Dennis Williams
Gone but not forgotten
The large homes of many of the more affluent villagers were given over to the cause, providing hospital and hostel accommodation for the wounded and their visiting family members. Moor Green House, the horne of Sir John Holder, was turned into a hostel for Belgian refugees and later a hospital for officers, which was staffed by local girls. Chamberlain's residences at Highbury also became a war hospital. Sorrento took in military casualties from 1915 and Stanley House, standing on the comer of Wake Green and Mayfield Roads, served temporarily as a hostel for Belgian refugees, as did Uffculme, whose first guests arrived in September 1914. Two years later, it was turned into a 200-bed hospital, run by the Friends Ambulance Unit after Richard Cadbury donated it to the war effort. The Dingle, Wake Green Road, was utilised by The Red Cross, and Spring Hill College was commandeered in 1914 for use as barracks for The Royal Warwickshire Regiment. This, however, was not big enough and many more men were billeted with nearby residents, and Windermere, a vacant building opposite, became officers' quarters.
Moor Green Hall, stood on Moor Green Lane opposite Yew Tree Road. It was the home of Arthur Chamberlain, brother of Joseph Chamberlain. The house was used by the Red Cross during the First World War as a military hospital. The north end of Elizabeth Road now runs on the site of the hall.
The New York Times reported an incident at the hall of the previous day in its edition of 13 February 1914:
Birmingham, 12th. A tube charged with high explosives was found to-day on a window sill of Moor Green Hall, Highbury, near here, the residence of Arthur Chamberlain, brother of the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain.
A fuse attached to the bomb was connected with a photographer's lamp in which a candle had been burning. The flame, however, was extinguished before it reached the fuse. A postcard addressed to Reginald McKenna, the Home secretary, was found near by. It bore the words, "Militancy is not dead., but if you are not already you soon will be." A quantity of suffrage literature was left nearby.
In 1914 Joseph had been long out of politics through ill health, while Arthur was chairman of Kynoch's making weapons.
Moor Green House, the home of Sir John Holder's son, stood on the east side of Moor Green Lane just before its junction with Yew Tree Road. During the First World War it was used as a hostel for Belgian refugees and then as a military hospital. It was demolished in 1920 and the Britannic Assurance office block was built in the grounds. This has recently been converted into luxury private flats. Boundary Drive stands roughly on the site of the original house.
Moor Green Lane was largely developed with good middle-class housing in the early 20th century, although The Firs c1886, Heatherdene 1891 and Englefield c1898 are late 19th-century. Houses here were built on plots sold separately and individually designed by various architects. Building was complete by the 1920s.
So, here are the Moseley Wartime Military ‘Hospitals’ ….and their pics where I have them….any more gratefully received….?
Moor Green House
Moor Green Hall
Highbury
Sorrento Hospital
Stanley House
Uffculme
The Dingle
Spring Hill College
Windemere
Moor Green Hall, stood on Moor Green Lane opposite Yew Tree Road. It was the home of Arthur Chamberlain, brother of Joseph Chamberlain. The house was used by the Red Cross during the First World War as a military hospital. The north end of Elizabeth Road now runs on the site of the hall.
The New York Times reported an incident at the hall of the previous day in its edition of 13 February 1914:
Birmingham, 12th. A tube charged with high explosives was found to-day on a window sill of Moor Green Hall, Highbury, near here, the residence of Arthur Chamberlain, brother of the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain.
A fuse attached to the bomb was connected with a photographer's lamp in which a candle had been burning. The flame, however, was extinguished before it reached the fuse. A postcard addressed to Reginald McKenna, the Home secretary, was found near by. It bore the words, "Militancy is not dead., but if you are not already you soon will be." A quantity of suffrage literature was left nearby.
In 1914 Joseph had been long out of politics through ill health, while Arthur was chairman of Kynoch's making weapons.
Moor Green House, the home of Sir John Holder's son, stood on the east side of Moor Green Lane just before its junction with Yew Tree Road. During the First World War it was used as a hostel for Belgian refugees and then as a military hospital. It was demolished in 1920 and the Britannic Assurance office block was built in the grounds. This has recently been converted into luxury private flats. Boundary Drive stands roughly on the site of the original house.
Moor Green Lane was largely developed with good middle-class housing in the early 20th century, although The Firs c1886, Heatherdene 1891 and Englefield c1898 are late 19th-century. Houses here were built on plots sold separately and individually designed by various architects. Building was complete by the 1920s.
So, here are the Moseley Wartime Military ‘Hospitals’ ….and their pics where I have them….any more gratefully received….?
Moor Green House
Moor Green Hall
Highbury
Sorrento Hospital
Stanley House
Uffculme
The Dingle
Spring Hill College
Windemere