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Finding Ivy House (Summerfield Park) Birmingham

DebiAustralia

Brummie babby
Hello Birmingham History Forum.

Would anyone help solve a family mystery? I am a member of the British Archive Newspapers and have invested hundreds of hours in trying to find out information on Summerfield House, Birmingham (Maybe known as Ivy House). Now i have hit a dead end and need some help by the history diggers, who love to solve mysteries. My Mum and I will be flying over to the UK from Australia in June this year, and we will stay in Birmingham for the evening to explore our family history of the parks and would like to do some research before we arrive to save time. I know that the Chance House in Summerfield park was demolished in 1886, and a band stand is (build 1907) was built where the house is, but there was another house that I cannot find any information about.

Below are the points for the question i need help with.
1. My Great Great Grandfather (Henry Isaiah Jones) lived in Summerfield House from 1899-1920. I have the census from these years which showed him and his 8 children lived in a 12 roomed house. On some of the census it states "Ivy House" Summerfield Park and on other census, it states just Summerfield Park.
2. Henry I Jones was the superintendent of Summerfield Park and was engaged in Birmingham's City Parks for 40 years from 1880-1920, working at most of the parks in Birmingham. I have a photograph of him standing in front of Farley Park Lodge from the late 1800's
3. Henrys sons followed in his footsteps of being a park keeper, so the Jones contributed a lot to the Birmingham City Parks and my Great, Great Uncle Frank Jones (Henry's son lived at Lightwoods Park Lodge with his family, and developed Shakespeare's Garden, whilst his wife Agnes ran the tea rooms back in the late

I am looking for the Park Lodge for Summerfield Park. There is a building there now which was formally the Police Station which was built in 1878, so perhaps this was Summerfield Park Lodge.

Also, my Great Great Uncle Frank Jones (Henry's son) lived at Lightwoods Park Lodge with his family and developed Shakespeare's Garden, whilst his wife Agnes ran the tea rooms back in the late1900's, so we are looking forward to visiting there as well as Summerfield Park and Farley Lodge.

Look forward to hearing from anyone who can shed some light on Summerfield Park Lodge (Ivy House) which was located in Summerfield Park, Birmingham. Attached are some photos. 1), Henry Isaiah Jones standing in front of Farley Park Lodge 2). Henry Isaiah Jones (oldest looking man with moustache) with Frank and Agnes at the front at their wedding, 8 children and other members of the family at Lightwoods House for Frank Jones's wedding. 3). Sympathy announcement for to Frank Jones on his fathers passing.
 

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Reactions: RRJ
hi and welcome...hopefully some of our members can help you...in the meantime i have moved this thread from forum rules section to the correct section of the forum which is place related enquires..by posting in the appropriate section you may receive more help...also have you used our search box as we may already have information for ivy house on the forum..i can tell you that the police station was there in 1901..i have just put in summerfield park into our search box and we have a thread for it with lots of photos of which a couple show a large house covered in ivy..could this be your ivy house ?..you may have already seen it but if not click on the link below

lyn

 
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further to my info on post 2 did you know that the house henry was living in when he died is still there..just been looking at his probate which gives the address as 4 thornhill road handsworth..click on the street view below..no 4 is the end house white door

lyn

 
Comparing maps I think that, sadly, the Lodge went at the same time as the other building. The Police Station looks much closer to the main road than the Lodge was on the 1886 map.
 
1886 map shows a large oro0perty and a Lodge next to it. The large property looks as if it was where the bandstand appeared.
View attachment 217575

1913 map
View attachment 217577
Thank you so much for the maps Janice. The Chance family had a house on the land. It was demolished in 1886 and the band stand was built in its replacement. I have attached an image and marked up. Where the arrow is at the band stand is where the Chance family home was and where the X is, that is Ivy house, which is the house i am looking for information on. Attached is another photo where you see Ivy House in the background. I have been onto google maps and the only building that is standing (Apart from the band stand) is the Police station. I would say it was hit in WW2 and no longer there, because the old police station does not look like the Ivy House in the attached picture.
 

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Comparing maps I think that, sadly, the Lodge went at the same time as the other building. The Police Station looks much closer to the main road than the Lodge was on the 1886 map.
Sadly i do think the building has gone too. It did not go at the same time as the other building (The Chance family home) as that was demolished in 1886. My Census records show Henry Isaiah Jones living at the lodge (Ivy house) from 1899-1920. The census shows 12 rooms.
 
further to my info on post 2 did you know that the house henry was living in when he died is still there..just been looking at his probate which gives the address as 4 thornhill road handsworth..click on the street view below..no 4 is the end house white door

lyn

Thanks so much for your reply. I do have a copy of the probate and we have added this address onto our itinerary, so we will stand outside and grap a photo for mums life book. I will probs knock on the door too and say hello knowing me
 
Comparing maps I think that, sadly, the Lodge went at the same time as the other building. The Police Station looks much closer to the main road than the Lodge was on the 1886 map.
I think you might be right Janice :( however i am checking one more building that is still in the park. It is the works building. I have written to the council to ask. Crossing fingers this is the building, and if not, then we will still visit and enjoy the park and stand in the spot where it once was. If they did pull the building down, what a shame, as it would have been grand. I have attached a photo of where it could be, a zoomed out pic and a close up. Thank you so much for replying. Team work!!!!
 

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I checked erolls and 1911, 1912/13 and 1914 all show him at The Lodge.
After that we have a problem -there were no more erolls until 1918. (no elections durong WW1).1912 1913 eroll.jpg
 
Found him in 1919 and that is when his address appears as Ivy House. On the eroll it is listed next to the Police Station (that seems to rue out it being the Police Station).
1919 eroll.jpg
 
thanks jan thats confirms it nicely.. although i never thought ivy house was anything to do with the police station..they are 2 different buildings but nice to be certain

lyn
 
I think I have located this "Lodge". In a different place from where you marked Ivy Lodge but fits the listing on the eroll

1918 map (showing Park View, the Police Station and a building marked as "Lodge")
1918 map.jpg

This Lodge is also on the 1904 map but ParK view is not labelled.
1904 map.jpg
 
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