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”Knowle Library
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
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”Homer Road, Solihull
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”Inter-war council housing in 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”Freedom of the Borough
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”Parish Councils
Parish councils came into existence as a result of the Local Government Act 1894, which was also known as the Parish Councils Act. Civil Parishes are the smallest areas of local government administration. The 1894 act allowed for the election of parish councils in rural areas and required the entire area of a parish to be within the same administrative county.
Continue reading “Parish Councils”Christmas in Solihull Workhouse
The Solihull & District Monthly Magazine (the magazine of Solihull parish church), reported in January 1895 on Christmas at Solihull Workhouse. The workhouse was in Lode Lane, Solihull, and was administered by Solihull Poor Law Union. It opened in 1838 to provide accommodation and food for people who were unable to support themselves financially – mostly the sick and elderly.
Continue reading “Christmas in Solihull Workhouse”Isolation hospitals
Isolation hospitals were set up to treat people who had infectious diseases such as smallpox, diphtheria, tuberculosis and scarlet fever in an attempt to prevent the diseases from spreading quickly through the population. Solihull is known to have had a “fever shed” and three purpose-built isolation hospitals 1870s-1980s.
Continue reading “Isolation hospitals”Comprehensive education in Solihull
Comprehensive education was introduced in Solihull in September 1974, just over 10 years after Solihull became a County Borough on 1st April 1964 when it took over responsibility for education and schools from Warwickshire County Council.
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Solihull Life 