Sutton Coldfield Local History Research Group

This delightful little book, aimed specifically at junior citizens, is also good read for those adults who are beginning to explore Sutton Coldfield’s rich history.  If this doesn’t whet your appetite to build up your knowledge of the town, nothing will!

This book is a study of drunkenness in Sutton Coldfield 1871-1881 (Sutton Coldfield Library Reference: QSH 41.9)

This delightful little book approaches the history of Sutton Coldfield from a different perspective, with an unusual map of Sutton Park and also some pretty pen and ink drawings. Both the park and the town are charmingly described and there is also a smattering of interesting advertisements from the late 1880s.

This selection comprises a large proportion of the guide books, mainly produced by Sutton Corporation, which are held at Sutton Coldfield Library, Local Studies Department, under reference SH97SUT.  Most have yellow bindings which makes them easy to find.  Between them, they give a potted history of the town and its park, advertisements, maps, photographs and local information.  They are yet another useful research tool for the local historian.

This report by the Department of Archaeology and Local History, City Museums & Art Gallery, Birmingham on the archaeological implications of development in the central area of Sutton Coldfield was written in July 1979.  It gives an insight into the position regarding the Conservation Area at that time and is a reminder at how important archaeology is in furthering our knowledge of the town’s local history.  

A Selection of Corporation Rentals (otherwise known as 'Chief Rents') from 1742 to 1924. These have been copied by Janet Jordan, Member of Sutton Coldfield Local History Research Group, from the originals deposited at Sutton Coldfield Library.  These can be useful in tracing the owners of some of the older properties in the area. (View the photos in sequence.)

This History of Sutton Coldfield was written by Reverend William Kirkpatrick Riland Bedford, the longest-serving of any Rector of Holy Trinity Parish Church (forty-two years), who retired in 1892.  It was not the only book he wrote as he is also well known for the popular Three Hundred Years of a Family Living, being a History of the Rilands of Sutton Coldfield.  Less well known was his collaboration with Richard Holbeche as joint authors of The Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem published in 1902.

Are you searching for the planning application of your old house in Sutton Coldfield? If it was built after 1887, you may be able to find it in these books. They will give you theplanning application number so that you can request this from Sutton Library who hold the collection. All pages of Books 1 to 27 have been copied and cover the years 1887 to 1967.

Using details from these maps and books you can find out who owned land in Sutton Coldfield at the time of the Corn Rent in 1824 and Enclosure in 1851.  (With thanks to Sutton Coldfield Library for allowing us to make these available on the Sutton Coldfield Local History Research Group website (www.sclhrg.org.uk)

This very useful little book contains a wealth of interesting information about Sutton Coldfield, its notable people and places, and its park at the beginning of the 20th century.