When was solihull built

The interior has been much modernized; some stop-chamfered ceiling-beams are exposed and the roofs have wind-braced purlins. The ordinary ceiling-beams are chamfered, and the main block has a wide fire-place at the south end. By this, in the east front, is a projecting square bay with close-set studding to the upper story and gable-head. The lower story and the side walls of the main block are of later red brick, except for a post or two. The entrance doorway at the north end of the east front has a moulded oak frame and nail-studded door hung with ornamental straphinges.

The north wing, of three bays and with higher eaves than the main block, has much original close-set studding and retains an original five-light window in the east end. The central chimney-stack, inserted in the 16th century, has three conjoined diagonal shafts.

There are remains of a moat to the north wet and west dry of the house, and to the south-east is a large five-bay barn of timber-framing. The main part was probably the wing of a larger building of hall-place type; it is of close-set studding. The east end had a jettied upper story on curved brackets and projecting gable-head, but all below the last has been built out with a modern brick face.

The original roof-framing remains with a braced tie-beam, queen-posts, and purlins with curved windbraces. The projecting chimney-stack on the north side is dated The part extending south is either a modern addition or part of the old main block completely modernized. Henwood Hall, on the site of the priory, was pulled down in , but a small modern farm-house near-by has a number of stones from the nunnery built into the garden walls.

These include voussoirs of moulded ribs of a 13th-century vault, moulded voussoirs of arches, four or more small moulded capitals, a gabled head of a pinnacle with crockets and finial, and the headless image of a Virgin and Child, all of the same period and in red sandstone.

Much of the oak panelling was removed to the Rectory and Olton Hall. The plan is L-shaped. The main block, about 30 ft. A fire that occurred about sixty years ago caused much damage. The front is of brickwork and the roof has been altered to heighten the eaves, but the back slope of the roof is original and retains two wind-braces to the purlin, curved as halves of four-centred arches.

This was probably an internal partition between the main block and a former east wing. The back wall has close-set studding. The existing west wing extends northwards, the northern half being a lateth-century addition. The gabled south end is of close-set studding; the lower story has angle-posts with small pilasters and curved brackets; the upper is jettied.

The gable-head is rebuilt with brickwork. The windows of both stories were flanked by small wing-lights, now blocked. On the west side is another original gable of similar framing and south of it a lateth-century projecting chimney-stack of brick carrying two shafts with a V-shaped pilaster on each face. The lower room has a moulded ceiling-beam, but the upper story has an altered lateth-century roof with straight wind-braces to the purlins.

The later north extension, of square framing, has a gable on each of its two sides as well as at the north end. The lower ceiling has beams with wide chamfers like that in the main block.

Adjoining the north-east corner of the wing and parallel with the main block is an outbuilding of 17th-century timber-framing. No traces of a dove-house remain. Berry Hall, about 1 mile east of the church, is a modern building, but the Old Hall, the seat of the Waring family between at least and , fn. There are no traces of the usual one-storied great hall, and it is probable that the house never had one. The remains of the main block, facing south, are mostly rebuilt or refaced with later brickwork and plaster, except the east gable-head, which shows some framing.

On the south front of it is a projecting bay underbuilt with brickwork, the upper story of close-set studding and having a projecting gable-head with a moulded bressummer on curved brackets. Next east of it is a modern low timber porch with two curved brackets inserted under its front gable, each carved with a rebus fn. On the north side is a 16th-century projecting chimney-stack of bricks gathered in at the sides above the eaves-level with crow-stepping.

Between it and the west wing is a small gabled staircase wing of closeset studding. The west wing has close-set studding and an original upper window of four lights; a lower window of two lights is blocked. At each end is a small projecting gabled bay of similar framing to both stories; the northern has a small peep-hole in the south side of the upper story.

The gabled south end has been underbuilt with brickwork and a bay window; the projecting gable-head has a moulded bressummer carved with a series of trefoiled arches.

The north end has plainer upper framing and has tiled weather-courses at the first-floor level and base of the gable-head. The central chimney-stack of rebated type has been rebuilt. The interior has mid- to lateth-century moulded ceiling-beams to both the wing and the west half of the main block in the lower story. They have carved bosses in the middle, one in the latter having the heads of a king and queen in foliage. The upper story has cambered tie-beams with curved braces in both parts, and purlins with curved wind-braces.

