• 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

Poole Farm Cottages, Rodwell Grove, Kingstanding

I'm not great with maps (despite being a member of the school Geographical Society, which my husband finds farcical given my map reading skills!) but I wonder how accurate the 1884 map is.It looks quite basic and hand drawn. So could it be at all possible that the cottages were part of that group of buildings alongside Cranbourne Rd i.e Where the "W" is on the map? That's only a little further north-west. But like I say, map reading skills: zilch. Viv.
 
Astoness said:
hi viv..there was a warren farm at one time....i had a pic of it but cant find it at the min but i will try and find it.

lyn
Click to expand...

Hi Lyn. Nice to see a pic of Warren Farm if you can find one. It may (or may not) have clues, but worth a look. Viv.
 
Vivienne
I think the ordnance survey might be a trifle miffed if they heard their map described as being called basic, though the people have probably been dead for 80 years or so, so they aren't likely to complain ! It is from the first edition of their the OS maps, and the measurements were done pretty accurately. Up to very recently all maps were all hand drawn originally, and then reproduced by various processes. This is more obvious in the large scale maps where things like the individual little trees show up, but i am sure the cottages were where they said they were.
 
Oops sorry if I've upset anyone! Really appreciate having access to these things and for everyones efforts. Like I say, not too hot on things geographical. Regards Viv.
 
This link
https://www.perrybarrbeyond.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/07%20-%20W%20-%20Whately.htm gives details of an auction of a mixed farm known as Warren and Pool Farm in 1921. I wonder if it is connected with Pool Farm Cottages? Here's an extract
AT WARREN FARM​
​
THE FARM BUILDING WHICH ARE BRICK BUILT, HAVE TILED ROOFS, AND COMPRISE:- COACH HOUSE, STABLING FOR 15, PIG STY, THREE AND TWO BY WAGON SHEDS, COW HOUSE FOR 14, MIXING HOUSE, BARN, LOOSE BOX, SHED, BOILER HOUSE, OIL HOUSE, SADDLE HOUSE, COVERED YARD.​
​
AT POOL FARM​
BRICK AND TILE STABLING FOR SIX, WITH LOFT, DOUBLE BARN, CART SHED, COWHOUSE FOR SIX, ETC., THERE ARE FOUR BRICK BUILT COTTAGES, TWO AT POOL FARM, EACH CONTAINING – 3 BEDROOMS, SITTING ROOM, KITCHEN, SCULLERY, AND OUTSIDE E.C. TWO OPPOSITE THE BEGGAR’S BUSH, OLD CHESTER ROAD, EACH CONTAINING TWO BEDROOMS, SITTING ROOM, KITCHEN, CELLAR, OUTSIDE E.C. COMPANY’S WATER.​
​
THE WHOLE EXTENDING TO SOME​
​
308 ACRES 1 ROOD 8 POLES​
Any help do you think? Viv​
 
thanks for that map mike..viv i think i have a book on kingstanding somewhere and it may have some info in it...will try and find it out...
 
Thanks Lyn. I also think I know where Pool Farm was. It was on Holly Lane, now Kingstanding Road. I've gleaned this from the perrbarrbeyound link in post 34. It also says that George Towers was Farmer there in 1881 and 1888. Lots of pieces of the puzzle, but do they fit together ?!! Head's spinning.... Viv.
 
quite right viv..holly lane is now kingstanding road and now you have jolted my memory again i have seen a pic of pool farm and the old holly lane.. may have posted them on the forum.bit tired tonight but i will have a look tomorrow for them....
 
viv..go to old photographs section...title gt barr oscott and kingstanding pics...ive bought it to the top for you...as i thought i have posted a pic of holly lane on there...hard to beleive its the kingstanding road now...

lyn
 
That's fantastic Lyn. Thank you. It's great to try an unravel these things, but it takes a lot of energy. Really appreciate everyone's effort and enthusiasm. I think I'll call it a day too! Regards Viv.
 
You didn't upset me Vivienne. I was just pointing out , in what I thought was a light hearted way (put obviously didn't come over right) that it was very unlikely that the map put the farm in the wrong position.
Mike
 
Glad you weren't offended. In the short time I've been involved with this forum I've found members are so willing to give their time and effort, I don't want to appear to take that for granted. And I appreciate the resources people freely offer to make researching B'ham history such fun. Many thanks Mike for your help. Viv.
 
i have just been catching up on this thread from yesturday, and have found all the information about the cottages very interesting .Lynn i think their has been photos before some time ago, i will try and find them.
 
A couple more points that I've come across. On the Perrybarr beyond site (see post 34) there is a change of farmer in 1894. At this time, Mr A Wells was farmer of Pool and Warren Farms, Holly Lane. Prior to this in 1888 Mr Wells was farmer of "Warren and Cottage Farm" . Wonder if this was the full title for Warren Farm or did this mean Warren Farm and Cottage Farm, or Warren Farm and a cottage farm. And is it at all linked to our cottages? Just a thought to throw into the pot, but could well amount to nothing!

