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Sutton Coldfield Local History Research Group

Regular meetings temporarily suspended due to the closure of Sutton Coldfield Library.

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Extra images

Published: 2nd April 2025

Extra images

Wednesday, 02 April 2025

Council House in Victoria Square - Extra images

Council House in Victoria Square

looks very impressive with The River artwork and water feature (“Floozie in the Jacuzzi”) in the foreground.

Recent Research

Sutton Coldfield’s Permanent Library and The Sutton Coldfield Institute

Sutton Coldfield’s Permanent Library

This article recounts the foundation of Sutton Coldfield’s Permanent Library in 1850, which evolved from a Book Club established a hundred or so years earlier, and which developed into the Sutton Coldfield Institute in 1857, an organisation which arranged lectures and concerts for its members until it closed down in the early 20th century. Appendices include the text of Rev Richard Williamson’s inaugural address in 1850, two subsequent lectures by Rev W.K. Riland Bedford entitled ‘Sutton Books and Sutton Authors’ and ‘The Luttrells of Four Oaks’, and the 1864 library catalogue.

COM_CONTENT_ARTICLE_INFO
Author: Kerry Osbourne (SCLHRG)
Published: 10th September 2025
Research
Original Research

Sutton Coldfield Station – Station Master’s House 1960 - 1987

Station Master’s House 1960 - 1987

Yvonne’s interest in this old building came from a couple of photographs on page 35 in the 1990 book “Cross City Connections” by local historian John Bassett.The main photograph in the book shows the building above with a ‘CHESS’ logo above the middle door and two jaguar cars parked in front. The second photograph shows employee Mr Alan Thomas working in the offices of the former station master’s house.When Yvonne mentioned this to co-author Paul, he could remember visiting the “Chess” office as a boy in the mid 1980’s with his headmaster father, who was purchasing replacement pieces for his school’s chess team.He can vaguely recollect the offices being quite small inside and packed with chess related equipment and books, though the passage of time may have led to inaccuracies in his power of recall.As Paul and Yvonne looked into the history of ‘Chess’ and its quirky founder, it became apparent that it was a subject worthy of further study.Contact was made with the publisher to find out if permission could be obtained to reproduce the photographs. An email reply from Brewin Books was received on 28 July 2025 giving permission, with credits – with many thanks.

COM_CONTENT_ARTICLE_INFO
Author: Yvonne Moore; Paul Harrison (SCLHRG)
Published: 4th August 2025
Research
Original Research

All Saints Church, Four Oaks War Memorial

Four Oaks War Memorial

The War Memorial in front of the Church of All Saints, Belwell Lane, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield features the names of thirty-six local men who died for their country as a result of World War One. In this article, their lives and those of twelve further men with ties to the area who aren't featured on any local war memorials, have been painstakingly researched by Paul Harrison, a Sutton Coldfield genealogist, in collaboration with the Sutton Coldfield Great War Project, July 2025.

COM_CONTENT_ARTICLE_INFO
Author: Paul Harrison (SCLHRG)
Published: 1st August 2025
Research
Original Research

Sutton Coldfield Farms 1900 - 1950

Farms 1900 - 1950

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

COM_CONTENT_ARTICLE_INFO
Author: Don McCollam (SCLHRG)
Published: 18th September 2018
Research
Original Research

Visitors:
43%United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
30%Unknown
22%United States of America

History Spot

New Shipton 2 [403]

New Shipton 2

The account of Robert Kelynge, the bailiff of Sutton, for the year 1433 survives in the Stratford upon Avon Record Office. He recorded all the...

Published: 26th February 2016

Photo Galleries

Extra images

Visit to Birmingham City Council House on Thursday, 27th March 2025

Visit to Lapworth Museum of Geology, University of Birmingham, on Wednesday, 10th July 2024

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