Sutton Coldfield Local History Research Group

Did you know that there is a second ancient road passing through the park? Unlike the Roman Road which goes north south, this one goes east west from Wyndley Pool to Streetly. It is around 900 years old and was the main thoroughfare through the park in medieval times.  Keith Hopkinson's article will tell you more ...

The post of High Steward of Sutton Coldfield was created by the Charter of King Henry VIII dated 16th December 1528.  It was originally intended to be a legal appointment and the High Steward was expected to be responsible for law and order and the administration of justice in the Town, but it soon became a purely honorary or ceremonial position (akin to the Deputy Lieutenant of a County), with a Deputy Steward (the forerunner of a Town Clerk) fulfilling the legal duties.  The first High Steward was appointed in 1547 and, with three breaks from 1892 to 1902, from 1914 to 1925, and from 1944 to 1951, the post continued in being, with a succession of nineteen appointments, until the Borough of Sutton Coldfield was abolished in 1974.

Situated in Wylde Green, Sutton Coldfield, this school has a fascinating story to tell, using the many sources to be found in the Royal Town’s archives and original School Log Books. These have been supplemented by the memories and photographs of staff and pupils in the 20th century. From a small village school built in ‘an out of the way sort of place not far off the Chester Road’, the book seeks to explore the many changes made to the buildings and the curriculum over its first 140 years. The influence that the early Masters and their successors who helped guide the school through the Victorian era, two World Wars and many other external factors is also woven into the account.

Who would have thought that a small village, such as Little Hay, being just on the historic Sutton/Shenstone boundary, would have attracted so many day trippers in the late 1800s!  But there is a very good reason for this and you can find out exactly why if you read Paul Harrison’s research into its local pub, The Haycock Inn.

In 2022 Chester Road Railway Station was adopted by Chester Road Station Friends, a group of local people who wanted to improve the station environment, make it more environmentally friendly and make it more interesting for passengers. One of their aims was to create a history board about the station. This is a result of the research that was carried out.

What do you remember of the interesting Murals that appeared on the walls of the Inner Ring Road and Underpasses of Birmingham in the 70s, 80s and 90s? Here, Keith Jordan has given a detailed account of their creation and the reason for their demise.

Enclosure of common land came to Sutton Coldfield around 1824, somewhat later than in most other places in the Country.  At that time, the town was almost surrounded by common land and Roger Lea's article will use maps to identify and give the background to such areas known as Four Oaks Common, The Northern Commons, The North-Eastern Commons, High Heath, Lindridge Field,  Reddicap Heath, Walmley, The Coldfield and Ley Hill Common.  This is a 'must read' for local history researchers and may also be found in Sutton Library under Reference BCOLQ942.496SUT. Janet Jordan November 2019

Long before the advent of iPhones, this history of the life of Lieutenant Colonel Richard Holbeche was written and illustrated in 1998.   Nowadays one could expect clearer photographs, but the details of Richard’s life have not changed. Few people are aware that the man who wrote the well-known “Holbeche Diary” in his forties, whilst on retirement in Sutton Coldfield, had also led and would, in future, lead a very surprising and worthwhile path of life.

In 1985, I was working in an office in Coleshill Street overlooking the wall which surrounded the Vesey Memorial Gardens and Holy Trinity Churchyard. It always intrigued me as to what went on behind the green door set into that wall which seemed to lead directly into the raised ground behind it. On many occasions I watched gardeners leaving their tools there and assumed it was simply a small room used for storage.

This book, giving the history of one of Sutton’s old cottages from 1787 to 1995, has been available in Sutton Coldfield Local Studies Library for nearly thirty years (under Ref: BCOLQ728.370942496JOR).  During that time, the cottage has been put to good use, but its future now looks uncertain.  When you have read the book, a History Update 2024 will explain why.