Sutton Park & Parkes. (11 page poem)

Vincent Holbeche

Published by Privately Printed., Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham., 1855

About this Item

11 page satirical poem probably by Vincent Holbeche of Sutton regarding "fork maker" Francis Parkes" and his application to allow football and other sports on this 2000 acre park one of the largest in Europe. No record found of this local skit. Rescued from an archive of similar material of the Holbeche family. There is some album paper adhesion on the last or back leaf, not affecting poem except for a small hole along last line on page 11, no loss. Front page a little browned and light top corner curl and last page attached still to part of album page. Good to Very Good. Small 5 x 3 inch, unbound as issued. Possibly a unique copy, for the family of Holbeche and "gentlemen" of Sutton only? c1853-55. In 1855 a dispute arose over the future of this once Royal Park and its uses. Mr Parkes a local factory owner at Powells Pool in or on the park itself, maker of spades and metalware, wanted the park to allow it to be changed for other uses, including "Football". The derogatory aside of him being a "fork-maker" was made by Mr Vincent Holbeche in derision at the hearing, this poem contains the same wording and was from an archive belonging once to Helen Holbeche, so a fair guess. He also wanted the old Wardens of Sutton and its traditions of self-appointment abolished and a rural council instigated in its place "You all have heard of Sutton park, with its expansive range. But few of you have heard of Parkes, And of his doings strange. Frank Parkes is a fork maker, and (Being clever at his trade) Has raised himself in some degree; But Still a spade's a spade.etc, etc. (39, 4 line verses). Seller Inventory # 7758

Bibliographic Details

Title: Sutton Park & Parkes. (11 page poem)

Publisher: Privately Printed., Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham.

Publication Date: 1855

Binding: Loose as Issued.

Condition: Good

Dust Jacket Condition: Not applicable

Edition: Limited Edition