Sutton Coldfield Local History Research Group

In Knighton Road, Sutton Coldfield, this air raid shelter lies forlornly in someone's back garden, reminding us of a time when the country faced  loss of life.  How close that feels these days, as we struggle with the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic!

Baldmore Lake, as it was known, was a sizeable area of water which lay mostly in Sutton Coldfield, with the remainder in Erdington. Why would such a large lake, which gave its name to the district of Boldmere, disappear? Why did some early maps show the lake in one place while present-day residents firmly point to an entirely different location? Did it really disappear without trace? What was the lake like, where exactly was it and why can it no longer be found?

This PowerPoint presentation by Stella Thebridge has a superb array of photographs depicting Holy Trinity Parish Church, Sutton Coldfield, and its surroundings over a period of nearly 200 years.  In and around 2016, a major re-ordering of the church took place and Stella has produced this wonderful record to show how it looked before and after that time.  A script of her talk is usefully included for the benefit of anyone researching the history of this beautiful church.

This article by Roger Lea, was first published in The Birmingham Historian (Number 9) in 1993. This was the twice-yearly news journal of the Birmingham and District Association of Local History Societies and was then edited by George Demidowicz.

On December 11th,1875, the trial began in Wolverhampton Crown Court of 2 persons, Frederick Musson (b. 1852) and Anna Maria Hillman (b. 1854). They had been charged with the murder of a young girl, Elizabeth Lowke (b. 1868).

How many readers have travelled along Somerville Road, seen this old “lamp post” but never noticed it. The lamp post in question is, in fact, not a lamp post but a Victorian stench pipe. Why itwas positioned in this particular spot and the story associated with it is unravelled in this research work. Note that readers with a sensitive disposition might be shocked at some of the descriptionsof Victorian Sutton Coldfield.

This is the third article relating to the Headmasters of Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School. Charles Barker (1817-1842) was Headmaster of the school for a period of 25 years, during which time he was elected as a member of the Corporation and became Warden in 1836 and 1837.  In addition, he was appointed a County Magistrate for Warwickshire. He wielded a great deal of influence and moved in the highest of circles, both in Sutton and the surrounding shires. Unfortunately, his fondness for the better things in life, including hunting and shooting, caused him to neglect his responsibilities towards the school.  The number of pupils under his care gradually declined until, it was said, by 1840 this had been reduced to just a single scholar! His death in 1842 caused quite a stir, as he was found by his friend Baron Webster lying by the side of the lane leading from Penns to Sutton.  It was later discovered that he had probably suffered a heart attack and had subsequently fallen from his horse.

This is Part 1 of research into Church Hill, Coleshill Street and Mill Street, Sutton Coldfield and the people who lived there. The first part includes the Census Returns from 1841-1911, together with observations based on the information contained therein.

This is Part 2 of research into Church Hill, Coleshill Street and Mill Street, Sutton Coldfield and the people who lived there. It centres around the ‘Royal Oak’ Public House, which was situated at the top of Mill Street. It traces its history until it was demolished in 1937 to make way for Vesey Gardens. Also included is a List of Licensees from its inception in 1866 until George Edward Stanier said “Time, gentlemen, please” on the 14th April 1937.

This is Part 3 of research into Church Hill, Coleshill Street and Mill Street, Sutton Coldfield and the people who lived there. It centres around the ‘Old Sun’ Inn, which was situated in Coleshill Street, almost directly opposite the Holbeche residence. It traces its history until it was demolished in 1937 to make way for Vesey Gardens. Included also is a List of Licensees from 1809, a Chronology of Parties involved in a legal nature with the ‘Old Sun’ and also information obtained from two boxes of legal papers issued between 1751 and 1899, held in the Local Studies Section of Sutton Coldfield Library under Ref: QSH 34.4.