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Foster Bros home at Four Oaks!

Frank Parker

Frank Parker

https://frankparker.website
Hello,

I will soon be doing voluntary work at Deerwood Grange Nursing Home, based in Wentworth Road, Four Oaks private estate which, I was told, was once owned by the clothing duo, the Foster Brothers. This magnificent building as wonderful wood paneling inside, amongst other great features, and I would love to find any old photographs of this place and any relevant history. The staff are not aware of any and I would love to type up something and send it to them with copies of any pictures I can find as a gift from me.

If anyone could help me with any information, or put me onto anyone that could, I would be extremely grateful.

Thank you all in advance,

Frank.
 
Hi Frank:

I would enquire at the Sutton Library off the Parade through the passage opposite . The staff are very friendly there and will point you in the right direction.

Here is a web site for other links which contains the Sutton Library link as well.

Good Luck Frank. Please let us know if you find out anything about this house owned by the Foster Brothers. Thanks.

https://www.sccs.freeuk.com/sitelinks.html
 
Hi Jenny,

Thanks for that. I have tried all the links I could find regarding Sutton but seem to be drawing blanks. It seems someone as famous as the Foster Bros are not that well documented which seems strange?!

I have emailed Sutton Library but they have not got back to me yet. I think I will have to have a ride down there!

Thanks again and I will let you know how I get on. :)
 
I grew up near this area and I remember there were so many large and impressive houses on this estate. Perhaps thats why nothing is mentioned about it. I did Mrs Birds hair back in the early 70's and she lived at Horton Manor on the other end of the estate. I have not found any history on her house either. It was demolished in the late 80's I think to build a housing estate.:( I hope you find something please let us know how you get on.
 
Just a quick note to Jenny and Wendy, I have been to Sutton Library and they have managed to find something out for me but still having trouble tracing the Foster Brothers! As soon as I get everything typed up I will let you know! :)
 
Just an update to say that I had a letter published in the Sutton Observer regarding this and I was forwarded a reply from one of the Fosters Great Grandchildren! :beam:

He as put me in touch with his Uncle who as photographs etc. and I am to collect some things soon researched for me at Sutton Library. :cool:

Watch this space! :)
 
Hi Frank: Glad to hear that you are making progress regarding the Foster Brothers house. Be interested to find out about the history of the house.
Thanks for posting.
 
Hi again Jenny thought you might want to know that the late William Henry (known as Harry) Foster, previous owned Deerwood Grange prior to it becoming a nursing home. Harry was born in 1880 and died in 1960. Harry and his Wife Dora moved into Deerwood in 1923 with their four , maybe five children. They left Deerwood in late 1949 or early 1950 and moved to rooms in an Eastbourne Hotel.

Harry became interested in the game of Squash so built his own on-site court, still believed to be in existence at the end of the garden further down Wentworth Rd and now the Four Oaks Squash Club. To the best of knowledge it was Harry and his youngest brother Edgar who were the only ones of that generation really into the family clothing business and maybe their Nephew. The headquarters and factory supplying the clothes shops was in Bradford Street in Birmingham.

I am hoping to meet Harry's Grandson one day to get photo's etc. :)

 
Thanks for the update Frank. It is very interesting to read about the history of the house, the Foster family and the land around about. My brother lives on the Lichfield Road in Four Oaks and I have visited him from Canada often. I would go down to the Sutton Library on my way out to Brum or wherever to use the computers on the second floor.
My brother is also very interested in local history and had told me all about the race course that was in the Four Oaks/Sutton Park area and the boundaries of which were close to Wentworth Road. There must have been
deer and deer park in the area. We used to drive up or down Hartopp Road
and there is some history about the Hartopp family around.

