Sutton Coldfield Local History Research Group

The Birmingham historian Eliezer Edwards (1815-91) published his Sutton Coldfield A History and A Guide in 1880.  It is not as well-known as the other 19th century accounts of Sutton Coldfield, written by Agnes Bracken in 1860 and Rev W.K. Riland Bedford written in 1891, but it gives modern readers a lively picture of life in Sutton in 1880, with particular emphasis on Sutton Park, the Crystal Palace, the Royal Hotel and the Railway Stations.  This article contains the complete text of Edwards’ book together with Notes which amplify and in some places correct Edwards’ account.

A recently completed woodcarving of the coat-of-arms of the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield by Roy Billingham, a member of the Sutton Coldfield Local History Research Group. Roy studies woodcarving under Master Carver, Michael Painter, at his woodcarving studio in Austrey, North Warwickshire.

This article contains lists of all the members of the Warden and Society of Sutton Coldfield from 1723 (the earliest date for which there is a Corporation Minute Book) to 1886 (when the Warden and Society were replaced by an elected Town Council), in chronological and alphabetical order.  A list of the Wardens of Sutton Coldfield from 1528 to 1886 follows, correcting some errors in Rev W.K. Riland Bedford’s list, and a list of the Town’s Capital Burgesses (magistrates).  The article ends with biographical details of some of the Corporation members from 1723 to 1886 and of some of the Wardens prior to 1723.

Live Excel Spreadsheet for Sutton Coldfield Farms from 1900 to 1950. Not suitabe for viewing on small screens or phones. 

This was an undergraduate project undertaken in 1977 which describes my earliest research in Sutton Park and the rest of Sutton Coldfield, and although some of it has been superseded by subsequent work it includes observations of some sites which are now obscured, inaccessible, altered or even destroyed.

Research published in Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeological Society Transactions for 2016-2017, Volume 119.  Submitted by Mike Hodder.

Midland Lodge is a Victorian residential property situated within Sutton Park and owned by Birmingham City Council. It lies adjacent to the Midland Gate entrance to the Park which is at the western end of Midland Road. This private road, built by the Midland Railway Company in 1879, provided pedestrian access for their passengers to and from Sutton Park Station up-line platform to the new entrance gate into the Park. In the early years the Midland Railway provided ticket inspectors at the entrance to the Park.

For the first time we have a comprehensive study of the available information concerning this serious fire that devastated a large section of Streetly Wood and the surrounding heathland, probably some 800 acres. The research covers the social history of Sutton’s residents at the time of the fire, a summary of the weather conditions in 1868, a brief history of Sutton Coldfield Golf Club and its association with this part of the Park after the fire, the early history of Streetly and some conjectural thoughts on the extent of the damage to Streetly Wood.

Part 1: During the early summer of 1921, when Sutton Coldlfield, like the rest of the British Isles, experienced very hot weather. There had been very little rainfall for some time resulting in the ground being extremely dry and the heathland of Sutton Park being susceptible to random outbreaks of fire. The Borough Council's Park and Estates Committee initially took the view that the fires were started deliberately but later their attitude changed when they realised that the extent and frequency of the fires was largely due to natural causes. Outbreaks of fires in Sutton Park were first reported as occurring on 17th and 25th June.1921. Part 2: In complete contrast to the drought and subsequent widespread fires of 1921 described in Part 1, a sudden cloudburst occurred two years later on Saturday, July 14, 1923 producing excessive rainfall in Sutton Park. The Borough Council were once again faced with a natural disaster and its consequential effects.

An Archaeological Appreciation and Historical Notes to accompany a visit by Sutton Coldfield Local History Research Group Summer 1992.