Lodge Hill Road, Selly Oak

[carolina]

I am trying to find out about allotments which were at the top end of Lodge Hill Road. I know that there has been apartments built on there for at least 40 years and was originally owned by a gentlemanI think called Evans who lived in a large house on the Bristol Road. He bequethed the land for apartments for ladies in a destitute position. I do know that in fact the apartments are still for ladies only. Does anyone have any info on it, how big was the original allotments or any more of the original owner. Many thanks for any help given. Carol

 

[mikejee]

As far as to how big the allotments were they seem to be shown on the c 1937 OS map

 

[carolina]

Mike thanks I have actually found some more info on this and he actually lived Westbourne Road, Edgbaston.

'Two brothers and the sister died before Alfred Evans and left him a lonely man. His brothers left to him all their money, and he was very anxious to spend it well. He consulted Mr. and Mrs. Wiggin (afterwards Sir Henry Wiggin, Bart., and Lady Wiggin) and it is believed that Lady Wiggin suggested to him that it would be a good thing to do something to help poor gentlewomen who had fallen on hard times and would hardly be able to exist without assistance. This idea appealed to Mr. Evans, the more so, no doubt, as his sister, Miss Maria Evans, had been much interested in this form of philanthropy. The outcome was the Evans Cottage Bristol Road'

 

[carolina]

Mike, is it possible you could expand the map to show more of the Evans Cottage Homes which seems to be in the right hand lower corner which backs onto Bristol Road, I would be really grateful. Thanks Carol.

 

[mikejee]

Is this what you want Carolina?