We take a look back through the archive at old pictures of Birmingham totally unrecognisable. Much of Birmingham in the early 1900s was farmland and the new towns we know today like Chelmsley Wood, Redditch and Castle Vale we many years from developing.
However with an ever growing city, new developments were needed and the city grew and grew to what we know today. Bartley Green was a large farming community and Chelmsley Wood was very much known for its woodland back in the day.
Many of the areas we know today like Acocks Green and Handsworth were rapidly developed with thousands of council houses built in the 1930s to house the masses. With the selling off of these in the 'Thatcher years', most are still standing today in private ownership.
At the turn of the 20th Century, the inner city residents were housed in the traditional Victorian terraces of Balsall Heath, Sparkbrook etc. The suburbs were still very much rural villages. We hope you enjoy this glimpse into the past of Birmingham.
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Fox Hollies Road Acocks Green.
Lea Ford on the Rover Cole May 1938.
Rural Hall Green in the mid-1920s shortly before the district was transformed into a suburb. This photo was taken looking along Cole Bank Road towards the Wake Green Road and Swanshurst Lane. It shows the road before it was widened and before the bridge in the middle was replaced. On the right is Sarehole Mill.
The Ford at Yardley Wood.
Tram terminus for Rednal where Brummies would alight for a day out at the Lickey Hills.
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