Sutton Coldfield Local History Research Group

Helen Holbeche was one of seven sisters: Sarah, Jane, Elizabeth, Catherine, Frances, Helen and Mary. In their later years, apart from Mary, they all lived together at 58 High Street, Sutton Coldfield. In 1998, I discovered a small notebook containing Helen's recollections amongst other Holbeche family memorabilia kept by Mrs Helen Springall (her great great niece) at Keele University Campus.

There were three Elizabeths in the life of Shirley Farmer Steele Perkins of Moat House.  This was the youngest, his daughter, who led somewhat of an uneventful life EXCEPT for the fact that she was a botanical flower painter and wrote charming poetry.  The remarkable "Flora and Pomona's Fête -  her answer to Roscoe's"Butterfly Ball" -  deserves to be more widely read.

I believe that it was written sometime in the late 1880s, during which time Richard was stationed in Bengal with The Royal Munster Fusiliers. He finally returned to the Holbeche family home at No. 3 Coleshill Street, Sutton Coldfield in 1891.

This, the Diary of Sarah Holbeche, is unlike any that you may have seen before.  It is not only a recollection of daily events during most of her lifetime but also includes many family photos, drawings, letters, calling cards and newspaper cuttings.  Beginning in 1802, it gives a birdseye view of life in Sutton Coldfield throughout much of the 19th century and will therefore prove to be a useful tool when researching the town's history.

On March 22nd 1791, Eliza Duncumb of Sutton Coldfield, daughter of Joseph Duncumb and, later, wife of Shirley Farmer Steele Perkins, was sitting somewhere in Moat House, her pen poised to begin her collection of culinary recipes. Perhaps there was a pile of suggestions in front of her. Two, coming from Doctor John Johnstone, were the first to be entered - he, possibly, being the family physician. These were remedies for 'a Soar Mouth or Canker'. Mrs Wills' recipe for 'Calves Head Hash' followed – nothing out of the ordinary for those days, although not to be attempted by today's faint hearted cooks! Here you will find just a small selection from Eliza' recently discovered manuscript, held by the New York Academy of Medicine Library.

Marian Frankling was at the very first Annual General Meeting of today's Sutton Coldfield Local History Research Group in 1984.  At that time, she had just completed her Story of Sutton Parade and, no doubt, it was already on the Library shelves, beautifully bound and being read by many local children and adults who were interested in their town's history.  All the wonderful resources of Sutton Coldfield Library were at her disposal and this enabled her to begin her tale with a map of 1583, continuing with a complete history of the events that took place during the Parade's existence.  Finally, using her own memory, she recalled the Parade's Centenary celebrations in 1979.

What drove the "Spotter" to send hundreds of libellous postcards to a family in Manor Hill, Sutton Coldfield ? Did he bear them a grudge? Was his mind disturbed? Read the newspaper reports of the Court case which convicted a schoolmaster in Clifton Road of the crime and sent him to prison for two years. But was he the guilty party?

Richard Holbeche wrote his 'diary' in 1892. It is a recollection of the places he knew and the people he met during his childhood whilst living in the company of family, relatives and friends, in and around the quiet rural town of Sutton Coldfield.

In this Translation, every page equates as far as possible to the same page in Twamley’s original manuscript (in Sutton Coldfield Local History Reference Library, Ref: SH97SUT). Therefore, the Index can be used for both copies.