Lee Crescent, Lee Bank

[Dinger]

Edit. the following 5 posts were copied to this thread from the "Address plaques ..... " thread as this street is of significant historical interest.

Maybe a new contender for the oldest plaque so far.

Set back from the busy Lee Bank Middleway is Lee Crescent, with an almost surreal "Cathedral Close" vibe to it.

One of the elegant buildings has a plaque on it - Hard to read on Google Streetview - I've attached two screen grabs from different dates.

35-36 Lee Crescent

Win.......ford
Brown's
Building
1850

"Winingford" "Winhyford" ????

 

[Vivienne14]

Yes Dinger, that looks the oldest so far. Lovely row of houses. It's Wineyford Brown's Building, see Historic England note below. But they say the plaque is dated 1830 - even better (the buildings could even be earlier). What little gems those houses are ! A great find.

"LEE CRESCENT 1. 5104 Edgbaston B15 Nos 35 and 36 SP 0685 NW 41/4 II GV 2. Dated on panel "Wineyford Brown's Building, 1830". A pair of 3 storey tunnel back houses, part of an irregular terrace Nos 31 to 40. The pale red rather irregular brickwork may perhaps indicate an earlier C19 origin, the date plaque simply refering to ownership. One window each, blind centre, cambered arches, flush framed sashes with later glazing on ground floor, modern casements to upper floor. Blind arch passage entrance flanked by doorways, each with doorcase of panelled slightly pulvinated strips, entablature with shallow cornicehood".

 

[Dinger]

Ah ha! Found the building actually listed on the 1888/89 O/S map .

 

[Dinger]

Yes Dinger, that looks the oldest so far. Lovely row of houses. It's Wineyford Brown's Building, see Historic England note below. But they say the plaque is dated 1830 - even better (the buildings could even be earlier). What little gems those houses are ! A great find.

LEE CRESCENT 1. 5104 Edgbaston B15 Nos 35 and 36 SP 0685 NW 41/4 II GV 2. Dated on panel "Wineyford Brown's Building, 1830". A pair of 3 storey tunnel back houses, part of an irregular terrace Nos 31 to 40. The pale red rather irregular brickwork may perhaps indicate an earlier C19 origin, the date plaque simply refering to ownership. One window each, blind centre, cambered arches, flush framed sashes with later glazing on ground floor, modern casements to upper floor. Blind arch passage entrance flanked by doorways, each with doorcase of panelled slightly pulvinated strips, entablature with shallow cornicehood.

Thanks Viv - I drove up Lee Bank Middleway yesterday and saw the group of buildings on the other side of the almost "Village Green" park in front of them - What a contrast to the high-rise flats on the other side of the dual carriageway!

So to complete our listing

35-36 Lee Crescent, Wineyford Brown's Building, 1830.

 

[Vivienne14]

Totally agree. I see Emmy (Emma) Bridgewater, surrealist artist, lived at #42 The Crescent - there's a blue plaque. The whole Cresent is a beautifully preserved row of houses.

 

[Vivienne14]

This row of late-georgian terraced houses have, surprisingly, survived substantial modern redevelopment of the area, despite one side of the road being demolished for widening of Lee Bank Road.

Phyllis Nicklin captured the Crescent in !953 - colour photo.

The 1950s black and white photos are from the Library of Birmingham


Modern comparison




Modern comparison






Modern comparison. The house to the left must have been changed in the Victorian or Edwardian period to add a larger bay window. In more modern times the bay has been removed and returned to its original design.





Modern comparison



The left-hand side of the road in this last image was demolished for road development.