Institute (Before & After Double Glazing)

A HISTORY OF THE NORTHFIELD VILLAGE INSTITUTE 1892  to  1982

The building, now known as the Northfield Centre, has a long history of education.  The complications of its labyrinthine structure have baffled, confused and. frustrated many of us!  How did such a building come to exist? Tor what purpose was it designed? Who first used it?  It is hoped that this will answer these questions and many others.

THE FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE
Let us begin with an extract from "The Friend" of 26th August 1892.

"A few weeks ago we noted the opening of the new Meeting-house, and this week we are able to present a sketch of the same. The following description is from the 'Birmingham News':- This building consists of a village coffee tavern, which will be known as the "Cyclist's Arms", an assembly hall will seat 200 persons, and at both ends is a door for exit.  The schoolroom is 24ft x 28 1/2 ft.  The coffee tavern includes a room 26 1/2 ft. x 21 1/2 ft. with a spacious bay window, and a billiard room measuring 27 ft. x 25 ft. together with a double skittle-alley.  There is also a small kitchen with accommodation for tea meetings.

Institute 1892

A caretaker's house completes the front block of the coffee-house, and there are three pairs of picturesque cottages upon the same estate, and to each cottage is attached a plot of ground 1/8th of an acre.  The style of architecture is a picturesque Gothic, and in the upper storey the panels of the half-timbered work are mostly of brick, but those in the gables are of white plaster. A fliche or small tower for ventilation distinguishes the meeting room, and Bromsgrove stone is used for dressing.  As will be seen the general effect is quiet but picturesque. The Meeting-house was opened about two months ago"

As you will have noted from this description, and from the illustration on the cover, the basic structure remains the same. The land on which the building stands was acquired by George Cadbury in 1891 and he had the Friends Meeting House constructed which, as we have read, was ready for use in 1892.  Well may we envy the speed of work! The entwined monograms of George and his wife Elizabeth are to be seen engraved in the wall of the building facing Matthews & Sons (Auctioneers). George Cadbury himself maintained the building until 1899.  Christopher Cadbury, his grandson can recall walking to and from meeting each Sunday morning.

The Society of Friends used the building for a period of about 35 years, using the larger, sunny upstairs room, now known as the Dressmaking Room, and the Main Hall for worship and business. The Friends were not the only group to hold services in the Institute.  Local residents remember with affection the Sunday School meetings when the Hall would be packed with worshipers and occasions like the Harvest Festival when produce filled the front of the Hall and the queue of people stretched down the stairs and into the road outside  -  as it does now during Enrollment Week! (from a pamphlet issued in 1982)

Street Farm

Street Farm, Church Road, in the 1930s, faced Street Cottages. Originally holding 140 acres, extending to Hole Lane and Bristol Road, it dated from around 1700, and lasted till 1958. The YMCA building (opened 1961) now occupies the site.

Street Cottages, on Church Road, seen here in 1934, were until their demolition in 1964 Northfield's finest group of nailers' houses. There were similar rows in Harborne and Bartley Green, most of which have now gone, though some individual houses survive. Northfield's best remaining row is on Church Hill, sensitively restored in keeping with their eighteenth-century origin.

1903 map Street Cottages under Farm

In 1851 Street Farm is listed as being in the yield of Hay-with-Middleton and having 140 acres. It belonged to a William Newey who employed lour labourers. In the nineteenth century each parish was sub-divided into yields making it easier to assess the output of cultivation for the purpose of taxation. In 1881 the farm still consisted of 140 acres and a Thomas Drakeley lived there with his wife and family. He too employed four men. Farmers living at Street Farm on Bunbury Road since then have included Miss Wilson, 'Billy' Field and Mr Blunn. Mrs Wyeth recalls fetching fresh eggs from the farm when she was a child and being taken round the back to see the hens. The photograph was taken c. 1957 and the farm was demolished in 1958. (M. Banton)

Church Road, Bell Lane & Bristol Road South crossroads Northfield

 Isaac Tounge's House, Blacksmith (right.) Before the Clock Tower's built/Huins Shoe Shop site (left) 1903

Similar view 1913 (ten years later) Note Victorian Bus shelter & open top buses (Huins shoes (left))

In colour from further up the High Street (Bristol Road)

Bristol Road cross roads from roof of shopping center car park 1970s

Huins shoes and clock tower pre-1953

c.1913 site of todays shopping center

Bristol Road/Church Road cross roads pre shopping center showing pet shop builders yard

Huin clock tower

Isaac Tounge's House (Blacksmith)

Issac Tounge's house (Blacksmith) corner of Bristol Road South & Church Road. Demolished late 1940's. Notice that one window is bricked-up, this would have been to avoid extra 'window tax' that was introduced in 1696 and was repealed in 1851, 156 years after first being introduced. (photo: Birmingham Library)

Same stables another angle view. J. Cole & Son, Smithy (Blacksmith) c. 1900

wider image of above

Colourised stable & owners