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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.

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Recent Research

The Case of the Contested Divorce

The Case of the Contested Divorce
The Case of the Contested Divorce
Before 1857 a marriage could be dissolved only by an Act of Parliament, the cost of which was prohibitive to all but the extremely wealthy. The 1857 Matrimonial Causes Act provided a much cheaper method by giving the High Court of Justice jurisdiction to grants divorce decrees. This meant that people in humble circumstances could petition for divorce. One such person was William Hopkins, a labourer from Whitehouse Common, who instructed Sutton Coldfield Solicitors Messrs Eddowes & Son to obtain a dissolution of his marriage in 1900. This article, based on a file of papers found in the Solicitors’ office in 1977, recounts the progress of the divorce case from petition to hearing, and throws some light on legal practice in the late Victorian/early Edwardian era.
  • Author: Kerry Osbourne (SCLHRG)
  • Published: 3rd December 2025
  • Research
  • Original Research
  • Click to view this Research ...

A 1920’s account of the History of Sutton Coldfield

A 1920’s account of the History of Sutton Coldfield
A 1920’s account of the History of Sutton Coldfield
In the months prior to Sutton Coldfield’s Pageant marking the 400th Anniversary of the creation of the charter which gave the town of Sutton Coldfield its powers of self-government, a substantial article in the Tamworth Herald dating from Saturday 18th February 1928 briefly touched on the proposed celebrations before providing this lengthy description of the history of Sutton Coldfield.
  • Author: Paul Harrison (SCLHRG)
  • Published: 7th November 2025
  • Research
  • Original Research
  • View this Research ...

The Case of the Bankrupt Banker

The Case of the Bankrupt Banker
The Case of the Bankrupt Banker
In 1977, whilst working as a solicitor at 46 High Street, I discovered a file of letters and legal documents dating from 1897 which related to the bankruptcy of Nelson Snelling Caunter. Solicitors' files are usually kept for some twelve years, but I imagine that this particular file was kept for much longer because Caunter was the manager of the Sutton Coldfield branch of Lloyds Bank, then operating from 36 High Street. This article details the documents in the file and gives some idea of legal practice in the late Victorian era.
  • Author: Kerry Osbourne (SCLHRG)
  • Published: 28th October 2025
  • Research
  • Original Research
  • Click to view this Research ...

The Public Houses of Sutton Coldfield Town Centre in 1908

Old Public Houses
Old Public Houses
"The motivation for this document arose from encountering the name the Emmanuel College Arms whilst reading local history articles and wondering where that public house was located. This led to the idea of preparing a snapshot in time of Sutton Coldfield town centre pubs in the early part of the 20th century."
  • Author: Paul Harrison (SCLHRG)
  • Published: 20th October 2025
  • Research
  • Original Research
  • Click to view this Research ...
  • Visitors:
  • MOD_JSVISIT_COUNTRY_GB40%United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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  • MOD_JSVISIT_COUNTRY_US21%United States of America

History Spot

Fairs 2 [416]

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Fairs 2
Fairs provided a welcome break from the daily round of life in a country town, the chance to spend money and enjoy the fun of the fair....
  • Published: 27th May 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
Painting of Council House - Visit to Birmingham City Council House on Thursday, 27th March 2025 Lord Mayor's Chair - Visit to Birmingham City Council House on Thursday, 27th March 2025 Royal Photos - Visit to Birmingham City Council House on Thursday, 27th March 2025
Shenstone Visit 8th March 2023
Shenstone Visit 8th March 2023 Shenstone Visit 8th March 2023 Shenstone Visit 8th March 2023
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