There are some wonderful old houses in that area that have been renovated over the years and are worth lots of money. One that came up for sale recently and was reported on in the Birmingham newspapers was owned by a long time Birmingham councillor years ago and passed on to his children, who had not changed anything in the house since it was built a decade or so into the l9th century. There was no electricity, no heating only fireplaces and gas lighting and cooking. The only thing that had been added by necessity was the blackout during WW1 and was used for WW2 as well. The house was a goldmine of antiques it seems. I wish I could find the article that I read a few months ago.
I was also reading that Foster Brothers was taken over by the famous multi-millionaire Sir Charles Clore who purchased many of the shoe shops whose names we would recognize from the l940's, 50's, 60's Dolcis, Saxone, Manfield, Freeman, Hardy & Willis, etc. Also, Adams Children's wear shops. He was the CEO of Sears which originated in Britain, for many years and he was very involved in donating artworks etc. A great philanthropist by all accounts.

When I left Brum for Canada my Father said that Charles Clore would really miss me a lot since I was always buying shoes from the above named shoe shops.:)
 
My pleasure Jenny.

When is a Woman NOT buying shoes?! :D

I didn't know nothing about the Four Oaks private estate until I went for the interview on it! You are right about the houses! Walking down Wentworth Road I felt I should be driving a Rolls instead! That old house you mentioned sounds really cool.

I also read the information about Charles Clore, something else I never knew. Thank God for Google! :D
 
A few photo's I required from my meeting with one of the Foster's Grandchildren. I still need to collect some things from Sutton Library then I will type everything up and put a link on here for anyone who wants to read it.

Picture 1: Deerwood Grange from the upper lawn below rear terrace in the 40's.
Picture 2: Harry Foster.
Picture 3: Harry, his Wife Dora, first Daughter Betty, Harry's Mom and Dad William and Elizabeth and his Grandfather and Grandmother John and Ann. Taken in 1910.
Photos unfortunately lost

Photo's Copyright of Tim Collins and used with kind permission. :)
 
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Oops I forgot to show you Deerwood Grange from the front so here it is! Oh and for you Jenny a picture of the woods belonging to the Foster's (I presume all built on now although there are still trees around!) so yes there certainly would of been deers around then as the name suggests. Both photo's taken in the 1940's.
Photo unfortunately lost
Photo's Copyright of Tim Collins and used with kind permission. :)
 
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How interesting bluebrummie the photo's are lovely. I remember the area well when I grew up I had friends in the area. I remember being amazed that one had a swimming pool and another had a freezer with ice cream in it this was around 1961. I worked at a hairdressers in Four Oaks and I often did Mrs Birds hair she lived in Horton Manor off Rosemary Hill Road. She often showed me begging letters she had from prisoners. I remember once she showed me a letter from her insurance company. They told her she would have to get rid of some of the silver in the house, as they could no longer cover it all on insurance. It's sad the house is no longer there I think it's a housing estate now.:(
I would love to read about Foster Bros when you have put it together.:)
 
Thanks Wendy, I will be pleased to show you although the remaining information I have to collect is more about the house, still interesting though. :)
 
Update:

I think I have all the information I can get now about The Foster Brother's and Deerwood Grange so I have now started to scan things like plans etc. and get ready to compile my little book, well I was until my scanner packed up! :(

Anyway here are two things I managed to scan before my scanner met its technical maker! lol It is the front of the original plans from 1901. The other is a photo of the opening in 1951 after it was adapted to an elderly nursing home.

I will let you know when it finally gets finished! :)

Photos unfortunately lost
 
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The information and photo is lovely. I didn't realise the area that far up was also Tudor Hill. My gt aunt and uncle lived at Aragon House on Tudor Hill. There is an Aragon Close near to the town gate of Sutton Park so I assume this was where the house was.
I hope you can get your scanner fixed I would love to see more.
 
I think I am right in saying that the tall figure on the right of the group was A.G.B. Owen (of Rubery Owen) who was Sutton mayor in 1951.

Show us more, bluebrummie, when you can.

Chris
 
Thanks Wendy. I don't know much else about the area but I guess you are right! Next time I go I will try to have a better look around the area without upsetting the locals. lol :)

Chris the information with the photo states:

"At the opening of Deerwood Grange - reported on page 5 - Coun. H. H. Hothersall, Chairman of the local Old People's Welfare Commitee shows to Lt. Col. G. H. Bryant (Chairman Warwickshire County Council) the framed document the former had signed. Looking on are the Mayor and Mayoress Mrs Hothersall (right) and Mrs Bryant." :)
 
Thank you, Frank.

