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Charles Bowen Adderly

D

David Sheedy

New Member
I am trying to find out more about Charles Adderly or Baronet Norton as he later became known. His influence on the city particularly the Saltley area is immense. He opened the first public park in Birmingham Adderly Park and later donated it to the council. He funded the building of St Saviours Church on Ash Road, the first Reform School on Fordrough Lane, funded the building of hundreds of council houses in Alum Rock with Reginald Road, George Arthur Road, Ralph Road, Elsmere Road, Bowyer Road and Hartopp Road all I think funded by him and names after family members. His family home was Hams Hall which was later demolished and the power station was built. He and most of his family were buried at Lee Marston church and walking among the headstones is like walking through Alum Rock. All these philanthropic acts and he is rarely mentioned and was never honoured. Is there something in his past unsavoury or criminal and the big question is where all the money came from. If anyone can shed some light it would be interesting.
 
I do not think he funded council houses. The idea of a council house was not invented till later. He was responsible for building large numbers of private houses which were a considerable improvement over previous houses, being more spacious , better built and with better planning. He also
had a considerable part in the introduction of a proper method for the disposal of sewage. Prior to the 1850s sewage was generally disposed of by chucking it into a convenient river, one of the main ones in the area being the Tame . However the Tame ran close to Hams Hall, and the effluvium released around the Hall from the river caused Adderley to complain, leading , eventually to it being realised that treatment was necessary. This gave rise to the Saltley sewage works. It should be added that, conveniently for him, the corporation paid him a considerable amount for the land on which it was built
 
mikejee said:
I do not think he funded council houses. The idea of a council house was not invented till later. He was responsible for building large numbers of private houses which were a considerable improvement over previous houses, being more spacious , better built and with better planning. He also
had a considerable part in the introduction of a proper method for the disposal of sewage. Prior to the 1850s sewage was generally disposed of by chucking it into a convenient river, one of the main ones in the area being the Tame . However the Tame ran close to Hams Hall, and the effluvium released around the Hall from the river caused Adderley to complain, leading , eventually to it being realised that treatment was necessary. This gave rise to the Saltley sewage works. It should be added that, conveniently for him, the corporation paid him a considerable amount for the land on which it was built
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Thank you Mike makes things a bit clearer, still trying to find out where the family money originated.
 
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