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Sutton Coldfield Local History Research Group Logo

Sutton Coldfield Local History Research Group

Regular meetings temporarily suspended due to the closure of Sutton Coldfield Library.
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Sutton Coldfield Local History Research Group

Sutton Coldfield has an interesting history, well documented by an extensive collection of primary sources, formerly to be found in Sutton Coldfield Library. Unfortunately, due to the permanent closure of the library by Birmingham City Council on 27th June 2025, this material is now being transferred to the Central Library, situated on Broad Street, Birmingham. Members of the Research Group will have access to the collection in due course, once it has been collated and given new accession references.

In the meantime, negotiations are ongoing, in an effort to find a suitable venue for members to continue to meet, perhaps once a fortnight, with the view to exchanging knowledge and ideas, for the pleasure of just learning more about Sutton’s history or to enable them to produce articles for the website.

In addition, once a month, it is hoped the Group will be able to arrange to meet in the Archive and Local Studies Departments at Birmingham Central Library, to access the primary source material.

New research articles will continually appear on the website and all members will receive regular emails from the Secretary or other members of the Committee, with details of issues affecting the Group.

For further information, see Join Us.

New Temporary Home
New Temporary Home

Our New Temporary Home

Following the permanent closure of Sutton Coldfield Library on Friday 27th June 2025, it left the Group homeless, with nowhere to hold our regular Tuesday afternoon meetings.

After many suggestions and much discussion, it was finally decided to aptly ‘congregate’ in Holy Trinity Parish Church. The venue has the requisite number of tables and chairs, together with tea & coffee making arrangements, underfloor heating for when the weather turns colder and toilet facilities.

  • Author: Webmaster (SCLHRG)
  • Public
  • News
  • Date: 11th August 2025
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Recent Research

Sutton Coldfield’s Permanent Library and The Sutton Coldfield Institute

Sutton Coldfield’s Permanent Library
Sutton Coldfield’s Permanent Library
This article recounts the foundation of Sutton Coldfield’s Permanent Library in 1850, which evolved from a Book Club established a hundred or so years earlier, and which developed into the Sutton Coldfield Institute in 1857, an organisation which arranged lectures and concerts for its members until it closed down in the early 20th century. Appendices include the text of Rev Richard Williamson’s inaugural address in 1850, two subsequent lectures by Rev W.K. Riland Bedford entitled ‘Sutton Books and Sutton Authors’ and ‘The Luttrells of Four Oaks’, and the 1864 library catalogue.
  • Author: Kerry Osbourne (SCLHRG)
  • Published: 10th September 2025
  • Research
  • Original Research
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Sutton Coldfield Station – Station Master’s House 1960 - 1987

Station Master’s House 1960 - 1987
Station Master’s House 1960 - 1987
Yvonne’s interest in this old building came from a couple of photographs on page 35 in the 1990 book “Cross City Connections” by local historian John Bassett.The main photograph in the book shows the building above with a ‘CHESS’ logo above the middle door and two jaguar cars parked in front. The second photograph shows employee Mr Alan Thomas working in the offices of the former station master’s house.When Yvonne mentioned this to co-author Paul, he could remember visiting the “Chess” office as a boy in the mid 1980’s with his headmaster father, who was purchasing replacement pieces for his school’s chess team.He can vaguely recollect the offices being quite small inside and packed with chess related equipment and books, though the passage of time may have led to inaccuracies in his power of recall.As Paul and Yvonne looked into the history of ‘Chess’ and its quirky founder, it became apparent that it was a subject worthy of further study.Contact was made with the publisher to find out if permission could be obtained to reproduce the photographs. An email reply from Brewin Books was received on 28 July 2025 giving permission, with credits – with many thanks.
  • Author: Yvonne Moore; Paul Harrison (SCLHRG)
  • Published: 4th August 2025
  • Research
  • Original Research
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All Saints Church, Four Oaks War Memorial

Four Oaks War Memorial
Four Oaks War Memorial
The War Memorial in front of the Church of All Saints, Belwell Lane, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield features the names of thirty-six local men who died for their country as a result of World War One. In this article, their lives and those of twelve further men with ties to the area who aren't featured on any local war memorials, have been painstakingly researched by Paul Harrison, a Sutton Coldfield genealogist, in collaboration with the Sutton Coldfield Great War Project, July 2025.
  • Author: Paul Harrison (SCLHRG)
  • Published: 1st August 2025
  • Research
  • Original Research
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Sutton Coldfield Farms 1900 - 1950

Farms 1900 - 1950
Farms 1900 - 1950
Live Excel Spreadsheet for Sutton Coldfield Farms from 1900 to 1950. Not suitabe for viewing on small screens or phones.
  • Author: Don McCollam (SCLHRG)
  • Published: 18th September 2018
  • Research
  • Original Research
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  • Visitors:
  • MOD_JSVISIT_COUNTRY_GB43%United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
  • MOD_JSVISIT_COUNTRY_ZZ30%Unknown
  • MOD_JSVISIT_COUNTRY_US22%United States of America

History Spot

Richard Ashford [436]

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Richard Ashford
Richard Ashford was a yeoman farmer in Maney in the 1640s. It was a mixed farm, with cattle and sheep as well as crops growing in the...
  • Published: 14th October 2016
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Photo Galleries

Extra images

Council House in Victoria Square - Extra images

Visit to Birmingham City Council House on Thursday, 27th March 2025

The Frosted Windows and Statue of Prince Albert - Visit to Birmingham City Council House on Thursday, 27th March 2025 Painting of Council House - Visit to Birmingham City Council House on Thursday, 27th March 2025 One of many gifts received by Lord Mayor - Visit to Birmingham City Council House on Thursday, 27th March 2025

Visit to Lapworth Museum of Geology, University of Birmingham, on Wednesday, 10th July 2024

Visit to Lapworth Museum of Geology, University of Birmingham, on Wednesday, 10th July 2024 Visit to Lapworth Museum of Geology, University of Birmingham, on Wednesday, 10th July 2024 Visit to Lapworth Museum of Geology, University of Birmingham, on Wednesday, 10th July 2024
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