The official opening of Brueton Gardens on the corner of Warwick Road and Lode Lane, Solihull took place at 11am on 2nd July 1938.
The land, opposite Poplar Road, had previously been occupied by a house called The Poplars, which had been home to Doris Hamilton-Smith, an artist and pupil of Edith Holden (the “Edwardian Lady” whose nature diary was posthumously published in 1977).
The shelter and ornamental gardens were the gift of Horace Joyner Brueton (1882-1950), who had owned Malvern Hall and was a councillor on Warwickshire County Council. They were presented by him “to the inhabitants of Solihull for all time”. The shelter was designed by Solihull architect Mr Bernard G. Warr, whilst Mr P. Cane (of London) laid out the gardens and planned the shrubberies.
In 1964, a new addition was made to the gardens in the form of a clock commemorating Solihull’s elevation from a municipal borough to a County Borough, making it a single-tier authority with the Council having same responsibilities as a County Council.
If you have any photos of the opening of the Brueton Gardens, or any memories you could share with us, please let us know.
Tracey
Heritage & Local Studies Librarian
tel.: 0121 704 6977
email: heritage@solihull.gov.uk
Solihull Life 
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