Sheldon Memories

[cranky]

I would appreciate some help with a couple of hazy memories of Sheldon. I only lived in Sheldon up to the age of 7 which would have been in 1947, hence my memories are not that clear. We lived in Fallindale Road and for a couple of years I attended Stanville Road School. There are a couple of memories of places that I have not been able to track down and wonder if anyone can help.
I have a memory of a small lake or pond. I seem to recall that you entered through some gates and then down a slope to the pond. I think there was an island in the pond. As we never had a car in those days it would have had to have been within walking distance or on a bus route from Fallindale Road. In other posts I have seen references to a pond off Wensley Road that no longer exists and wonder if that could have been the place.
The other memory is of riding on the bus past a factory or shop with a big sign of a pram or pushchair. I’ve always assumed it must have been a pram factory?
I know these may seem trivial thoughts but they have played on my memory and I would love to resolve them.

 

[suemalings]

The only "park" I can think of would be Small Heath Park. That is on a bus route along the Coventry Road. But there is also Elmdon Park, there is a pond there and it is down a slope, depending on which way you approach it. Again, that is off Coventry Road in the other direction to Small Heath. But you would have had a walk from the bus terminus in 1947 unless you caught a Midland Red!

 

[cranky]

I would appreciate some help with a couple of hazy memories of Sheldon. I only lived in Sheldon up to the age of 7 which would have been in 1947, hence my memories are not that clear. We lived in Fallindale Road and for a couple of years I attended Stanville Road School. There are a couple of memories of places that I have not been able to track down and wonder if anyone can help.
I have a memory of a small lake or pond. I seem to recall that you entered through some gates and then down a slope to the pond. I think there was an island in the pond. As we never had a car in those days it would have had to have been within walking distance or on a bus route from Fallindale Road. In other posts I have seen references to a pond off Wensley Road that no longer exists and wonder if that could have been the place.
The other memory is of riding on the bus past a factory or shop with a big sign of a pram or pushchair. I’ve always assumed it must have been a pram factory?
I know these may seem trivial thoughts but they have played on my memory and I would love to resolve them.

Since writing the above I have found out that there was a pram factory, Richards Prams, on the Radleys in Marston Green, which later became a Lucas factory. It seems fairly certain that this is the factory I remember. Would there have been a bus route along the Radleys in the 40s, I wonder?

 

[cranky]

The only "park" I can think of would be Small Heath Park. That is on a bus route along the Coventry Road. But there is also Elmdon Park, there is a pond there and it is down a slope, depending on which way you approach it. Again, that is off Coventry Road in the other direction to Small Heath. But you would have had a walk from the bus terminus in 1947 unless you caught a Midland Red!

I’m pretty sure it was not Small Heath Park. Elmdon Park might be a possibility, but looking at the area on Google maps I notice that further along the Coventry Road near Old Damson Lane, there is a couple of lakes alongside Low Brook. This may also be the possible location of the lake I remember.

 

[devonjim]

Since writing the above I have found out that there was a pram factory, Richards Prams, on the Radleys in Marston Green, which later became a Lucas factory. It seems fairly certain that this is the factory I remember. Would there have been a bus route along the Radleys in the 40s, I wonder?

I'd forgotten that! It was by the railway bridge wasn't it. There was a single decker Midland Red route along The Radleys in the 1940's I think it went from Marston Green to Shirley by way of Solihull. I'm pretty certain there is a photograph somewhere on the web site.

 

[AnnS]

Lencops was our resident Sheldon expert, he is another sorely missed....

 

[Spargone]

Perhaps the small lake or pond was the moat near where Church Road crosses the brook now leading into Sheldon Country Park. This website says it was filled in in the 1950s.

The illustration from Grace's Guide might jog the memory of the pram factory.

 

[cranky]

Perhaps the small lake or pond was the moat near where Church Road crosses the brook now leading into Sheldon Country Park. This website says it was filled in in the 1950s.

