A reading of Michael Hodder’s book Birmingham, The Hidden History throws up an archaeological word that one doesn’t come across in connection with the area around Sutton Coldfield. The word is cursus and it is just possible that there may be one at Hillwood Common, to the north of Mere Green.
Eric Farmer is the lad that one should look out for in this informative record from the past! His family, the Caslaws, found this old Fixtures and Records book in Eric’s possessions and have kindly allowed us to share it. Not only are the results of the matches recorded, but also the weather at the time. On January 31st in 1931, play took place in a Snowstorm – they certainly built them tough in those days!
A Timetable saved from 1956.
This grand old lady of 114 years old is still rolling around the countryside, looking even more attractive than she did when she first came to Sutton Coldfield in 1909!
A rare survivor from the 1860's of what you might today call a "Thank You Card' from the famous owner of Four Oaks Hall.
This "Invitation to the Opening of The Empress Cinema" on Monday, January 1st, 1923, at 2.30 pm is what the first film goers in Sutton Coldfield would have handed over to the Cinema staff when they flocked to see the first of the silent films to be shown there.
A MEDALLION Coronation of King George Vi & Queen Elizabeth 12 May 1937
You may have made your way into the park via one of the Pedestrian Gates in recent times and noticed that some have been given names. Some also have a board giving a description of how and why these names were chosen.
This bus ticket has been out of sight for possibly 100 years! Only coming to light recently, it was found in the middle of a book given as a Sunday School prize to a young girl who travelled on the Sutton/Birmingham City Centre Bus Route in the 1920/30s. Was it hers, or did she chance to pick it up? We shall never know, but it does invite a few questions which we hope to answer here!
About 40 years ago I moved into a house in Rectory Road in the old Orchard area of Falcon Lodge. Before the housing estate was built in the 1950's this was originally farm land and had been so for hundreds of years until it was bought by the local council.
While digging around, attempting to create a rockery in my back garden, I found this strange little item...
A MEDALLION commemorating the Foundation of the Town Hall, in Mill Street, Sutton Coldfield on 25th August 1858.
Page 1 of 2