The middle room of the three on the ground floor of the wing is lined with lateth-century panelling; the central chimneystack between it and the northern room has a wide fire-place towards the latter with a lateth-century moulded and embattled oak bressummer.

The upper floor has a similar fire-place; the north room has earlyth-century wall panelling and an overmantel of three bays. The Elizabethan staircase has shaped flat silhouette balusters and a plain handrail.

Much of the large moat round the site survives, with running water, and there are extensions to the south—the flow of the stream—which may have inclosed the farm-buildings. Of these two timber-framed barns remain. The front, of red brickwork with diaper patterns in blue bricks, is built after the style of a medieval gate-house.

The main wall is of three stories between two semi-octagonal turrets with embattled parapets. The lower two stories have each a stone window of three lights with transom and dripstone. Above the eaves is a flush dormer with a crow-stepped gable and corbelled finial; its window is a later one of brick.

The first floor has a small stone window of two lights, the second a later brick window. The other turret contains a stair-vice lighted by loops. Besides the buildings already described there are about a score of others in various parts of the parish dating from the 17th century or earlier.

The original plan was rectangular with a small wing at the north end of the west front. The lower story is of 18th-century brickwork, and at the south end is a cross-wing of 18th- and 19th- century brickwork. South-west of the house is a timber-framed barn. Bentley Farm, near Bentley Heath, was the farmstead for some acres before the modern building estate was developed around it. The house is completely of earlyth-century timber-framing. The north front has three large flush dormers, the gable-heads of which project on stop-moulded bressummers supported by brackets.

The central chimney-stack has a wide fire-place with a stop-chamfered lintel and in the back a locker with a carved door. North-west of the house is a timber-framed barn, and the whole was inclosed by a large moat, of which the south-west angle, containing water, survives. East of the house is part of the east and south sides of a wet moat. Some remains of an ancient stone wall edge or revet the inner face of the south part.

Whitlocks End Farm is of modern red brickwork, but south of it is a 17th-century barn. In the field to the south are the remains of a moat, about ft. Three sides contain water; the north side, not square with the others, is dry. It was surrounded by a bank, part of which still exists some 6 ft.

The site is covered with trees. In addition to the moats already mentioned close to ancient buildings, there are several others where the buildings have either entirely disappeared or have been rebuilt in modern times. The finest is Hobs Moat, already referred to. Another with running water, about 1 mile east of it, at Tile-house Green retains the north side and parts of the east and west. A small stream leaves its north-west angle. Albans, some time between fn. By the manor of Solihull was in the possession of William de Oddingeseles, fn.

Sybil lived until August Solihull remained in the king's hands under a succession of custodians or lessees fn. George, Duke of Clarence, Warwick's son-in-law, was given the manor in for life. In Thomas Butler, groom of the chamber, was made bailiff of the lordship of Solihull for life, with the usual fees from the issues.

In the manor was granted, with others, in tail male to Thomas, Earl of Surrey, newly created Duke of Norfolk. John Couchman, formerly rector of Thornby, who died in , when the manor passed to his son the Rev. Henry Couchman, fn. Alice, third daughter of William de Oddingeseles, who had married Maurice de Caunton by November , fn. The original settlement in Ulverley is thought to have been in the district now known as Olton, where traces of a castle and park were found so late as the 17th century.

The manor may perhaps be identified with that share of Solihull which formed the portion of Margaret youngest daughter of William de Oddingeseles. Suffolk, fn.

The manor passed by purchase to Robert Middlemore of Edgbaston, fn. Tipperary, fn. It then passed to the family of Morrall, Charles Morrall being lord in and , fn. Morrall in Corbett is said to have been the owner, in succession to the family of Johnstone. The estate descended with Knowle in Hampton-in-Arden q. Their granddaughter Frances Fulwood married William Noel, in whose family the manor was when Dugdale wrote fn. The actual manor came to Lord Byron in by his marriage with Anne, daughter of Sir Ralph Milbanke Noel, and on her death in passed to her grandson the Earl of Lovelace, who died in Longdon Hall, with apparently any remaining manorial rights, was bought by Mr.

