sharing Solihull's local history
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.
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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.
Continue reading “Comprehensive education in Solihull”
Sharmans Cross Senior School was built in 1933 and opened to pupils on 9th January 1934 under headmaster Edgar James Phillipps Orrett (1882-1967). Children aged over 11 from Solihull, Olton and Shirley were transferred from existing all-age elementary schools on this date, with the schools they left then all becoming junior schools.
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For Heritage Open Days, 2023, local historians from Knowle Society, accompanied by poet Jonny Fluffypunk and supported by library staff, led a guided walk around the historic centre of the village. Jonny then created a poem based on the history discussed during the walk and afterwards at Knowle Library.
Continue reading “A Poem for Knowle”
On 22nd May 1944, a 16-year-old carrier pigeon known as “Old Billy,” travelling at around 60mph, flew into Solihull bearing a cheque for £1,000. The pigeon, owned by Albert James Wager (1880-1947) of 338, Blossomfield Road, was one of the “heroes” of Solihull’s “Salute the Soldier” week, part of a national savings campaign to raise money for field hospitals and military equipment.
Continue reading ““Old Billy” helps Solihull’s Salute the Soldier Week, 1944″
The open-air swimming pool in Malvern Park, Solihull was purchased by Solihull Council in March 1954, although it had been in use as a privately-owned swimming pool since the early 1940s. It was apparently the first municipal swimming pool in the Solihull district and, according to the Birmingham Daily Post, 8th February 1954, it had been built by Horace Brueton, who had bought the Malvern Hall estate c.1922.
Continue reading “Solihull Lido”
Alfred Steadman was born in Derbyshire on 6th December 1912 and won a scholarship to art college in Derby but his parents reportedly decided that it wasn’t a good idea, so he became a chemist on leaving school. Art was a lifelong hobby and he was able to devote more time to it after his retirement from work.
Continue reading “Alfred Thomas Steadman (1912-1994)”
The Metropolitan Borough of Solihull came into existence on 1st April 1974. The new Metropolitan Borough comprised the former County Borough of Solihull, 10 parishes from the former Meriden Rural District and the parish of Hockley Heath from Stratford-upon-Avon Rural District.
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On 1st April 1964, Solihull and Luton were both elevated to county borough status – the first county boroughs created since 1927, and the first of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. The towns exchanged messages of goodwill and congratulations.
Continue reading “Elevation Day, 1st April 1964”
On Solihull’s Charter Day, 11th March 1954, H.R.H. Princess Margaret visited Solihull on behalf of the Queen to present the Urban District with a Royal Charter of Incorporation as a Borough. Although the elevation to a borough was important in Solihull’s journey to become a County Borough, it did not bestow any new powers on Solihull, apart from the new Borough having a Mayor instead of the previous Chairman of Solihull Urban District.
Continue reading “Solihull’s Charter Day 1954”
Solihull Life 