sharing Solihull's local history
We always aim to do our best to help with any queries relating to local history in connection with places in the Solihull Borough or former Rural District, but please book in advance of visiting The Core Library, if you need to view any books, photos, maps or archive documents.
This means we can ensure that you don’t have a wasted journey and that there is someone available to help you.
Continue reading “Heritage enquiries / viewing documents”
A new exhibition at the Core Library, Solihull invites visitors to explore the town’s history.
The free exhibition Solihull Heritage: A Journey Through Time is in the Heritage Gallery on the first floor of The Core until 28th February 2026.
Continue reading “Exhibition: A Journey Through Time”
The present Armorial Bearings of the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull were granted on 10th December 1975 from a design created by Miss Brenda C. Hands (1931-2016), who worked in the Council’s Technical Services Department. The new Arms replaced the previous Armorial Bearings granted to the then Solihull Urban District in 1948, which were also used by Solihull Municipal Borough and Solihull County Borough.
Continue reading “Solihull’s Coats of Arms”The Lavender Hill Housing Association Ltd was formed on 5th May 1952 as a private limited company under the Friendly Societies Act. It had 26 members and its members built 14 semi-detached bungalows in Scott Road, Olton (believed to be nos. 92-118) and 12 semi-detached bungalows in Rushbrook Close (believed to be nos. 2-16 and 15-21), with construction starting in summer 1954.
Continue reading “Lavender Hill Housing Association”
To mark the 50th anniversary on 20th November 2025 of Knowle Library moving into Chester House, we take a look at the history of library services in the village. It wasn’t until 1970 that Knowle had its first public library building, but there was a mobile library service from 1948.
Continue reading “Knowle Library”
The Crescent Estate was the title given in 1910 to the land enclosed by the houses built along Warwick Road (then Birmingham Road), Ashleigh Road and Streetsbrook Road.
Continue reading “The Crescent Estate”
Heritage Open Days is England’s largest community-led festival of history and culture. Details of events in Solihull during Heritage Open Days 12th-21st September 2025 are as follows:
Continue reading “Heritage Open Days 2025”
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Homer Road was a very quiet area, unlike today with its supermarkets, offices and civic buildings. As recently as 1958, despite its proximity to the town centre, the road was described as having a “rural outlook” (Birmingham Daily Post, 11th September 1958). The above picture, from the early 20th century, is believed to show the current site of The Core, looking towards Church Hill Road.
Continue reading “Homer Road, Solihull”
Prior to the late 19th century, housing options were limited to owning property or, as most people did, renting from a private landlord. The Housing of the Working Classes Act 1890 allowed local authorities in London to build council houses, and the first council housing was built in Bethnal Green in 1896. The Housing of the Working Classes Act 1900 extended this to the rest of the country, although it took a further 25 years for the first council houses to be built in Solihull Rural District.
Continue reading “Inter-war council housing in Solihull”
The Freedom of the Borough is the highest award that a council can bestow. The Freedom of the Borough of Solihull has been awarded only twice. The recipients of the honour were the 2nd Battalion Mercian Volunteers in 1985 and Lance Corporal Matt Croucher GC in 2008.
Continue reading “Freedom of the Borough”
Former Private Abraham Critchlow was the last known Solihull First World War veteran whose death was attributable to his war service. He died on 7th February 1935, aged 51, and was buried at Robin Hood Cemetery following a funeral service at St Alphege Church.
Continue reading “7th February 1935”
Solihull Life 