Clarke of Birmingham in and soon afterwards sold to Mr. Alfred Lovekin. William and Thomas Holbech were dealing with the manor in , fn. In Henry le Notte acquired 1 virgate here from Richard, son of Richard, fn. His grandson Henry fn. Henry was dealing with land here in ; fn. In on the death of Roger son and heir of William de Kingsford, who had been an idiot from birth, it was stated that the issues of his lands during the last 20 years had been in the hands of John de Mountfort and John de Sutton.

In Sir Baldwin Mountfort was dealing with the manor of Kingsford; fn. Although Dugdale stated fn. The name first occurs in , when Henry le Notte claimed against various persons some 7 virgates of land here, fn.

One half-virgate was in the hands of Walter de Bisshop', and the family of Bishopsdon, at Bishopton, fn. In Sir John de Bishopsdon settled on himself and his second wife Beatrice, with remainder in tail male to his sons Roger or John, certain lands including the reversion of those in Lyndon held for life by Joan widow of his son Thomas de Bishopsdon.

Argent a fesse gules with three roundels gules in the chief. The parish church of ST. ALPHEGE is a large edifice of cross-shaped plan with a chancel having a two-storied chapel north of it, central tower, north and south transepts, nave with north and south aisles, and a north porch. There was a lateth-century church on the site; of this the only evidence left is the east end of the south wall of the nave with a blocked window, and the marks of its steep-pitched roof on the west face of the tower.

It was shorter and slightly narrower than the present nave. The first enlargement began with the addition or rebuilding of the central tower early in the 13th century. Probably the lower parts of the side-walls of the chancel, of large masonry and without plinths, are of much the same period. A 13th-century north aisle with a chapel of St. Thomas the Martyr was added to the nave: some remains of the arch between the two still exist. A scheme of enlargement was begun, probably by Sir William de Oddingeseles c.

Alphege north of it. This was followed early in the 14th century by the addition of the transepts, the southern preceding the northern, with the insertion of side-arches in the tower and the enlargement of those in the east and west walls. The rebuilding and widening of the north aisle followed, with the north porch; a little later in the century the aisle was continued westwards, beyond the original west end.

The obvious intention was to lengthen the nave as well and the west responds were built in preparation for the intended new arcades, but for some reason the work was not then proceeded with. From the existence of an archway fn. The present aisle was added in , when both arcades were rebuilt and the nave lengthened.

On the evidence of the moulded plinths the west wall of the nave, between the 14th-century responds, appears to have been rebuilt; the west doorway and the great window above are contemporary with the arcades and south aisle. Churchwardens' accounts for the work still exist. The top stage of the tower is considerably later than the lower part, probably near the date of the other earlyth-century work, as it seems improbable that such an addition would have been undertaken before the nave and aisles were completed.

The stone spire, erected probably at the same time, fell in and was rebuilt soon afterwards at a less height. The south aisle, owing to the weakness of the arcade and the pressure of the nave roof, collapsed in and was rebuilt almost immediately, but the arcade and aisle have again failed to resist the thrust of the roof and are now heavily shored with timber until the work of restoration can again be undertaken.

There have been several restorations. In the west window was renewed and other repairs executed, including work to the roofs of the nave and aisles, which were stripped and rebolted, but insufficiently to prevent further movement since. The chancel roof, which had suffered severely from the ravages of the death-watch beetle, was reconstructed in The chancel about 52 ft.

The foils of the main lights have double-volute cusp-points. In each of the side-walls are four windows, each of two cinquefoiled pointed lights and a single piercing above with eight foils; all the foils have similar voluted cusp-points. The external hood-moulds have a mask-stop at the east end, but are joined by a string-course between the windows.

The internal hood-moulds are conjoined; between the windows, except the easternmost pair, and at the east end they are treated as trefoil arches, varying in width, on the plastered wall-face.

In each of these bays is a carved bracket for an image. Below the sills all round is a moulded string-course. The sills of the eastern pair on the north side are raised because of the adjoining chapels, and below the second window is a pointed doorway to the lower chapel with rounded jambs and a hood-mould with mask-stops.

Between the second and third windows is a larger pointed opening with canted reveals, through which steps lead up to the upper chapel: it has hollow-chamfered splays and the string-course leaps it as a hood-mould. On the south side is a priest's doorway with moulded jambs and pointed head with an external hood-mould, and the internal string-course carried over it as a stilted hood.