The other info I've come across is that there was a Birmingham Housing Compulsory Order in 1928 to acquire 450 acres of land occupied by Warren Farm and Kingsvale Farm estates, obviously prior to the massive 30's Kingstanding housing development programme. I've never seem a compulsory order but wonder if this or the discussions by the Housing Committee relating to it would reveal anything about the Pool Farm Cottages. Would papers about the 30's development be held anywhere? Central library perhaps? Again, just another idea to mull over. Viv.
 
Doesn't add much, but the 1817 map below shows that the farm shown on the 1886 map was also there in 1817. The scale is so small , however that minor cottages wouldn't have shown. The pool to the east of the farm is called the common pool then.
mike

OS map c 1817 kingstanding area.jpg
 
Last edited:
Thanks Mike. A nice find and an interesting map. So utterly empty compared to what the area would become 100 or so years later. Doubtless there had been a few highwaymen around the area (does that say Gibbit Hill ?) Does anyone know if the Lodge was Kingstanding Lodge or would that have been somewhere else? I'm finding exploring the history of the Kingstanding area in this way absolutely fascinating. Viv.
 
Its a bit peculiar Vivienne, but I estimated where the Lodge was (about half way between the Common (or Lodge) Pool and the road to the south, and the only building there is Warren Farm. so it seems possible that Warren Farm is , or is on the site of, the Lodge.
mike
 
Mike I think I remember seeing a photo of Warren Farm, and if it's the one I'm thinking of, I did think how unlike it seemed to be to a traditional farm. If the pic was Warren Farm, it was quite grand and had a Dutch style to it. Will have to have a look around and see if I can find the pic. I have a feeling that if we can make sense of the neighbouring buildings, albeit through loose connections, we'd know a bit more about the cottages. Thanks for that. Viv.
 
mikejee said:
Lyn
Below is the 1884 map showing a slightly larger area, including Warren farm and the lodge pool mentioned
Click to expand...

I've had a look at Mike's old maps links on this thread and there's a 1904 map on there labelling the buildings near to Lodge Pool as being Pool Farm ( however, afraid I don't know how to post the map). The map also shows, as Mike's 1880s maps do, a footpath or lane directly linking Pool Farm and Warren Farm. Alongside the Lodge Pool are the words "Hydraulic ****" (can't decipher the second bit) which suggests to me that this was probably being used for some sort of activity. Wonder if this related to the farm(s)? Viv.
 
Thanks Viv
Never looked at the 1904 one. You can enlarge the map, asbelow. It says Hydraulic Ram. Not sure what that is.
Mike

lodge pool 1904.JPG
 
Last edited:
Very helpful Mike. No, don't know what "hydraulic Ram" means either. But ' hydraulic' suggests to me something controlled and maybe industrial. I wonder if it's supposed to be "dam". Do you know if those grass-like clumps in the area of Lodge Pool suggest a real pool/lake/pond or do you think it's marshland? And a closer look at that pathway/lane from Warren Farm to Pool Farm definitely seems to link the 2 farms. Appreciate your help. Again not sure where this leads but all very interesting! Viv.
 
Viv
I took the clumps of grass to mean th epool ahd silted up and, as you say, was marshy. but do not know for sure
Mike
 
You are making some good finds, Viv. Thank you.
Interesting to think that the 1929 photo was taken during economic depression. We will never know whether the men are career farmhands or whether they have moved from industrial Birmingham.
 
Hi Bordesleyexile. No it's a pity we can't discover more about them. What we do know however is that Warren Farm estate in 1921 was at least 308 acres, approximately 0.48 sq. miles. When auctioned in 1921 it included Warren and Pool Farm. So I'd expect there were quite a few regular workers to support it. And wouldn't it be great to discover that someone in the picture was living at Pool Farm Cottages? As you say, unfortunately, we'll probably never know. Regards Viv.
 
cracking pic viv thanks for posting it...ive got the book somewhere with a pic of warren farm in it..when i have time i will hunt it out

lyn
 
If Warren Farm is your project Viv, & you live locally, you could investigate the 1844(ish) tithe maps which will show every building & list owners, occupiers & possibly more. Sandwell & Birmingham Library might be locations where the records are held.
 
BordesleyExile said:
If Warren Farm is your project Viv, & you live locally, you could investigate the 1844(ish) tithe maps which will show every building & list owners, occupiers & possibly more. Sandwell & Birmingham Library might be locations where the records are held.
Click to expand...

Afraid I no longer live locally. My interest in the area goes back to when I lived there as a child. I lived there in the 50's and 60's. I find it especially interesting because the area was predominantly rural until the Kingstanding development. What an impact that must have made in all sorts if ways. If I wasn't so far away I'd love to delve into the resources available locally. But alas ....... Thanks for the helpful advice bordesleyexile. Viv
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top