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Springfield Area

BrummieGeoff

BrummieGeoff

Sparkhill Lad
Springfield is a small area that overlaps the boundaries of Sparkhill and Moseley where they meet the River Cole. I don't know if it was ever used in formal postal addresses, but it has had its own Post Office, SPR Telephone Exchange (located in Hall Green), Birmingham Municipal Bank, and cinema.
It seems confusing now, but in the 1921 Census a house in Springfield Road had the following classification ....
Address: Springfield Road, Smethwick, Worcestershire
Ward: Sparkhill
Parliamentary Division: Moseley
Registration District: Kings Norton
Sub Registration District: Acocks Green
Enumeration District: Birmingham
Here's a 1903 map of Springfield, and a few photos.

1903 Springfield.jpg

Junction of Springfield Road, College Road and Woodlands Road
Springfield College Road 1.jpg

1A Bus on College Road
Springfield College Road 2.jpg

College Road School
Springfield College Road School 1.jpg

Stratford Road Coop shop
Springfield Stratford Road Coop 1.jpg

Stratford Road shops c1908
Springfield Stratford Road c1908.jpg
 
many thanks for the info and photos geoff...love the first photo and i must go and see if i can find todays view...bet its changed a lot

lyn
 
Our postcode is B13 and our address is therefore classed as Moseley.
However, if I go to the Birmingham council site for any reason (last week to report some flytipping for instance) our address comes up as Springfield.

College Road school is still in use - Springfield Primary
 
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pjmburns said:
Our postcode is B13 and our address is therefore classed as Moseley.
However, if I go to the Birmingham council site for any reason (last week to report some flytipping for instance) our address comes up as Springfield.

College Road school is still in use - Springfield Primary
Click to expand...
thanks jan i am struggling to find today view :rolleyes:
 
The late Bill Dargues take on the name/place

This self-explanatory name derives from a medieval holy well or spring which emerged from the ground somewhere on the slope between Springfield Road and the River Cole. The water was believed to be a cure for eye ailments.

The district of Springfield lies at the southern end of Springfield Road. It is a name that currently has limited use, the area being considered part of Sparkhill.

Recently the name has been revived by the City Council and the run of shops on the Stratford Road between Hillfield Road and Knowle Road has been designated Springfield Shopping Parade.

Screenshot_20250919_164908_Chrome.jpg
 
I was very surprised to see that sign installed at the top of Hillfield Road. I don't think many of the past or current locals would think Springfield spreads that far .... but I guess it's a nice name for marketing purposes.
 
I see the notorious small roundabout, as shown in the modern view of post 7, has now been altered. That old roundabout must have tasked the drivers of older buses that did not possess power steering.
 
Yes, the Acocks Green bound 1A used to go straight down College Road to meet the Stratford Road .... but they changed the route in the 1970s to turn left at the roundabout down Springfield Road.
 
The last part of College Road padt the school is one way. If I go down College Road from Wake Green Road to Stratford Road I have to go left at the island and down Springfield. Coming back I can turn off Stratford Road into College Road.
 
It is still there but in a very sorry state and I have no idea if it is used at all. (I didn't use the latest view because of all the rubbish outside
1758373280392.png
On the latest view there seem to be "Openreach" vans parked at the back
1758373461196.png
 
Typical styie of 1930s telephone exchange, reminiscent of the government labour exchanges/ministry of labour offices built around the same time. Maybe it was the same architect ? Telephone exchanges came within the Post Office at the time I think, so perhaps not a far stretch for national government labour exchange buildings to follow suit in design.
 
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BrummieGeoff said:
The Coop building is still standing .... but it looks a bit different now. In my childhood days it was a Coop dry cleaners.View attachment 209591
Click to expand...
It was shop #21 at #775 Stratford Road. This was how it looked in 1912. What on earth was that in the doorway ?

Advertising "Wives wanted" in the window !! And window displays bursting at the seams.

20250920_155448.jpg
 
The church almost directly opposite the Springfield cinema on the Stratford Road was the Sparkhill Congregational Church. This would be in the 1940s/50s. So no Springfield church as far as I know. Part of the church is still there but is now an Asian Restaurant.
 
On the contrary farmerdave, Springfield was well served for churches. In addition to the more recent church you mention, that is now an unusual curry house ....
The 1903 map in Post #1 shows the Congregational Chapel on the Stratford Road opposite the end of Springfield Road .... later the site of the School Clinic, and now a Primary Care Centre.
On the left in the first photo in Post #1 is a sign announcing the construction of a Primitive Methodist Church on the corner of Springfield Road and College Road .... still standing and now a Christadelphian Church.
Just out of shot on the right of the first photo in Post #1 is St Christopher's Church on the corner of Springfield Road and Woodlands Road. It was built in 1907 and is still standing. Old photo below.

Springfield Woodlands Road St Christopher's Church 1.jpg
 
St Christophers - I didn't realise how old it was as when I drive roubnd the island and turn up College Road I only see the modern building in front.
1758453825822.png
 
This is the best view I can get of the Christadelphian Church - there is only one Streetview and the building is obscured by trees. (If I move further there is a large white van blocking the view )

1758454130995.png
 
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