Reynolds Park lies within an area that in the 19th century was the estate of a series of wealthy local businessmen.

In the late 19th century it came into the possession of the Reynolds family, who had made their fortune in the cotton trade.

In 1929 James Reynolds, last owner of the estate, donated it to the City Corporation, though his daughter continued to live at the park and was active in its development as an amenity.

The park comprises 14-acre (57,000 m2) area of open lawns, formal gardens and woodland on a sloping east-facing site.

These originally gave accommodation for the gardeners, and continued to do so when it became a public park, but are now in private hands.