Priest Family Home In Edgbaston, Bournville, Harborne

[lionheart]

Hi,
My grandmother who was born in 1891, emigrated from Birmingham to Australia in 1919. Her father, Thomas Priest at one time owned a spectacle making factory in Birmingham and one of her older brothers- Alfred Priest (1874-1929) was a well known artist and portrait painter. Her diary referenced her early years in Birmingham growing up in a number of homes and I am hoping that someone may have memories or photographs of these places? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

1. "Albury" 379 Hagley Rd Edgbaston (1890's)

2. "Ravenstone" 246 Bristol Rd , Bourneville? (early 1900's)

3. "Ravensthorpe" Lordswood Rd, Harborne (1906 - 1918) ( unsure of street number however I believe located on a corner not far from an old pub?). The home was demolished in early 1950's and replaced by a block of flats I understand.

Thanks,

Neil (Queensland, Australia)

 

[Phil]

Hi Neil

Sorry I wasn't able to find any old photos of the properties you indicate, but when looking for the locations of the first two properties I came across a Thomas Priest at both locations he was described as a Rate Collector at 379 Hagley Rd and I believe that property along with 246 Bristol Rd might still be standing today it's worth a look on Google Earth to check it out and see what you think. I found Thomas Priest again at 148 Lordswood Road which is diagonally opposite the Old House at Home pub between Elm Tree Rd & Croftdown Rd, although not a block of flats it doesn't look old enough to ne the original building. I will take another in depth look and see if I can come up with some photos.

 

[lionheart]

Hi Neil

Sorry I wasn't able to find any old photos of the properties you indicate, but when looking for the locations of the first two properties I came across a Thomas Priest at both locations he was described as a Rate Collector at 379 Hagley Rd and I believe that property along with 246 Bristol Rd might still be standing today it's worth a look on Google Earth to check it out and see what you think. I found Thomas Priest again at 148 Lordswood Road which is diagonally opposite the Old House at Home pub between Elm Tree Rd & Croftdown Rd, although not a block of flats it doesn't look old enough to ne the original building. I will take another in depth look and see if I can come up with some photos.

Hi Phil,
Thanks for your research and quick reply! Your mention of Thomas Priest as a rate collector seems to confirm some other notes my Grandmother (Winifred "Bessie" Priest) left mentioning that her father's factory closed when the industrial age meant hand made spectacles were no longer fashionable or affordable. I'm not even sure whether there are any records of where the factory was in Birmingham. Once the factory closed, Thomas Priest I believe was in some form of government service (Assessing"?) which would seem to confirm your research. I believe Bessies parents graves (Thomas Priest and Louisa Priest) are located in St. Peters Church Harborne.
I'll do a google earth search as you suggest to see if any of the homes still exist. They apparently all had large gardens at the time as Thomas was a keen gardener in his spare time.

Thanks,
Neil

 

[Phil]

Neil

In 1862 Thomas Priest jr Manufacturer of Spectacles was located on the High Street Harborne, he was also listed as collector of the poor rate & assistant overseer at that address. Later in 1890 he was listed as Thomas Priest Collector of the Poor Rate & Assistant Overseer & Collector to the Smethwick & Harborne Local Board 379 Hagley Rd & High Street Harborne.

 

[mikejee]

Neil
In 1867 he is listed as at Harborne with both occupations, spectacle maker and collector of poor rates. (Also listed as Thomas Priest Junior). this continued till the 1878 directory

 

[Phil]

Neil

There are the present properties at the addresses you have given, I can't say if they are the original properties or not. To be honest I have to say that possibly 246 Bristol could be original, but the others I am not sure. The other thing that needs to be considered is the possibility of the streets being re-numbered. Mikejee is the person who would possibly be able to confirm if my assumptions are correct. I will ask him to take a look into it for you.

 

[mikejee]

There seems to have been no renumbering of any of those houses from the times mentioned till today, though, as Phil says, we cannot be sure they are the same buildings

 

[Phil]

Neil

Concerning older photos of these properties I'm afraid the best I can come up with is a series of near misses. 379Would have been just out of sight in the first photo to the right of the fountain. 246 Bristol Rd would have been behind the tram turning out of Pebble Mill Rd in the second photo. In the last photo 148 Lordswood Road would have been just out of frame on the left of the vehicle on Lordswood Rd. At least these photos will give some idea of the surrounding area and types of houses nearby. I will add that the locations that you have given at the dates you have given were considered quite upmarket at the time.

 

[pjmburns]

I am sure you know this but there is a photo of the grave at St Peters here https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=126708040

 

[lionheart]

Hi Phil, Mikejee & Janice,
Thanks for your efforts in finding these snippets of information to piece together some of the missing information of Bessie's life before she moved away from the U.K. and lived out her life in Australia, never returning to visit Birmingham.
My understanding that her homes in Birmingham were quite "grand" and servants were employed, so your photos Phil add weight to these notes in her diaries.
Hoping that more information may come to light, but I am grateful for what you have found already. Please advise if this is (or isn't) the most appropriate forum for my request.

Regards,

Neil

 

[Phil]

Hi Neil

I'm sure all three of us regret we were not able to help further than we have, but keep an eye on this thread because you never know what might be added at a later date. Also I'm quite sure this is the appropriate place for you enquiry.

 

[pjmburns]

When Thomas Priest died in 1919 (address given as Ravensthorpe) he left over £10000 - a considerable sum of money. An internet calculator suggests it would be over £350000 today. Probate was granted to Jane Allin (his daughter) and Theodore Pritchett assistant overseer. Did you know Bessie was actually baptised as Winifred Bessie?

 

[lionheart]

Hi Janice,

Thanks for that bit of detail. I think "Ravensthorpe" was sold after Thomas and Louisa died in 1919. Jane was the eldest daughter who lived in the house with her parents with her son after her own husband had died some years earlier. I am trying to contact Jane's son's family who now live in Canada as I believe they visited Birmingham in the 1950's and reported that "Ravensthorpe" was in the process of being demolished. I am trying to find out a bit more about Bessies early years - schools she attended in Birmingham etc.
Hopefully sometime in the near future, I hope to venture to Birmingham and go and see some of these places and follow up on some of these useful leads you ahve all provided.

Thanks,

Neil

 

[pjmburns]

Re: the house on Hagley Road. No. 381 became a guest house in 1955 and was joined to 379 to become the hotel in 1982 as far as I can tell from planning applications.