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”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”Arthur Stokes (1871-1953), signalman
Arthur Stokes was born in Birmingham on 19th February 1871 and was the second of the six children of parents, Peter, a carter, and Ann (née Humphreys) who had married in Bordesley in 1867. He started work on the railways at the age of 13, and spent 44 years as a signalman at Solihull Station. In 1936, he published his memoir, the proceeds of which went towards the Solihull Methodist Church Building Fund.
Continue reading “Arthur Stokes (1871-1953), signalman”Olton Remembers the First World War
During the Solihull Remembers project to commemorate each of the Borough’s First World War casualties on the centenary of their death, library staff worked with researchers from across the Borough, including a team from St Margaret’s Church, Olton. The names of the 52 men on the war memorial in the church were researched. It was found that there were at least 30 other casualties with a local connection whose names were not included on the memorial.
Continue reading “Olton Remembers the First World War”11th April 1921
On 11th April 1921, Patrick Larkin, formerly a Private with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, died of tuberculosis at 6 Back 60, Bordesley Street, Birmingham. He was 25 years old and, according to his death certificate, had had TB for 12 months before his death. The local connection with Solihull is that he is buried at Olton Franciscan Friary.
Continue reading “11th April 1921”20th August 1920
Private Francis Joseph Alexander Marchant, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, died in the Kings Norton registration district area on 20th August 1920 and, as he was a Catholic, is buried at Olton Franciscan Cemetery. He was 23 years old.
V. J. Day in Solihull, 1945
V. J. Day, 15th August 1945, marked the day when the Second World War effectively came to an end as Japan surrendered and all hostilities ceased.
The Warwick County News, 18th August 1945, summarised local events with the headline “Neighbourly co-operation was the keynote of Solihull’s VJ-Day celebrations” and the observation that the day was marked by a “mood of quiet thanksgiving or in the exuberant relief of pent-up feelings according to age or nature.”
4th May 1920
John Hawkes, formerly a Private with 73rd Battalion, B. Company, no. 5 platoon, Canadian Royal Highlanders, died at 370 Beach Street, Saco, Maine, USA on 4th May 1920, aged 41 years and 20 days. His cause of death was listed as Bright’s Disease (an inflammation of the kidneys), with “life in trenches” given as a contributory factor.
15th March 1920
Private Leslie Jones, 1st South Midland Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, died on 15th March 1920 and is buried at Olton Franciscan Cemetery, Solihull. He was born in Birmingham in 1889 and baptised at St Asaph’s Church on 7th July 1889. His parents were Thomas Henry Jones, a carpenter, and Harriet Elizabeth (née Evans), a tailoress who had married at St Peter & St Paul’s Church, Aston in 1886.
Continue reading “15th March 1920”29th December 1919
Francis George Harris, formerly a Gunner with the Royal Garrison Artillery, died at Birmingham General Hospital on 29th December 1919. He had been discharged from the Army in March 1919 so does not appear as a war casualty on official records, although he is commemorated locally in the Soldiers’ Chapel, Knowle. He is also listed on the Roll of Honour for Packwood amongst those who served.
Solihull Life 