Winterbourne House & Garden

[sylviasayers]

We visited Wintebourne in Edgbaston Park Road, yesterday. What a gem it only opened on May lst 2010 so we were among the first visitors. It was the home of John Nettlefold of the GKN family, his wife was Margaret Chamberlain niece of Joseph. The house was built in 1903 and the ground floor is open to the public, together with a tea room, and the gardens are magnificent. I would highly recommend a visit.
It is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April to September, and l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. October to March, but closed over the Christmas period. Charges are reasonable at £4.00 single or £3.00 concessions.

We walked through the bluebell woods to a lake and saw a Moorhen perched on her nest on a low hanging branch just above the water. We will certainly go there again.

 

[pollypops]

That sounds interesting - thanks for posting the details.
Polly

 

[Charlie]

Have marked that as a place to visit this year...if I don't write it in me diary I have a tendency to forget (nothing to do with old age, of course )

 

[pollypops]

https://www.winterbourne.org.uk/

Here is the website, it looks lovely!
polly

 

[terryb18]

Paid a visit today and as you say, well worth a visit. I just wished there was more of the house open, still thats for the future. Here's a pic of the hallway. More pics to follow.

Terry
Restored photo

 

[sylviasayers]

so glad you enjoyed your visit Terry. pity the weather wasn't better for you. As I said we will visit again to see the gardens at various times of the year.

 

[terryb18]

so glad you enjoyed your visit Terry. pity the weather wasn't better for you. As I said we will visit again to see the gardens at various times of the year.

The weather was lovely, as I said here are some pics.

Terry
Restored photos

 

[terryb18]

Some more
Restored photos

 

[pollypops]

Terry, lovely photos I am hoping to visit there soon. Don't know where Sylvia lives but we have had lovely weather today (I live near the lickeys)
Polly

 

[terryb18]

A few more

Restored photos

 

[pollypops]

Very good photos Terry - now I can't wait to go

 

[dek carr]

For the past few months i have been involved in the refurbishment of Winterbourne House while there i found an old brochure dated 1995 have scanned some pics out of it. Dek

 

[dek carr]

A couple more

 

[dek carr]

And again The portrait is John Nettlefold

 

[dek carr]

Last 2 for now the good wife

 

[dek carr]

One more The colour photos are approx 1995 the others are 1913. Dek

 

[pollypops]

Great photos Dek

 

[Charlie]

Oh wow! How lovely is that.

 

[Wendy]

Fantastic photo's of the Nettlefold families abode.

 

[dek carr]

Wendy this is listed as their Country House i hate to think what their Town House was like . on the one side was the old kitchen (now removed)above that was an area for the servants with their own stairs. how the other half lived. Dek

 

[sylviasayers]

Dek thanks for the photos of the early years of Winterbourne but I think you misread the caption "A country house in Birmingham" I took it to mean it was like a country house but set in Birmingham, and it was the family's main house. Terry your photos were marvellous, I thought you visited on Saturday when it poured with rain all day in Castle Brom. Glad it was fine for you.

 

[terryb18]

A few more pics

Terry
Restored photos

 

[sylviasayers]

So you saw the moorhen too Terry. I think you and I should be paid for promoting Winterbourne. It is lovely isn't it?

 

[pollypops]

More lovely photos Terry

 

[terryb18]

So you saw the moorhen too Terry. I think you and I should be paid for promoting Winterbourne. It is lovely isn't it?

Yes, we had a nice couple of hours out, the only thing was I just wish there was some more of the house open, There was only 2 or 3 rooms and the hall. Like I said though, they may well do in the future.

Terry

 

[a s wood]

What lovely photos, makes you want to visit.

 

[Charlie]

Incredible that this garden is so close to Birmingham City Centre. Those south of Watford would never believe it!

 

[glynis]

The upstairs rooms are meeting and conference rooms for hire, not very interesting!!

 

[Winterbourne]

The meeting rooms are actually all decorated in period style too.

 

[lencops]

A PIONEERING member of the Nettlefold family has been honoured in his home city of Birmingham.
John Sutton Nettlefold has been awarded a blue plaque at the historic Winterbourne House, home to the famous family who used to run GKN Nettlefold — the largest screw, nut and bolt manufacturer in the world.
Mr Nettlefold, who was born in 1866 and died in 1930, was awarded the official recognition on Thursday.

He was a long-serving Birmingham city councillor and head of the manufacturing firm. He was also the first ever housing committee chairman and was responsible for the concept and design of the Moorpool Estate in 1909.
After becoming such a key figure he wrote several books on the subject which were used as University Text Books until the 1960s.
The blue plaques are issued by Birmingham Civic Society, and the chairman, David Clarke said he was delighted to honour Mr Nettlefold.
“He was a pioneering town planner in Birmingham and dramatically changed the way the city looked,” he said.
“He was the man who got rid of a lot of back-to-back houses and created more space. He was also very concerned that workers should have decent and affordable houses.”
The unveiling comes just a week after Winterbourne House opened its doors to the public following a £3 million restoration.
At the family home in Edgbaston, visitors can find out more about Mr Nettlefold’s work as head of the firm and on the council.
Mr Nettlefold played a huge role in designing the home, built in 1903.
His wife Margaret designed Winterbourne’s Grade II listed garden, with its sandstone rock garden, unusual nut walk and striking colour-themed borders.
Entry to the house is free.