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Hildercroft On Highfield Road

Bishopsmate

Bishopsmate

master brummie
I remember the big house on the corner of Highfield Road/ Paradise Lane when it was owned by a family named Fardon. They used to open the grounds for a Garden Fete every year to which I took my children. It was a lovely day and we all looked forward to it.
I was told at the time that they owned Fardon's Sauces (I think that was the name) but then it was converted into apartments and I don't know what happened to the family ..... or the sauces.
 
Thanks Maurice.
I checked the link but it is all about the factories, not the big house. I just wondered if anyone remembered the house and the garden fetes. No probs.
 
The house appears to be 287 Highland road in 1950, but 5 Paradise Lane in 1921, when Edwin Fardon lived there, the address changing between 1935 and 1939. The house was built sometime between about 1902 and 1913. In the 1911 census Edwin is in Vicarage Road, Kings Heath, with his widowed mother Anna , brother Ernest and another female ,27 , whose name I cannot interpret and whose relation seems to read "Complication". In 1901 he is also with his mother in Highdale (?) Showell Green Lane , employed as manager of a department in a vinegar brewery, while another son, surnamed Middleton was secretary to a vinegar brewery. They all seem to have escaped the 1891 census though But he obviously has a connection with vinegar, and would guess that anna is possibly the widow of the owner, but only a guess
 
Mike - I think might be "companion". It is hard to decide though. In 1891 the name is mistranscribed as Fordon - the Father is alive (Frederick). The address is 25 Grantham Road and he is "Secretary to Fardon's Vinegar Co Limited".

Janice
 
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Edwin lived in Hildercroft Highfield Road until his death in 1946. I think it is his son John who sold Fardon's to Horlicks in 1962. Edwin's widow Hilda is still listed on the electoral roll at Highfield Road until at least 1950 but by 1955 she is at Viceroy Close.
Anna's adress at her death was Glympton Sratford Road Hall Green - I think from the electoral roll this was 1112 Stratford Road, Ernest seems to have lived with her.
Janice
 
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Intriguingly 281 Highfield Road is the listed address on Hildercroft Management Co Ltd. Formed in 1983.
It looks as if 287 exists but is now 6 flats - as of 1982.

Janice
 
Bishopsmate said:
I remember the big house on the corner of Highfield Road/ Paradise Lane when it was owned by a family named Fardon. They used to open the grounds for a Garden Fete every year to which I took my children. It was a lovely day and we all looked forward to it.
I was told at the time that they owned Fardon's Sauces (I think that was the name) but then it was converted into apartments and I don't know what happened to the family ..... or the sauces.
Click to expand...
Yes, I remember this well - I lived on Highfield Road until 1968 and used to go to the garden fetes at Hildercroft as a child. I seem to recall the Fardon’s may have had connections with St.Peter’s church on Highfield Road but not sure. I remember one of the games was a large white chalk line target on the lawn into which you had to lob large bomb shaped darts underarm to get nearest the centre. Happy days!
 
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