Wilkinson Family Sutton Coldfield

[Astonian]

hi sue ;
as you have just mentioning a park ; i thought i might just take the oppertunetity to mention BOW CROFT GROVE ;
As it as mentioned a park in sutton coldfield
This marks a site of a field close to pype hayes park and hall where it is told how bearears had a lodge their duty was to take care of travellers crossing the danderous common between the chester rd and sutton coldfield
best wishes astonian ;;;;

 

[Wendy]

Thanks for the info on this thread what a nice suprise when I checked the photo's. The one of Tudor Hill shows some lovely big houses in the background. My great aunt and uncle lived at Aragon House, Tudor Hill in the 1900's. I would love to know which one it is in the photo. There is just a road there now named Aragon Cresent.

 

[smtr]

Wendy

Did you ever get a description of the house? Here's an advert when it was up for sale from the Bham Post 24th Feb 1872

Suzanne

 

[Big Gee]

I knew a family called Wilkinson (more accurately the daughter Rosemary) who had a very impressive house on Tudor Hill. This was back in the 1960's. I'm sure it's one of the houses in the photo in the National Archives, but I can't tell which one. The house was demolished to make way for flats. I used to love visiting, as it gave me an insight into how the 'other half' lived. (Same as me, actually, but with a load more room!). In particular I remember the croquet-lawn in the rear garden, and the truly enormous kitchen, with Aga naturally.

G

 

[Astonian]

hi grah
many thanks for that info; on the wilkinson family i wonder if he was related to george e wilkinsons whom had tthe aluminuim factory in kingedwards rd
lady wood and big premise down long acre and i think there was ont at grt barr and a shop i gerrard street hockley
he at the time i knew him lived in woodcroft avenue handsworth wood ; i did put a request for a further info ; but nobody did a check for me ;
so i know that i will do my own check through the libary to check out sibbling and tree ;
i am hoping to pop over soon so do not forget keep the old tea cosy on top give my regards to maisie alan ;; astonian ;;

 

[Big Gee]

Hi Alan,

Rosemary Wilkinson was the friend of a girl-friend of mine who lived on Park Road. A bunch of us would meet up at Rosemary's parents' house, which was big enough that we could make all the noise we liked without bothering anyone else in the house. If I remember correctly, Mr Wilkinson was in the family jewellery business, don't know what it was called but presumably it was in the Jewellery Quarter. I also seem to recall that the house had been built by Rosemary's great-grandfather.

Really odd, but a bloke I worked with a few years later bought a flat in the block that was built on the site of Rosemary's house.

G

 

[Wendy]

Wendy

Did you ever get a description of the house? Here's an advert when it was up for sale from the Bham Post 24th Feb 1872

Suzanne

My goodness Suzanne!! I knew it would be large but had no idea it was that substantial.It sounds magnificent how I wish there was a picture somewhere. It is lovely to have the description though. Thank you so much for the cutting I will save that for my family tree thank you.

I wonder if this was Rosemary's house Big Gee...

 

[smtr]

Hi Wendy

Yes it sounds very grand

Suzanne

 

[Big Gee]

Hi Wendy,

The advert for Aragon House mentions a croquet lawn - maybe these were 'standard' in large houses in those days. Your great aunt and uncle weren't Wilkinsons, by any chance?

G

 

[Wendy]

Sorry no they were Manning-Davies's my aunt was a Jennings they were there around 1914. This is how I know as it was on their son's obituary who sadly was killed in WW1. I think this event had a great impact as they upped sticks and moved to Llandudno.

 

[Big Gee]

Sorry no they were Manning-Davies's my aunt was a Jennings they were there around 1914. This is how I know as it was on their son's obituary who sadly was killed in WW1. I think this event had a great impact as they upped sticks and moved to Llandudno.

View attachment 79064

Hi Wendy,

I don't remember the name Aragon House, but just wondered, that's all. I dread to think what it would cost today to maintain a house like that...! Oh, the other thing I remember about the Wilkinson house was it had a cupola, where there was an astronomical telescope, Patrick Moore fashion.

G

 

[Wendy]

How lovely Big Gee. I had friends who lived on the Four Oaks estate it was like another world. I remember one friend about 1960 who had a frezer with ice cream unheard of then. The also had a massive climbing frame. Another of my childhood friends had a swimming pool but we didn't get to use it much the weather was like it is now...ha ha I suppose I was lucky to have such friends.

 

[Stitcher]

1888.
Not a very good image but look at the age of it. High Street, taken from todays newspaper.

 

[Davenport]

I knew a family called Wilkinson (more accurately the daughter Rosemary) who had a very impressive house on Tudor Hill. This was back in the 1960's. I'm sure it's one of the houses in the photo in the National Archives, but I can't tell which one. The house was demolished to make way for flats. I used to love visiting, as it gave me an insight into how the 'other half' lived. (Same as me, actually, but with a load more room!). In particular I remember the croquet-lawn in the rear garden, and the truly enormous kitchen, with Aga naturally.

G

When i worked at R H Eames on the Parade we dealt with F W Wilkinson on Tudor Hill, they dealt in Slver plated goods.
it was run in a back room of a very large house, you could see into a large orangery with lemon trees, i was so impresesd as a young apprentice in the trade. Two brothers used to run the business ,if i remember correctley they were two large gentlemen who leant over a huge table. also Grandfather clock in the massive hallway.
hope this is of interest. Clive