THE entrance gates to an historic Brierley Hill park have been restored to their former glory.

Dudley Council has used Brierley Hill High Street Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) funding to repair the gates which have stood at the Seager’s Lane and Church Street entrances to Marsh Park for more than 100 years.

Marsh Park was given to the people of Brierley Hill by Marsh and Baxter Ltd as a children’s playground.

It was opened in September 1921 in a grand ceremony led by Elsie Marsh, wife of Ernest Marsh of Marsh and Baxter Ltd, which saw the Church Street gate unlocked with a golden key.

The park is situated in the south-west of the Brierley Hill High Street Conservation Area and is an Archaeological Priority Area.

The council has been working with the Friends of Marsh Park on the project.

Frank Chamberlain, chairperson of the Friends, said: “The gates are an important and long-lived feature of our landscape and we hope they will welcome thousands more visitors to the park for the next 100 years.”

Brierley Hill councillor Adam Davies praised the Friends for their work on the project and he said: "Marsh Park might be one of the borough's smaller parks, but it is a beautiful park steeped in history that many of us enjoy all year round.

"The refurb of the gates has turned out even better than we'd hoped and compliments the other heritage-focused improvements we're delivering around the town.”

Councillor Paul Bradley, Dudley Council’s deputy leader, said: “Marsh Park is one of a number of heritage projects being supported in Brierley Hill though the Brierley Hill High Street Heritage Action Zone, along with the restoration of the war memorial and improvements to the civic hall green.

“I’d encourage people to come and visit Brierley Hill to see the park and the other heritage projects we are delivering.”