Local history wonk [Howmuch?] has found this rather intriguing plan of land plots being auctioned along the Pelsall Road, Brownhills, hiding in the archives. The only snag is, we don’t know who was selling, when, or why.
My guess would be about 1890-ish.
I’m interested particularly in the house marked ‘Ivydene’ and the square, close or farmyard next door to it on the Brownhills side. Looking at it’s proximity to the bridge, I’d estimate that it stood where Taylor’s Cafe did, now new build housing.
Auction plot plan found in the archives by history operative Howmuch? – Click for a larger version. When studying this, beware that north is in different orientations for each draft; lord knows why.
There’s something even more interesting hidden away on this plan, and I have no idea whatsoever what it means, or relates to. Marked at the foot of the railway embankment, just where it crosses the canal, there’s a feature marked ‘Ventilator’:
What’s that all about then? Anything still there? Mineshaft beneath, or something else? Click for a larger version.
Any contributions are invited here. The auctioneers seem to be a company called Lomax, but that may be the printers. The surveyor is listed as Richard J. Barnes, of Lichfield.
Please comment here, or BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers!
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Lomax may be the printer as there is one around that time and of that name, for binding, printing and lithography.
In Lichfield
George Roberts, Brewer. Ivydene, Pelsall Road Brownhills.
Nominated for Central Ward Brownhills…LM 27 March 1908
The name George Roberts (above) may well be a missprint in the paper as in May 1914 the trustees of William Roberts were having a grand sale! This included…the detached residence known as Ivydene, Pelsall Road Brownhills.
It appears William had an older brother named George, baptised 1913 Shenstone.
Probate Calendar: ROBERTS George of Ivydene Pelsall-road Brownhills Staffordshire died 26 January 1910 Probate London 17 August to Thomas Pheasant commercial traveller William Richard Lunt printer and Clara Elizabeth Roberts widow. Effects £118499 0s 4d.
Mother’s maiden name was Pheasant.
Correction. George re probate above was nephew to William. Recorded 1891 at Station Inn, nephew, clerk brewery. Married Clara Elizabeth Mills, who lived at Ivydene in 1911.
Hi Pedro…
Thanks for this… what a star you are!
Cheers
Bob
If anyone knows where Lodge and Swan Farm Brownhills was situated, and it is on the map shown, then this could be part of the sale of W Roberts estate.
Very interesting maps, I grew up on the Hussey Estate in the 1960s to me Ivydean seems to be where Taylors cafe used to be and the Square buildings- I remember something but it was derelict in the 60’s- it was just a few walls that remained, I always thought it was something connected with the railway, eg Coal for engines or Water or perhaps housing for Station workers/drivers, but Im not totally sure. As kids we used to trek over the fields to Swingbridge Farm where there was a high wall we used to look over to see pigs in the yard.
I am more or less convinced that this is part of the auction by the trustees of the William Roberts Estate. In the article “The death of a big, big man” it says…
Mr. Roberts also owned a large amount of private and business property in Brownhills and district. In addition to his licensing business, the late Mr. Roberts took a keen interest in agriculture, and was a large breeder of cattle, and especially of pigs. He was the owner of three large farming estates, including the Pipe Place Farm, of 300 acres; the Warren House Farm, of 90 acres; and the Lodge Farm of 65 acres.
The auction in 1914, mentioned above, also includes the sale of Pipe Place Farm and Warren House Farm!
Could the ventilator marked on the map be something to do with Potters Clay
& Coal as it looks to be in the right area.
The Ventilator; just to add to the mystery.
Looking at the plan, maybe dated around 1914??, the ventilator seems inside the railway property.
Nothing appears on the Tythe map of 1834 as the L&NWR has not been built, and I cannot see it on the OS map of 1921 (from a publication). The nearest collieries seem to be Slough and Highbridge, but they are some way to the SW, and would be limited in there extraction near the railway line.
I have placed some detail of part of the sale of William Roberts’ estate in 1914 in the comments of the article Big Man here…
http://brownhillsbob.com/2012/07/10/the-death-of-a-big-big-man/#comment-12444
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