Wood Lane Handsworth

[Vivienne14]

To me this is such a lovely image. I think the person in the road is probably a postman, although can’t be sure. Can we locate it precisely ? It’s taken at a junction, but I can’t work out which end of or junction with Wood Lane this would have been. Viv.

 

[MWS]

Could it be where Wood Lane takes a sharp turn at the junction of Butler's Road. Photographer on Wood Lane which bends sharply to the right and Butler's Road to the left, 1913 map below...

 

[Astoness]

looks like it to me mark...think the houses on the right are still there with small alterations

lyn

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[Vivienne14]

Wow, yes I think that’s right. The Calthorpe Cottages are the one’s in the photo. Thanks. Viv.

 

[Vivienne14]

I posted this painting of a farm in Wood Lane on another thread a while ago. Shows Handsworth once a rural farming area. The 1913 map (post #2) seems to show there were still many fields at that time, but housing was starting to encroach from the west. Viv.

 

[A Sparks]

Our family lived in Wood Lane from 1968, my parents still there until they passed away a few years ago.
I know the old cottages on the corner of Butlers Road and the junction of Wood Lane very well.

 

[oldMohawk]

Second pic shows how it looks today ...

An early 20th century postcard view of Wood Lane, Handsworth. The man was stood in Wood Lane and Butlers Road is to the left.

Today, the cottage is still there with more windows but at first glance looks not too different. The house in Butlers Road can be seen over the hedge. The 'mock-tudor' decoration has been removed.

If your computer or tablet can do it have a look round in link below

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[Richard Dye]

Second pic shows how it looks today ...

oldMohawk, kind of how I remember that area(new pic) except that front gardens have given way to parking spaces.

 

[Vivienne14]

This is the full view of the ‘Farm in Wood Lane, Handsworth’ painting by John Joseph Hughes in post #5. And one more of Hughes’ paintings of another farm in Wood Lane, Handsworth. Both were painted in the 1800s.

Not only was Hughes an artist, he became a councillor and was a local man living at 37 Villa Road, Handsworth.
Viv.

 

[Vivienne14]

The Calthorpe Cottages have either had a name change since the 1960s or the Levick’s Cottages are different ones. (B&Wimage dated March 1962 by Birmingham Library). They look the same to me, even down to the position of the street name. Maybe Levick was once the owner of these ? Viv

 

[A Sparks]

There is another block of four cottages in Wood Lane..

 

[Vivienne14]

Lovely cottages, nicely preserved too ! These were called Farm Cottages according to the Birmingham Archives. This was them in the 1960s. I wonder if these were farm cottages connected with the Lea Hall estate ? Agricultural labourers cottages perhaps ? There was also a Lea Hall Farm with the address of Wood Lane too. Viv.

 

[Vivienne14]

These are all of Lea Hall Farm taken around 1910/20. It’s looks like a pretty substantial farm to me. Images from the Library of Birmingham. I wondered if this is the one of those painted by Hughes in post #9. Viv.

 

[pjmburns]

The Calthorpe Cottages have either had a name change since the 1960s or the Levick’s Cottages are different ones. (B&Wimage dated March 1962 by Birmingham Library). They look the same to me, even down to the position of the street name. Maybe Levick was once the owner of these ? Viv


View attachment 172392
View attachment 172393View attachment 172394

They are Calthorpe Cottages on the 1911 census.

 

[Vivienne14]

Thanks Janice. I’m guessing the “Levick” Cottage B&W photo is most likely wrongly labelled then. The Census shows Ivy Cottage too. Here it is in May 1968. Viv.

 

[A Sparks]

Thanks Janice. I’m guessing the “Levick” Cottage B&W photo is most likely wrongly labelled then. The Census shows Ivy Cottage too. Here it is in May 1968. Viv.

View attachment 172407

I can't remember seeing that cottage - maybe it was set back from the road by Lea Hall, which is still there.

 

[pjmburns]

They are listed buildings and pretty old. My guess is someone called Levick was involved way back. I then wondered if the Calthorpe estate became involved. That is all conjecture at the moment.

 

[Vivienne14]

Yes that prompted me to have a look on satellite view, seems to be the home of an allotment society and institute now. Amazed (pleasantly !) it’s still there. Viv.

 

[Vivienne14]

We have a thread about Lea Hall (also known as Ley Hall). There’s a good painting of the Hall on there too. Viv.

Lea Hall -

Today I had to make a delivery to some allotments in Wood Lane Perry Barr. As I drove down a little lane on my right I was confronted by a very large building. I was informed by one of the growers that the building was know as Lea Hall. The Hall itself is well hidden from the road by thick trees...

birminghamhistory.co.uk

 

[Vivienne14]

Pollypops posted this on the Lea Hall thread which explains one thing; some of the nearby land was that of the Hon. Calthorpe’s (advert dated 1873). Viv.

 

[mikejee]

I don't know if this, from the 1921 Kellys . has any relevance

 

[Vivienne14]

Thanks Mike. Do you think it shows Mrs Levick living at Ashley House (ho) or is Ashley her first name ? Viv.

 

[A Sparks]

Not particularly relevant maybe but it seems that Levick is an Anglicised Jewish name .... this if from a pdf of the Association of Jewish Refugees in 1996..



...maybe the same family?

 

[mikejee]

Thanks Mike. Do you think it shows Mrs Levick living at Ashley House (ho) or is Ashley her first name ? Viv.

I think it must be Ashley house

 

[MWS]

Phil posted this picture of the Calthorpe Arms on the Bham Forum...

 

[Vivienne14]

Have just noticed on the map in post #2, Ashley House, is a little south of our Calthorpe Cottages, and also on Wood Lane. So we have Mrs Levick living very close to the Calthorpe Cottages in 1921. Maybe she owned them for a while (probably for a short time) and they unofficially were referred to as Levick Cottages. A few maybes and probablies ! Viv.

 

[Vivienne14]

Very difficult to precisely place this one in Wood Lane, but I'm attaching my suggested Streetview. Not sure it's exactly right, the only thing to go on being the ruse in the lane ahead. I think I can see a couple of finials to the left, although that might be a trick of the camera.

 

[Vivienne14]

I think this letter refers to Rushton's farm. It seems to have gone by the name of Lea Hall Farm.

 

[A Sparks]

Yes, I would say you are right about that position in Wood Lane.

 

[Vivienne14]

Could these cottages "Woodland Place" be the 4 cottages mentioned earlier ? Unusual for the names of residents to be given in an auction notice. They must have been farm tenants, so perhaps hoping to remain after the sale ?


Source: British Newspaper Archive