, and inspected sites for these. Its remit seems to have included issues relating to the grounds at the men's hall of residence Chancellor's Hall, and minutes of the meeting held on 11 May 1934 contain discussion about work on an additional piece of land leased by the Calthorpe Estate for use by University House, the women's hall of residence.
Minutes of committee meetings held in the 1930s contain details about the provision of sporting facilities on the Edgbaston site, and there are a number of reference to the siting and maintenance of a rugby pitch, tennis courts, and hockey pitches, as well as more general information about the planting and maintenance of the grounds.
Minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 1930 include a copy of a letter from the University Grants Committee concerning funds for the reconstruction of the pavilion on the athletics ground, and to lay out additional land for playing fields. The minutes discuss the work required in more detail, including the provision of hockey pitches, tennis courts, and a changing room for women students and refer to a consultation with the Athletic committee. Minutes of the meeting held on 8 November 1934 discuss the purchase of land for an additional rugby pitch, and minutes of the meeting held on 6 June 1935 mention a survey of the site. There was further discussion of this at the meeting held on 26 November 1935, and the minutes also refer to the provision of a staff tennis court in front of the Physics block. mention a survey of the site 6 June 1935. Further discussion 26 November 1935 as well as reference to provision of staff tennis court in front of Physics block
Minutes of the meeting held on 23 May 1938 refer to the layout of the grounds of the Hospitals Centre and Medical School, and the appointment of a Joint Committee consisting of members of the University and members of the United Hospitals Board to take charge of the grounds. The report of the Head Gardener with minutes of the meeting held on 8 June 1939 refers to taking over responsibility for grounds of Medical School and Barber Institute, as well as to the excavation of Air Raid Precaution trenches
No meetings were held for the duration of the Second World War but resumed on 18 December 1945. Minutes of this meeting include a copy of the report of the Head Gardener covering the previous six years. The next meeting was not held until 14 October 1947, when the usual business was discussed in relation to the maintenance of the grounds, playing fields, sports pitches and other athletic facilities. No meetings were held in 1948 or 1949
Minutes of the meeting held on 24 April 1951 include a report on horticultural developments at Edgbaston and include a section on the Winterbourne garden and its development as a botanic garden, as well as the development of 'special crops for research and teaching' by the Genetics and Botany Departments. Minutes of the meeting held on 15 May 1952 include a copy of a memorandum on University amenities by B. N. Brooke, Reader in Surgery, setting out his concerns about 'the ways in which the amenities and elegance of the University grounds and buildings' are being ignored' by the construction of Orlit huts and other temporary accommodation and fencing. A report of the Grounds committee to Council on 4 June 1952, included in the minutes of the Grounds committee, recommend that the Grounds committee act as an Amenities committee and that B. N. Brooke be co-opted to this |