Sutton Coldfield Local History Research Group

It is interesting to note that the initial setting up of a permanent public library in Sutton Coldfield was due to Dr Richard Williamson, one of the Rectors of Holy Trinity Parish Church, who presided from 1843 till 1850.

We received the following from Richard Charnley, who now lives in North Yorkshire. He had read Roy Billingham’s article about the former Civil Defence training facility in Sutton Park near Boldmere Gate, “A Second World War Ghost Camp in Sutton Park”, which describes how the buildings were used as residences after the end of the War.

In this article, you will read about Bird’s the Bakers and Confectioners of 384 Boldmere Road, Alice and Edwin Bird, Walter and Ethel Bird (née Lissaman) and Brian John Bird.

In this article, you will read about Ethel May Lissaman and Fernwood’s Abyssinian Boudoir, and Ernest W Beston, his Black Book, Ernest Beston Sporting Agency, Beston’s Advertising Agency, The Britannic Publishing Company and The Palladium Ltd Advertising Agency

In this article, you will read about 364, 372 and 374 Birmingham Road, Baker’s Shoe Repairers, Philip Baker, 2nd Wylde Green Scout Group, Philip Baker Hall, the Rotary Club, Pets & Gardens

A presentation created by the late Stan Brown, which records aspects of Sutton Coldfield through the 20th Century. ** Warning: contains large size images ** Due to the image size, this section is not recommended for mobile devices, other than when using WiFi.

This piece of research traces the history of the pub from its origins until the mid-1950’s, after which information from online research, my main source, dries up. I’ve included newspaper cuttings where possible, however I’ve transcribed longer articles to make them easier to read. Throughout its history, the pub has variously been known as The Park Tavern, The Four Oaks Inn and The Four Oaks Hotel. In more recent times it has been a carvery since the 1980’s and is currently a pub restaurant known simply as The Four Oaks

No-one could be better placed to write the history of Sutton Coldfield Manor than John Dann who lives in Manor House, a property which was built in 1932 in the grounds of The Manor, one of Sutton’s most ancient sites.  Here, John’s article has made full use of documents accompanying the deeds of his own property. Janet Jordan

This delightful School Newspaper will become a treasured memento for many children who attended Walmley Infant School over the past 70 years.  It was collated and presented by Amy Baines (Assistant Headteacher) and Harley Burns (Year 1 Class Teacher and History Lead) who have unearthed the school’s old history and discovered some very interesting photographs along the way.

How many times do we walk past war memorials without even seeing them?  How often have the residents of Walmley ever paused by their own war memorial and thought about the sacrifice made by the men named on it or to wonder how their loss impacted on their families, friends and the village itself?  Where they are buried?   This article seeks to answer some of those thoughts.