It has an ancient door with rib-panels; on it is a ring-handle covered by an iron grid outside. The walls are of red sandstone. Even though the factory resumed production in March , its operation was short-lived: It closed in May for good. Production of the TR7 moved to Canley Coventry and resumed in October , which meant that Triumph missed almost an entire model year. None of this inspired buyer confidence. While the Canley TR7s didn't look significantly different than those from Speke, they did receive a number of improvements.

A nicer steering wheel was fitted, and the hood bonnet acquired a small power bulge. Alloy wheels and a front spoiler became a dealer option. The five-speed gearbox was finally standardized across the range, coupes got a sunroof, and many changes improved the operation of the car, including upgraded instrumentation, cooling and electrics. Advertising of the day emphasized these changes: "A team of 67 inspectors constantly monitors the Canley assembly line.

Then a second group of inspectors monitor the 67 inspectors. There was a whole lotta checkin' goin' on at Canley, not to mention that "craftsmen and engineers with 50 years of inherited sportscar expertise" were now building TR7s. No mention was made of Speke. The big deal for , though, was the introduction of the TR7 convertible, finally. These cars hit NA showrooms in late summer, , but the rest of the world had to wait until And there was a white TR7 drophead, black roof, shiny black bumpers, sharp red and black plaid interior.

Very nice. It was at Canley as well that production of the TR8 finally began. Triumph introduced the convertible car to the US press in March, , and offered it for sale the following May. However, this was not the first time the press had been invited to drive the TR8.

This would suggest that production of TR8 coupes actually began in late , shortly after the TR lines began at Canley. The point is important to make, as several writers suggest there were no TR8 production coupes built.

There is also a factory sales brochure for the TR8 coupe, and this, interestingly, was printed in September , a month before the Speke strike. It was the convertibles, though, that got all the attention for here was a car that was universally praised. All the magazine reviews were positive.

Car and Driver featured the car on the cover of its August issue -- stunning metallic Triton green with tan tartan interior -- and enthusiastically described it as Nothing less than the reinvention of the sports car. Unfortunately, Triumph built only of these wonderful cars.

Canley TR8s have the newly designed TR8 logo in large letters on the nose of the car, and 3. Compared to the TR7, the car was lowered 1 inch front and back, featured a revised suspension, power steering, 13 inch Moto-Lita steering wheel, full dual exhaust and, of course, the engine. As is now well known, the aluminum block Rover V8 derives from the General Motors c.

It had become the main centre for a predominantly agricultural area of small farms and large halls and its markets and fairs served an area between expanding Birmingham and villages such as Tanworth and Henley-in-Arden.

Though the houses of the poor are inter-mingled with those of their richer neighbours, yet no painful disparity offends the eye or impels the beholder to invidious comparisons. An air of comfort and respectability marks all alike and renders Solihull indisputably a delightful looking town. The major change in Solihull during the latter years of the nineteenth century was the establishment of its position as a dormitory town for Birmingham industrialists and artisans.

Small villas were built in and around the old villages and larger houses along the main roads so that Solihull began to lose its rural scenery to the unplanned urban developments of the s and s. The semi-rural aspect of the area attracted many who could afford to settle in the locality. The availability of land, particularly in the Shirley area, attracted some small firms into Solihull and, at the beginning of the Second World War, the Rover Company occupied a factory in Lode Lane.

From , the infilling of the areas between the Coventry, Warwick and Stratford Roads began, with the construction of housing estates, schools, factories and playing fields. It has never actually been home to the Lord of the Manor so isn't a manor house in the traditional sense. Once owned by the Greswolde family, it was known by the 19th century as Lime Tree House as a result of the nine lime trees that had been planted outside it about For many years it was the surgery of local doctors Ferdinand Page and his son, Ericson.

The building was purchased by a brewery in but plans to convert it into a public house were shelved on the outbreak of the Second World War. During the war the building was used as local headquarters by the Home Guard. In the house was sold, being purchased by a trust with funds raised through public subscription, and it was subsequently used as a community association and then as an adult education and social centre. Touchwood Hall was situated at the north end of Drury Lane near to the site of Beatties today and was built in The source of the name is unknown but may have replaced an earlier moated house on the site.