The illustration from Grace's Guide might jog the memory of the pram factory

Thanks Spargone. The photo of the the pond doesn’t ring any bells I’m afraid. Unfortunately this one, like the one off Wensley Road, has been filled in so can’t be verified physically.

 

[devonjim]

further along the Coventry Road near Old Damson Lane, there is a couple of lakes alongside Low Brook. This may also be the possible location of the lake I remember.

In those days these two lakes were on the Wilmot-Breeden sports ground. There was a small boat house at the left hand end of the lake as you walked down the slope towards the lake and tennis courts further to the left.

 

[cranky]

In those days these two lakes were on the Wilmot-Breeden sports ground. There was a small boat house at the left hand end of the lake as you walked down the slope towards the lake and tennis courts further to the left.

Thank you devonjim that’s interesting. Are the lakes still accessible to the public?

 

[devonjim]

Thank you devonjim that’s interesting. Are the lakes still accessible to the public?

Honestly don't know. I see on internet that ground is now used by a rugby club, Birmingham Exiles, so I guess there would be nothing to stop you going along to see a game!

 

[cranky]

Honestly don't know. I see on internet that ground is now used by a rugby club, Birmingham Exiles, so I guess there would be nothing to stop you going along to see a game!

Apart from the fact I live in Devon

 

[AnnS]

The former Wilmot-Breeden sports ground is open on cricket match days.

It does have a small lake at one end, i suppose for the anglers.

It is a gated ground with access down a fairly steep footpath and would fit your bill.

But, there would have to be a but wouldn't there.

In fact i would say there are two, firstly there is no direct bus route from Fallindale Road to the
ground on Coventry Road.

Secondly it would be one heck of a walk, particularly for a young child.

Back to the drawing board?

 

[cranky]

The former Wilmot-Breeden sports ground is open on cricket match days.

It does have a small lake at one end, i suppose for the anglers.

It is a gated ground with access down a fairly steep footpath and would fit your bill.

But, there would have be a but wouldn't there.

In fact i would say there are two, firstly there is no direct bus route from Fallindale Road to the
ground on Coventry Road.

Secondly it would be one heck of a walk, particularly for a young child.

Back to the drawing board?

Thanks AnnS. Guess that rules that one out then!

 

[devonjim]

Thanks AnnS. Guess that rules that one out then!

Not much of a walk to the Wheatsheaf on the Coventry road to catch the Coventry bus, 159 wasn't it?

 

[cranky]

Thanks AnnS. Guess that rules that one out then!

Or does devonjims comment about the Coventry bus bring it back in as a possibility?

 

[robert]

There is a pool on Load lane just past the Rover works, easley reached by Midland red from church road. Also your bus journey past the pram works would also take you to Marston Green golf course there was a pool there to.

 

[pjmburns]

I wondered about the one on Lode Lane but wasn't sure about buses.

 

[cranky]

There is a pool on Load lane just past the Rover works, easley reached by Midland red from church road. Also your bus journey past the pram works would also take you to Marston Green golf course there was a pool there to.

Thanks Robert I’ll check them out next time I’m up in the Midlands

 

[Spargone]

Thanks Robert I’ll check them out next time I’m up in the Midlands

The Mill Pool on Lode Lane isn't normally accessible as it is on private land now belonging to the 1st Solihull Scout Group.

Lyndon House with its fish ponds across the road from Aldi, Sheldon might have been there in your day but now long gone. The adjacent brook, before it was put into a concrete culvert, meandered about and formed pools but probably yours was larger and more formal. Small things did look bigger when one was a child though!

 

[AnnS]

Are we possibly looking in the wrong direction here?

Buses in this area also went out via Marston Green to Coleshill
and at some stage onward towards Sutton Coldfield.

 

[oldbrit]

I lived on Moat Lane Yardley for the first 23 years of my life. Rode my bike all over Sheldon do not recall ever seeing a pool around there. but there was a pool behind the Pre Fabs on Moat lane that we played in as kids.