Kings Norton, West Midlands

Old Northfield

The stretch of road we see is called Bell Lane.  Bell Lane curves back to Bristol Rd. The big house partly seen in the distance is Bell House which has quite a history.To it's left goes Bell Holloway (still fairly unaltered) and to it's right Bell Hill where I was born in an old cottage in 1927. It is now a... [more]

My Memories of Selly Oak and Bournbrook

I was born in Bournbrook, Birmingham in 1950, daughter of Kenneth Clarke born 1924 and Joan Clarke (nee Price) born 1927.
My father was born at 21 North Road, Bournbrook, son of Edith Clarke and Jack Clarke. The family name was really Rone Clarke and this family began their trade as woodturners at Rose Cottage, Bristol Road, Bromsgrove.
My father worked... [more]

Selly Oak

My mother, Thelma Hill, and her brother Ken were born in Gleave Road, Selly Oak. They used to play down one end called (I think) "the pudding bag". My mum went to St Mary's School and her brother (at aged 11 years) to St Wulstuns. Mum used to speak fondly of her time at school but like a lot of others... [more]

The Rone Clarke Family, Rose Cottage, Bristol Road, Bournbrook, Birmingham

My great-great-grandfather was CHARLES RONE CLARKE born 6 March 1837 at 13 Court, Smallbrook Street, Birmingham. He was a master woodturner and sixth great-grandson of Henry Clarke. He married my great-great-grandmother EMMA SOPHIA BABBINGTON, born 11th September 1841 at 100 Lancaster Street in the district of St Mary, Birmingham. She married CHARLES RONE CLARKE at St Philip's Church, Birmingham on December... [more]

Born at home in School Road Yardley Wood 1954

Born into a large family one of eventually, 8 children, I can remember helping to pick and shell peas in our very large rear garden, we grew a lot of vegetables then and I enjoyed swinging and climbing on our many apple trees; we kept pigeons and rabbits, and also one chicken called Sheila (named after my eldest brother's girlfriend). Eventually our... [more]

Any memories of Maggie Williams?

I am trying to trace my family tree. Does anyone remenber Maggie (Margaret) Williams, who was married to Joe and had three children (Mary, Margaret and Ron)? She lived in Beauchamp Road and went to the local Catholic church. I would love to hear any reminiscences about my grandmother and grandfather.

Rednal Hill School

From the age of about 4 years old to 10 years old we lived in Dowar Road and I went to Colmores Farm Infant School (near to Rubery). When I was 7 I went to the newly built Rednal Hill School and I started in the first year Juniors. Mr Donaldson was the headmaster and he was a Navy man and... [more]

1939 ONWARDS I Remember

I was born in 1939, the year war started, and remember being lifted out of bed in the middle of the night and the barrage balloons looked like big elephants in the sky. I also remember the table shelter in the lounge which I was put in with my brother, and my Mickey Mouse gas mask, reddish with a tongue and... [more]