It seems that the Sutton News journalist either liked to provide his readers with a bit of mental exercise or felt that the faces would be familiar to everyone anyway. My interpretation of the caption which you quote is (from left to right):
Mrs. Bryant, A.N. Other, Lt. Col. Bryant, Lady Mayoress (prob. Mrs. Owen), Mr. Hothersall, Mayor (prob. Mr. Owen), Mrs. Hothersall.

I suppose it doesn't really matter very much!

Chris
 
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You are welcome Chris. I should of put the information when I posted the photo! Oh well I don't know them anyway! lol
 
I managed to get a photo scanned at a quick visit to my Nephew's today! It is a photo of the first residents in the lounge of Deerwood grange, taken on the 18th June, 1951. Also I have added a photo of what Deerwood Grange looks like now from the sky (well it's actually 2007 but it's still the same!) :)
Photos unfortunately lost
 
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My family have always told me that my aunt May Turner was married to one of the Foster Brothers, Alex Foster who died of a heart attack. Does anyone know whether this is true. May Turner was a former Birmingham Carnival Queen (which year I do not know) Thanks, Ness
 
Hi Ness. I have some photo's of The Fosters and I have spoke to a surviving Grandson and the names Alex or May were never mentioned? I can contact him again and ask if he is aware of the names if you like? Are there any relatives who have done a family tree? :)
 
Hi,

It's only me who is researching the family tree. I know Alex was definately a member of the Foster Family. They did not have any children, May was my dad's sister. My aunt from my mom's side of the family remembers him quite well.

Thanks, Ness
 
I will e-mail the Grandson. He may of mentioned them then but my memory isn't so good! I would love to look at your tree when finished and I can send you the names I have if you like? :)
 
Hi Frank,

Alex would have been his grandad's brother. I'm researching family history, I haven't had any problems with my mom's side. My dad died when I was twelve so I didn't know much at all, but people on this website have been great helping me piece everything together. I haven't put the family tree on paper yet. It will be interesting to hear if the grandson knows anything about his great uncle.
 
Hi Ness,

I emailed the Grandson and this is his reply:

"Dear Frank, thanks for your email. I have had a swift look at the Foster family tree in, I think its most updated form and cannot immediately see an Alex unless possibly this was a name that somebody was known by, unknown to the compiler of the tree. I am also not immediately familiar with his wife's name. It might help to know the approximate dates if known. I will try to find out a bit more in the meantime, but approximate dates would definitely help......". :)
 
Hi Frank,

May was born in 1908 in Birmingham. The earliest she could have got married would be 1926. She had been a Birmingham Carnival Queen, which year I don't know. She did live in Stratford upon Avon before 1945.
Does the grandson know how many brothers his grandfather had and whether any had died young? Perhaps Alex was a second name used.
I know Alex was a member of the Foster family because so many of my family have told me about him and what a lovely guy he was.

Ness
 
Hi Ness,

He did mention some names but my memory isn't so great!

Harry (known as Henry) 1880-1960 was married to Dora 1885-1950. Their Daughter was Betty 1910-1995. Betty married Dawson Collins on June 2nd 1934. This was also the day that Harry and Dora celebrated their Silver Wedding Anniversary.
Betty had 2 Sisters Sheila and Pam.
Harry's Father was William 1852-1914 and Mother Elizabeth 1860-1943.
Harry's Grandfather was John 1829-1921 and Grandmother Ann 1829?-1921.
I think Harry had a sister named Florrie 1882-1947 and 3 Brother's, Frank 1889-1958, Arthur 1894-1954 and Edgar 1898-1976.
Some other names mentioned were Chris and Tony??
I have asked the Grandson for a family tree but he said it may take a while. It would be nice to get it for my book.

I will pass on your previous message to him.

Please note I have requested information in the Surnames section https://forum.birminghamhistory.co.uk/showthread.php?p=146208#post146208 in case something turns up of interest to you!

Frank. :)
 
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