Watson House

A Memory of Sutton Coldfield.

What a delight to find this site and the photographs of Sutton Coldfield. I too have memories of a children's home but mine were of Watson House. From what I remember it was a big beautiful Tudor-built house, with the biggest in and out drive I have ever had the pleasure of being permitted to walk on without being chased off, the sound of the gravel beneath my child sized shoes always amused me. I often think of the years I spent there. I remember the pond where we used to feed the swans, thanks to Sister Mary who used to put a couple of us in the back of her Morris car and take us there. I remember the 'Old Rec' which was at the top of Birmingham Road, with all the dog walkers and the mums and dads with their children playing ball or hide and seek - how I never got lost whilst playing with the Watson's house dog Randal I'll never know.
I saw the photograph of the Methodist Church where I used to be a member of the Brownies South Parade - I used to be the blue emblem (I think an elf) - only a fellow brownie will know what I mean. I travelled to school on foot but do not recall the shops in the photographs, but Town County Primary School was my destination and only when I arrived and was safe in the playground did I realise we were on a hill. (I think I saw the corner of the school in one of the photographs too.) So you see it was certainly a delight for me finding this site, I will now go on to look for other towns that I have lived in and hope that I will find the same surprise. Thank you.

Maria