Castle Bromwich

Kandor · Jul 28, 2008

Dave89 · Feb 15, 2009

Dianne said:
Hi John.

I also remember it as conker Island/hill ...

Hi Dianne

I wonder if you remember that Whateley Green at the back of the Bradford Arms was also known as 'Conker Island' Just shows where
kids' priorities lay in years gone by!!

Kind regards

Dave

Dianne · Feb 17, 2009

Hi Dave89

I just remember conker island/hill being around the back of"Lady Bradfords" ... I also vaguely remember a reference to "pimple hill" which I associated with conker island

I lived in Kingshurst from 1960 thru to 1977 and as such a "day out" was going to Lady Bradfords (exploring the graveyard ??!!

) , Conker Island, , Coleshill Lido , Yorkswood scout Camp Site and climbing over metal railings to get to Shard End Park (via yorkswood and babbs mill) .. great days

The Baron · Feb 17, 2009

Thats the set of trees my Dad always told us was Conker Whitegate.Do I have the wrong place ?

Dave89 · Feb 17, 2009

Chris B said:
I used to go to the small school in Castle Bromwich and I always thought the avenue of conker trees was the original drive to Bradford Hall from the main road ? My wife who lived in Pype Hayes always new the large mound as "The Giants Pimple"
Regards Chris B

Hi Chris,

The main drive extends across the main road (Bradford Road) and continues on the other side, although the trees on the other side are
now somewhat fragmented. Interesting to think that in the days when the Hall was lived in, the trees would not have been a shadow of what they are today. The Hall is still referred to in the area as Lady Bradford's, as this was a 'dowager house' , the home of the widow of the previous Lord Bradford. Notable visitors included Benjamin Disraeli, who was was a regular visitor, and for whom was installed a telephone in Castle Bromwich
Post Office (the first installation in any Post Office outside London) so that he could regularly contact Queen Victoria on matters of state.
Apparently a less welcome visitor was Queen Mary, who was well known
for 'admiring' treasures in the various houses she visited, in the expectation that she would be given them!

Dave

welder · Feb 17, 2009

May I throw one in for consideration? Conker Whitegate and Conker Island are in the mix on the topic of Pimple Hill.
Whateley Green is even now known a Conker Island and a large house known as the Cedars was the principle house of the area.
The lodge house still exists and until very recently had rather ornate wooden White Gates which had been the entry gates to the Cedars. The gates and their side panels, were destroyed a few years ago by a couple of youths, showing off to their girlfriends. I know this because my son and I replaced the gateposts and side panels (no gate) with wrought iron equivalents.

Conker Island with white gates......? It's a strong hint

And all a five minute stroll from Pimple Hill, which never, trust me, had conker trees.

Ian

welder · Mar 4, 2009

Dave M said:
This is the Drive looking from Castle Bromwich Hall, and the front of the Hall

There were three tree lined drives originally. The one depicted is South Avenue. There was a North Avenue and a West Avenue. The lines of trees which lined West Avenue are clearly visible from Bradford Road, almost opposite the exit from the Clock Garage Filling Station. Those which lined North Avenue can be seen on Google Earth, as can the remains of some of the old Chester Road.

I imagine that the South Avenue was the principal approach as it arrived at the main Front Entrance of the Hall and as such as wider than the others, as shown on an old plan of the Hall and gardens I have.

Ian

terry carter · Mar 5, 2009

The avenue of trees that ran from the back of the hall towards Clock Garage/Newport road area are all in a very poor condition, some even dead with large branches hanging off and others scattered around. No doubt hundred years ago or so when the trees were a lot smaller they had metal railings around them. Some of these railings are now embedded in the base of the tree trunk and you can see them sticking out.
I take the dog a walk there. If you want any pictures let me know.

Terry

Dave M · Dec 30, 2009

Edit - below link no longer works
Lots of Film clips

https://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=27070

Bernard67Arnold · Jul 2, 2011

They say people always return to the scene of their "crime", perhaps its time I paid a visit to Castle
Bromwich Church, Enid and I were married there August 28th 1954. Bernard

sidwho · Oct 21, 2011

has any one looked at the photoes at morrissions castel bromwhich, by the far end of the check outs and cafe. it might be what you are after. if not you could ask where they obtained them from

mw0njm. · Oct 27, 2011

hello.all we played there when we was young. we live in castle brom
This is a true story.my brother,once took some loverly green stones from the grave yard there,he said they were diamonds.we did not know he had them,untill strange noises and banging went on in our house.mom found the stones in his pocket when she did the washing.dad said were did these come from,my brother told him,he said put them back.so he put them back.the noises and banging stopped.

Dave M · Oct 29, 2011

Best I could do, one from last Dec, and today

tayrich · Dec 28, 2011

I always assumed (maybe incorrectly) that the avenue of trees at the front of the house was the start of a route that led down to the River Cole and on to Stechford Hall (now a carvery) which was a grand house of the same era.
As for Pimple Hill, as a kid I used to ride my bike down the through the graveyard down the hill before gathering enough speed to get to the top of the hill.
I'd say only about 50% of it is standing now. Also read somewhere that when excavations were being made for the motorway, the results of the archaeology were not disclosed for some reason.

Vivienne14 · Aug 24, 2013

This looks like a welcoming place to stop off at. Don't know if it's still there. Viv.

Vivienne14 · Aug 24, 2013

Coach and Horses Castle Brom. V.

terryb18 · Aug 24, 2013

Vivienne14 said:
This looks like a welcoming place to stop off at. Don't know if it's still there. Viv.

