The house was built around 1780 for Jonathan Grundy, a wealthy Birmingham industrialist.
It served as a hospital for wounded soldiers during the First World War.
The site was purchased by the community in 1903 to save it from encroaching residential development.
A £5 million restoration project completed in 2017 returned the house to its mid-18th-century architectural integrity.
The Shakespeare Garden contains plants referenced in the plays of William Shakespeare.
The park features a dedicated 'sensory garden' designed specifically for accessibility and tactile engagement.
The house is a popular venue for civil wedding ceremonies and private functions.
The park's exterior grounds are maintained with heritage planting schemes consistent with the Georgian era.
Lightwoods Park and House is an 18th-century public park featuring a Grade II listed house restored to its Georgian appearance. The site spans 15 acres and incorporates a formal Shakespeare garden, a sensory garden, and a modern skate park. The house serves as a community hub, hosting a public tea room and exhibition spaces. Original landscape features include a bandstand and historical iron railings. The park serves as a green buffer between the urban environments of Bearwood and Smethwick. The site is currently active and open to the public as of July 2026.
The front facade of the Georgian house with the symmetrical lawn in the foreground.
Check the house schedule before visiting if you wish to see the indoor historical exhibitions, as they are not always open to the public.
The park is significantly more vibrant on weekends when the on-site tea room is fully staffed.
Utilize the sensory garden entrance for a quieter, more tranquil walking experience.
Do not mistake the residential streets surrounding the park for public parking; use the designated park lot.
The house interior may be closed to the public during private bookings or weddings.
