Sutton Coldfield Local History Research Group

You will be surprised to see a Round-about in Sherifoot Lane, Four Oaks, but it was a feature of the area 200 years ago. Read on and all will be made clear!

One of a set of pamphlets researched by the late Ken Williams, this on the subject of Hill Hook Corn Mill.

One of a set of pamphlets researched by the late Ken Williams, this on the subject of Newhall Water Mill.

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.

Albert Wood, tenant of Midland Lodge in Sutton Park from 1892 to 1917, was a typical Victorian lower middle-class gentleman who had many interests. He was a chemist by training but from childhood took an interest in horticulture and natural history. These interests included ferns and alpine plants as well as birds and molluscs. He was also a founder member of The Vesey Club and counted Benjamin Stone, Sutton Coldfield’s first mayor, as one of his friends. He wrote this article for the 1900 edition of a guidebook of the Town which briefly presents his research of the snails and molluscs that inhabited Sutton Coldfield at the turn of the 19th century.

Did you know that Birmingham was for three centuries Britain’s most historically important centre for printing outside London. Also, 19th century Birmingham came to be regarded as the most artistic town in England. This is the background history to an account of three local men, one a highly regarded illuminating artist, one a printer and author, and one an artist, designer and naturalist who together produced a commemorative illuminated book for the 1911 Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary. As if this were not enough, we are presented with a potted history of the While family of Sutton Coldfield and their association with While Road.

Manley Hall, formerly Thickbroom Hall, Weeford, was begun in 1831.  Its style of architecture was Elizabethan with Gothic overtones in the way of turrets, battlements, decorative chimneys, pinnacles and even a viewing tower.  A succession of "Manleys" lived there until the early 1920s when it became a boys' school.  It was finally demolished around 1961.

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.

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

Although it is nearly 30 year since this research reached Sutton's Library shelves, the facts haven't changed and Four Oaks in 1824 is just as fascinating today as it was then - perhaps even more so, as our knowledge of that area has widened over the years.