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97/98 Soho Hill / Richmond Gardens

Interesting but a bit puzzling! pjmburns earlier contribution Taken from a Planning Committee document dated 2nd July 1984 suggests that demolition was discussed and agreed at least 5 years later! Unless demolition was part of some sort of master plan.
 
mikejee said:
Lyn
The second photo has the one on the left with 127 on the gatepost, so the one to the right of it must be 129 and the far right one almost completely obscured by treees no 131
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Yes - the one on the left is 127 - and what's more - it's listed!

historicengland.org.uk

127, SOHO HILL B19, Non Civil Parish - 1076152 | Historic England

List entry 1076152. Grade II Listed Building: 127, Soho Hill B19. May include summary, reasons for designation and history.
historicengland.org.uk historicengland.org.uk

Not that such a designation helped no 97!
 
CAJ said:
That's a great photo - many thanks. Irritatingly, if it was taken while you were there, it's just before my time - I started in 1957. Can you remember if the school was in the building I mentioned in my earlier thread? If that photo was taken in the playground I seem to remember that it was surrounded by trees on dusty earth banks which would probably be called an adventure playground today (or fenced off from pupils in case they had accidents!
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There is a 4 page thread about Handsworth Kindergarten Preparatory School here

https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/for...rth-kindergarten-and-preparatory-school.4742/

Photo was taken in playground of 10? Park Avenue, I have searched for a photo but had no success, yes definitely dusty sloping earth banks, we used to race Dinky toys down grooves in the slopes. Apparently Miss/Mrs Bunn was killed in a car crash in 1966, shortly after giving up the school.
 
CAJ said:
Interesting but a bit puzzling! pjmburns earlier contribution Taken from a Planning Committee document dated 2nd July 1984 suggests that demolition was discussed and agreed at least 5 years later! Unless demolition was part of some sort of master plan.
Click to expand...
There was a reference to the fact there might be road widening as a later part of a plan but no further info.
 
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So all a bit vague really! Difficult to imagine what that scheme might have been unless they were planning to flatten the whole of the left hand side of Soho Hill (including listed St Michael's Church?).
 
Possibly there was a fire that made the building unrepairable or maybe the land was wanted as an access strip for the large development at the rear of the site.
 
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Possible, I suppose. I'm not sure if the house was left vacant after my granny moved, or indeed when the next door neighbours left. I'm sure my trawl of local newspapers would have had some sort of article as it would have been quite a big event - possibly involving closing a busy main road. There hasn't been any development to the rear either, has there? It remains a bit of a mystery!
 
thanks pedro i have just emailed ruskin mill trust and asked them a few questions regarding the old houses and the gardens...will report back if they get back to me

lyn
 
That should be interesting. It looks like the land was bought by Ruskin Mill Land Trust around 2015, but the plans did not come to fruition. Are they just speculating ? Ruskin Mill Trust have received grants over the years.
 
as i said earlier i will get back to you all if ruskin mill reply to my email..i have asked why the gardens are now closed..if they know why the 2 houses were demolished and do they have any photos of the houses before demo

lyn
 
I don't think they are anything to do with it. There was a 2015 project with them which seems to have fallen through.
The site is council owned so perhaps ask them or the local Councillor?
 
pjmburns said:
I don't think they are anything to do with it. There was a 2015 project with them which seems to have fallen through.
The site is council owned so perhaps ask them or the local Councillor?
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ok jan thanks...i know ruskin mill trust leased the land and i know the plan for the gardens went ahead as i saw the gardens laid out but maybe there was not enough interest and they gave it up...not sure really..as you say maybe i should contact the council although over the years their record at replying to me is not good :rolleyes:

lyn
 
pjmburns said:
I was basing my comment on this 2022 article
www.birminghammail.co.uk

Brum residents call for 'utopian' green space to be restored

Richmond Garden on Soho Hill is currently overgrown and unruly
www.birminghammail.co.uk
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Great to read something relatively recent on the gardens - nothing much seemed to have happened since the turn of the century! I've been spending time trawling through the National Newspaper Archives to see if the reason for demolition of the property was a disaster like a fire etc but I've found nothing so far. It will be interesting to see if Birmingham Council come up with anything. I wish I could remember ownership of the house when we lived there but do have a vague recollection that it was under the ownership of the Matthew Boulton Estate. This ties up with an old map I've found of the area which names the entire "triangle" of land from Soho House (his home) down to Richmond Road as Boulton Engineering (see top right corner of map).. I suspect this may have been either sold off or developed for housing after the death of the famous Matthew Boulton Senior. I guess this could have been taken over by the Council in later years. I'm very interested in the Boulton side of things as my Great Grandfather worked on The Matthew Boulton Junior estate in Great Tew.
 

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i was shocked today to find out that richmond gardens has been taken over by some sort of make shift garden centre and fruit and veg place..i am not sure how this is possible without ie planning permission etc...could clearly see that the ground to the entrance of the garden is being used as storage space..

lyn

www.google.com

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Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
www.google.com www.google.com
 
its a mystery to me jan...maybe i can get a better look next time i am down that way but as we know the actual garden has been locked up for many years...

lyn
 
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