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Kandor
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terry carter
Birmingham Pals
Its hard to get to the Pimple nowadays. It is hemmed in by the collector road on one side and then motorway on the other side and busy road island at one end. I remember as a kid a few of us went down it on our bikes. I had a fixed wheel bike and my hip caught fire !!! 
Les,
Where about is the "Pimple?
i remember when as a scout during ww2with some friends we went camping
at a farmer Rodger's farm field, Castle Brom,it was at a time when the aero drome was was payed a call by "jerry",& what we never realised was that there was a mobile AA gun in the next field,which became very active,the main chester road sort of turned off towards the Bradford Arms and Rodgers farm was on the left not far away from the river
Where about is the "Pimple?
i remember when as a scout during ww2with some friends we went camping
at a farmer Rodger's farm field, Castle Brom,it was at a time when the aero drome was was payed a call by "jerry",& what we never realised was that there was a mobile AA gun in the next field,which became very active,the main chester road sort of turned off towards the Bradford Arms and Rodgers farm was on the left not far away from the river
B
Beryl M
Guest
Maybe the Pimple isn't the correct name Dennis, and it's just what kids called it.
Alan Tucker
master brummie
Terry is right. It was formerly a small hill overlooking the River Tame and overlooked by St Margaret's church but was cut clean through when the Chelmsley Wood collector road was built. When you come off the Newport Road island onto the collector road you are yards away from driving through the cutting that was made. It was probably a motte and bailey castle site and,if I remember correctly, there was some archaeological work done there.
terry carter
Birmingham Pals
As promised here are some of the views of Pimple Hill from St Mary & St Margarets Cemetery. As you can see the top of the mound is now quite overgrown. I am led to believe it was once part of a Motte and Bailey Castle.
Terry
(Replacements)
Terry
(Replacements)
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sylviasayers
master brummie
I live in Castle Bromwich and though I have been to "the pimple" didn't know it had a name. When you pass the "clock island" onto the Bradford Lane there is a little lane that takes you down to Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens and the church, there are bollards across the top end of the lane, but at one time you could drive down there, we often stroll down there and have a rest on "the pimple". Must tell Ray the name.
W
Wendy
Guest
My husband Michael lived at Castle Brom he remembers Pimple Hill well but he thought it had gone under the motorway. He will be chuffed when I tell him. Thanks for the pictures Terry.
Paul Higgins
master brummie
As I remember, in the 60’s we called it ‘Pimply Hill’ named because of the stones that protruded from the ground. I have a picture of it in my mind, but that picture does not resemble any of the pics posted here. I’m sure the problem is with my mind, not your pics!
It used to be pretty much a landmark before it was eaten into by the road system. Would it have been so much more costly, given the spending on roads, to have diverted around it, and left a monument to ancient times intact? It was indeed a Roman fort and there has been archaeological evidence of pre-historic occupation found.
mw0njm.
A Brummie Dude
pimple hill.i remember it well,the old chester rd going down to newport rd,we went up there a lot,the church yard was a bit wierd,and not to be ventured in by night,there was a old house opp
the church were we all collected,the grounds of lady bradfords was also a good place,i was told back in history pagens used the hill,dont know if it is true,never looked into it.When the motorway was built it was not the same,place to hang out.That was 1960s erly 70s.
the church were we all collected,the grounds of lady bradfords was also a good place,i was told back in history pagens used the hill,dont know if it is true,never looked into it.When the motorway was built it was not the same,place to hang out.That was 1960s erly 70s.
Donna
master brummie
my hubby reckons pimple hill was a tumulus where they buried people and it was split in two with the collector road. i remember having to get thru lady bradfords churchyard which was very very scary and i recall seeing a ghostly figure of a man on a white horse in those fields when i was younger.
Paul Higgins
master brummie
Does anybody know if Pimply Hill (as I knew it as a kid in the '60's) is a natural or man made feature? I've looked around to try to find out but there doesn't seem to be a reference to its origins apart from it was used as a fort and by the Romans and possibly before that in the iron age?
Hi Paul, I'm faily sure that it is a natural feature, being part of the high escarpment overlooking the Tame Valley. This high ground contnues for some distance, levelling out at the approach to Water Orton.
Before the road system around there was developed the old Chester Road ran down beside Pimple Hill and was extremely steep! I remember that there was a bench situated about half way up for people to rest upon before finishing the climb. Part of that road still exists but is not accessible once past the old graveyard.
Ian
Before the road system around there was developed the old Chester Road ran down beside Pimple Hill and was extremely steep! I remember that there was a bench situated about half way up for people to rest upon before finishing the climb. Part of that road still exists but is not accessible once past the old graveyard.
Ian
Hi Ian
I'm sure you're right about the escarpment, but of course occupying
forces and defenders have always in the past looked for natural features
to reinforce and fortify without the need to 'build from scratch'. I
understand that excavations have shown that the Romans occupied
the hill as a fortification (not surprising as there was a large Roman presence in the area), and that later a motte and bailey fort was
constructed on the site by the Normans. The 'Castle' in Castle Bromwich tells the story. I've lived in the area for 40 years, and I've always heard it either referred to as Pimple Hill, or sometimes as 'the Castle'
Kind regards
Dave
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
Paul Higgins
master brummie
Thanks, Ian. As I remember it I always had the impression it didn't look natural but have never found a definitive answer. Until I find evidence to the contrary, I'll take it as read.
PS
The Conker Whitegate I knew as a boy was in Walmley. A farmers field who chased you off if he caught you and sometimes left a bull in the field to deter conkerers!
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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
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 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
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
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
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
Birmingham Pals
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
I take the dog a walk there. If you want any pictures let me know.
Terry
Bernard67Arnold
master brummie
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
Bromwich Church, Enid and I were married there August 28th 1954. Bernard
mw0njm.
A Brummie Dude
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.
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.