Following the brook east out of Waterloo Gardens it passes through The Minsters on its north bank and The Sandies on its south bank. The Harlequins is the area of ground south of The Sandies, today used as a club playing field.
The Minsters was originally known as Newminster Road Open Space. This was an area of approximately 0.75 of an acre acquired from the Tredegar estate in July 1925.[1] Half of the Sandies area, the western part, was acquired in 1951 from the Penlline estate and the remainder from British Rail.[2] These purchases were recorded in Parks Committee minutes beginning in December 1950, when it was decided to purchase for the sum of £10 an area of 0.92 of an acre that included the brook adjoining Walerloo Gardens.[3] Negotiations began in 1952 for the second plot, approximately 0.68 of an acre of land from British Railways, requiring the Council to provide a new fence along the boundary with the railway.[4] It was not until late 1955 that the Parks Committee came to agreement with the British Transport Commission for acquisition of this land.[5]
Major flood defence work was carried out in the Minsters and Sandies from February 2017, involving the construction of brick walls and new timber bridges, and the planting of new young trees. The work was completed by Autumn 2018.
Sources of Information