Yes its still there Viv. I used to go in there often a few years back. A good pub at the time, not sure about now

GEFF · Sep 24, 2015

My wife and I bought our first house on mortgage in Wykham Road, Castle Bromwich Birmingham in 1954. It was brand new and built by a builder from Coleshill. It had Dining room/Lounge/Kitchen/3 Bedrooms/Bathroom/Garden front and back and room for a car on the drive.(if you could afford one) It cost £ 1,250-00 and our monthly mortgage was £6-11shillings. The deposit was £125-00. What is it worth today? A friend did the same and he now lives in Devon, and I have lived in Wales for 59 years. I was a Joiner then, could a joiner do the same now as easy as I did then ? GEFF

gardengerald · Jul 20, 2016

Good Afternoon Everyone

Bernard 67 Arnold some very beautiful young ladies used to live in Castle Bromwich. Do you remember the Castle Bromwich show held in the small field where you could also if coming from Birmingham turn left to get to the hall.
I was Best Man at a wedding in Castle Bromwich Old Church in 1960 for one of mates from school. Do you remember Rawlings Haulage Contractor, round the corner from the hall. What a great sight Horse and Carts of all sizes, they used to get a lot of wok cutting verges, sad day when they changed to lorries. The steep hill outside he Church was our Motor Bike test run, if you got up the hill the bike was running well. So much history around Castle Bromwich would be excellent to read a lot more. Just thought after the war we used to go behind the hall and play in the bomb craters.
Great memories of days gone bye.
Best wishes
Gerald...Garden Gerald.

gardengerald · Jul 20, 2016

Many thanks Viv
Best wishes
Gerald.

castalla · Jul 20, 2016

Remember walking up from newport road when it was acountry lane and walking down lovers lane to play on Pimple Hill. Is it true that the very old road by the grave yard they buried bodys under it ? Or was that to frightn us kids. Then in the winter taking tobogans down hill in the field behind lady bradfords some lads used to go scrumping in her garden or play in the Maze i did not afraid of not coming out and getting caught O Happy days

gardengerald · Jul 20, 2016

Good Evening Everyone
I will never forget Pimple Hill. It was the rise and fall of Gerald. One Christmas Day many moons ago it snowed so on Boxing day four of us, two boys and two girls decided to climb Pimple Hill. It was very icy but boys like to show off in front of girls, so off we set very slowly. I started to get ahead and reached the top first. My arms raised in celebration.
I started to slip and went downwards going faster and faster. bouncing on my bottom as I went. When I came to a standstill and was able to gather my senses I looked up to see three people laughing at me. Moral to this story do not try to show off.
Do you remember crossing the road and walking up the golf course, we would do this to watch the horses on race days. Just over half way up a few of the fence boards were a little loose so we could move them sideways to get on the side of the course but if anyone saw us we had to go as quick as the horses to avoid being threatened with a big stick.
Great days. My Grandfather use to cut and collect the hay on Hodge Hill Common to feed the horse that pulled the cart to deliver cured fish and kippers.
Best wishes...Gerald...Garden Gerald.

Vivienne14 · Jul 20, 2016

Some great memories there Castalla and Gerald. Thanks for posting. Viv.

Vivienne14 · Jul 20, 2016

Don't know if this is still there, but Lady Bradford's tree (of Castle Bromwich Hall) was going strong through to when Phyllis Nicklin photographed it in 1968. Hope it's still there. Viv.

terryb18 · Jul 21, 2016

Viv, this is the view now. Taken from Google Earth streetview.

Astoness · Jul 21, 2016

how awful that it was deemed a tree more important to preserve than the splendid (what looks like georgian) house that was once stood to the left of the tree...

lyn

Vivienne14 · Jul 21, 2016

Absolutely Lyn. Thanks Terry, amazed the tree's still there. Viv.

castalla · Jul 21, 2016

Just remembered also, on a Sunday Morning walking from home (millinghton rd) with my dad and going to the old shop along from Church to buy fresh Bread (was the shop black and white called the Castle) it was rare back in the late 60´s 1 for a shop to be open and also fresh bread on a Sunday

gardengerald · Jul 21, 2016

Good Evening Everyone
The tree had a preservation order on it and the house did not. Castle Bromwich and Water Orton came under a lot of pressure 50 years ago from property developers who saw the potential to make a lot of money. They would apply for demolition orders and planning permissions on property they did not own. These people had no obligation to inform the property owners and neither did the councils. Some of them got through rendering the property of very little value.
This could have happened to the house in the picture. Someone at the council blew the whistle and thank god they did because our house was to be demolished and a new road constructed. Twenty new houses to be built in other peoples gardens. We all got together and confronted our councillor who had kept quiet and the boss at the council. They then decided to inform people and put notices in the local papers.
Castalla , you are spot on so have another house mark. The wedding I was best man at the bride was named Cynthia and lived in Millington Road. The reception was at the pub on the green.
Do you remember us kids going Bluebell picking at the back of the hall in a small wooded area. Girl and Boys we all did it. When we gave them to our Moms we got a big hug and kisses.
As youngsters the girls and boys all played together. Some of the boys were great at skipping and some girls could really hit a ball with the bat.
Pimple hill of course has a real place in history. It was the original Motte.
Best wishes
Gerald...Garden Gerald.

Astoness · Jul 21, 2016

thanks gerald...a good post

Castle Bromwich

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