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.

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6 May 2025 0

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.

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7 March 2025 0

7th February 1935

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.

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7 February 2025 1

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.

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31 December 2024 0

Christmas in Solihull Workhouse

aerial photograph of workhouse buildings

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.

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24 December 2024 0

Solihull Remembers

For Remembrance Day 2025, Solihull Libraries are encouraging people to complete a Remembrance Card to commemorate a loved one who served in the Armed Forces. It could be an ancestor who died or served during wartime, or someone whose military service included only peacetime operations.

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14 October 2024 0

Tracing house history

If you are interested in tracing the history of a house or building, the starting point should be the building itself or a picture of it if it no longer exists, and any anecdotal information/existing research. The crucial information you need in order to search most effectively is the approximate date of construction, as this will help you to identify what records may be available and where they may be.

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9 October 2024 0

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.

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3 October 2024 0

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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4 September 2024 0

Elmdon Park

On 3rd August 1944, Solihull Urban District Council purchased Elmdon Hall and its grounds from Mr Walter Waters (1881-1963) for use as a public park. Mr Waters, a wholesale fish merchant of St Bernard’s Road, Olton, had purchased the Elmdon Estate in 1931 but never actually lived there.

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3 August 2024 2