There’s something truly special about looking back at The Parade as it once was… a place full of life, character, and the gentle rhythm of a different time.

Long before it became the bustling shopping street many remember, The Parade was known locally as “The Dam” until 1880 — originally formed from a reservoir embankment. By the early 1900s, it had transformed into Sutton Coldfield’s premier retail area, lined with beautiful multi-storey brick shops, many with families living above them. These shops offered everything you could imagine, serving a growing and thriving community.

If you look closely, you can almost hear it… the clip-clop of horse-drawn carriages, the chatter of passers-by, and perhaps even the occasional concern over the “furious driving” of carriages and cyclists along the street!

For those who’ve lived in Sutton Coldfield for many years, places like this aren’t just history — they’re memories, stories, and a connection to the town we know and love.