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”
Public libraries in the Solihull Rural/Urban District were the responsibility of Warwickshire County Council until Solihull Council took over this role on 1st April 1947. At that time there were three libraries in the Solihull Urban District – Olton, Shirley and Solihull. Only the library at Shirley was purpose-built.
Continue reading “Solihull Libraries 1920-1947”
The £44 million National Exhibition Centre (NEC) opened for business on 1st February 1976, the day before it was officially opened by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II. The NEC opened on a 310-acre site with six original exhibition halls – 1, 2, 3, 3a, 4 and 5.
Continue reading “National Exhibition Centre”
On 4th January 1896, Geoffrey Arthur Martineau (1861-1934) and Jessie Clementina Madeley (1864-1947) were married at St Alphege Church, Solihull. The groom was a 34-year-old widower, listed as a manufacturer, whilst the bride was a 31-year old spinster, and the daughter of the late Charles Madeley JP (1829-1895), gentleman.
Continue reading “The families of Touchwood Hall”
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”
Solihull Life 