• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

Highcroft Hall Aston Union Workhouse Erdington House

  • Thread starter Thread starter elizabeth
  • Start date Start date
There is anotger thread about the Aston Union/Highcroft including this one from the Peter Walker Archives. Viv.

Birmingham Workhouse -peter Walker

Origin of the first Workhouse of 1734 During the 18th century, as towns grew and more people moved from farm work, the care of the elderly, infirm, for widows and orphans, who otherwise had no means of support, became an increasing problem for parish councils. Parliamentary Acts were passed to...
birminghamhistory.co.uk birminghamhistory.co.uk
 
Last edited:
Thinking back. My uncle lived in one of the prefabs in Reservoir Road, and I think you could see the artesian well from the prefab. It looked like a big tank on stilts, over the road from the Reservoir.

Maybe OldM can help us ?
 
Here are some items from"Highcroft from workhouse to modern mental health service", pub by the highcroft history Group, Ed byMike Hinson,
Some views of the hospital, including a better copy of Vivs aerial view

highcroft 1A.jpghighcroft 2A.jpghighcroft 3A.jpg
Here is an artists impression of the previous Erdington workhouse, which had faced Erdington village Green

old aston workhouse erdington A.jpg

A guide plan from1939 of Erdington /house, which was what it was named 1912-1942 (I have joined two pages and twisted map so it is north-south as previous maps)

Erdington house guide plan 1939.jpg


~And finally, in case i is of interest, a listing of the wards and their use in 1914

highcroft wards 1914..jpg
 
Last edited:
On Photo 4 I think the artesian well can be seen on the extreme middle right ??
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot 2021-01-31 at 23.07.47.png
    Screenshot 2021-01-31 at 23.07.47.png
    1.5 MB · Views: 18
Have just realised that I stated that I had turned map so it was North south, and it was not actually north south. Have now corrected that
 
Yes, it was a feature that was visible from my uncle's prefab, and I remember as a child asking him what it was. Whether it was a storage tank filled from a well or from the reservoir over the road I don't know. It was just a memory.
 
The tank in the picture could be an emergency water supply. In 1891 the water supply to the Workhouse had been failing, once blocked by a decaying frog. There was concern about failure in the event of fire.
 
That is a possibility. In one article I read it suggested many such premises were built with water towers. I do not think they would all have artesian wells.
If it was artesian it could have been in a basement (as in at least one brewery in Birmingham) and so might not show on maps or plans, only on internal plans.
 
For info, this building was the Bell Lane location - road is now called Orphanage Road. It was where the later Erdington Library was built. Viv.

0BD195B8-7C3B-49F1-906F-B1331FC71074.jpeg
 
Luckcocks Lane could be what is now Highcroft Road. In the Lane in 1876 there was a Mere Cottage, and on the 1880s map there is a Mere House.
 
Have merged three former Aston Union Workhouse threads. So there might be a few snippets of use contained in the merged thread below. (Not had chance to read through entirely yet). Viv.

Aston Union Workhouse

I discovered that my great uncle's daughter died in that work house, in April, 1917, she didnt even make her second birthday, tragedy of it is that her dad was away on active service, I am wondering how a heavily pregnant mother and a child would have been in a workhouse. The little girl's name...
birminghamhistory.co.uk birminghamhistory.co.uk
 
many thanks everyone you have been a great help..if a well does turn up please let me know

lyn
 
Pedrocut said:
Luckcocks Lane could be what is now Highcroft Road. In the Lane in 1876 there was a Mere Cottage, and on the 1880s map there is a Mere House.
Click to expand...
On 1904 map Highcroft Road is labelled Union Road - presumably after Union Workhouse. It is Union Road on 1920 map but Highcroft Road by 1937 map - nothing online in between.
 
Last edited:
In 1844 a sensation at Erdington, when a man attempted to murder his daughter, Luckcocks Lane within a mile of Erdington. He struck her on the head and cut her throat. She was removed to the Queen's Head, and the man found in
Slade Road and taken to the Erdington lock-up. Overnight he strangled himself, and after the inquest it was said that the girl was out of danger.
 
Lyn - can't find a well but the map in #6 shows a "P" and this could indicate the site of a pump to raise water from the well into storage tanks. There is a description of something similar at the Birmingham Union Workhouse'
1612181378664.png
 
That seems to solve the well discussion.
The publication I cited in post 26 states the Lococks lane is now Reservoir Road
 
pjmburns said:
Lyn - can't find a well but the map in #6 shows a "P" and this could indicate the site of a pump to raise water from the well into storage tanks. There is a description of something similar at the Birmingham Union Workhouse'
View attachment 152467
Click to expand...

great jan i did look at that but didnt connect it to a well...i wonder if it possible to pin point in today world the exact spot

lyn
 
Very tricky as I think that part of the building has long gone. I did check basement plans on 2003 conversion planning application but no well and, of course, only main building survives. Laptop off at minute will look later unless someone beats me to it.
 
pjmburns said:
Very tricky as I think that part of the building has long gone. I did check basement plans on 2003 conversion planning application but no well and, of course, only main building survives. Laptop off at minute will look later unless someone beats me to it.
Click to expand...

thanks jan im a tad busy for the next couple of days so anything you find would be good

lyn
 
Right Lyn - using your favourite sliding blue button. The "p" is inside the building above the "m" of the word infirmary.
maps
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top