How to find EDGBASTON (North) HISTORY of EDGBaSTON Edgbaston is an elegant leafy suburb just one BLUE PLAQUES Celboldestone in the Doomsday book of 1086 is mile west of city centre. thought to refer to Edgbaston and depicts it as an area of cultivated land of about 250 acres. th century and Edgbaston church dates from the 13 Edgbaston Hall, the manor house, somewhat th century Edgbaston Public Transport later. At the beginning of 17 From City was inconspicuous. Buses along Hagley Road , buses to Harborne During the English civil war when Edgbaston Hall was the seat of Robert Middlemore, a Roman Train to Five Ways station Catholic and Royalist, Parliamentarian troops extensively damaged the church and took over the Hall, which was eventually destroyed. In 1717, Walk developed in 2018 by Heritage the Middlemore line having been extinguished, volunteers from TASBE

the lordship of Edgbaston was purchased by Sir (The Arts Society Birmingham Evening) Richard Gough. During ten years at Edgbaston he ch. The Hall was rebuilt both the hall and the chur tenanted in 1796 by William Withering who became a member of the Lunar society, a group of eminent men such as James Watt, Joseph Priestly and Matthew Boulton. They were feared North Edgbaston 2 In brief by the common people and when celebratingHow the to get there second anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, were attacked by a mob. Edgbaston Hall was Blue Plaque Walk threatened but successfully defended andEdgbaston the is an elegant leafy suburb just one mile west arrival of military support from Birminghamof ended Birmingham city centre. the riot. Goughs married into the Calthorpe family and the Walking distanceCalthorpe estate continues to dominate Edgbaston to this day, many roads being Publicnamed Transport th century the and sponsored by Calthorpe Residents’ Society after family members. From early 19 3.5 miles / 5.6 km migration of wealthy manufacturers from Fromthe city City to the leafy suburb ousted the tenant farmers and on allowed the building of large elegant housesBy bus - using Hagley Road towards Quinton or buses tree-lined streets. No trade or manufacturingto Harborne. was allowed on the estate. Concessions were occasionally made and the Blind Institute, the Deaf and Dumb Institute, the Botanical Gardens,By train - from New Street travel to Five Ways station. Category the Oratory and its school and land for Warwickshire cricket club were granted in the19th LINEAR WALK Easy century. For more information visit: www.networkwestmidlands.com BRIEF HISTORY of How to find Edgbaston EDGBASTON Central

EDGBaSTON Celboldestone in the Doomsday book ofBy 1086 is carEdgbaston is an elegant leafy suburb just one thought to refer to Edgbaston and depicts it as an mile west of Birmingham city centre. area of cultivated land of about 250 acres. Places to eat, drink and relax in Edgbaston church dates from the 13th centuryEdgbaston and Village is easily accessible by car. Car parking Edgbaston Hall, the manor house, now the Golf club, somewhat later. During the Englishis civil available war, at pay andPublic display Transport car parks, and there is Edgbaston: www.edgbastonvillage.co.ukwhen Edgbaston Hall was the seat of Robert From City Middlemore, a Roman Catholic and limitedRoyalist, free Buseson-street along Hagleycar parking. Road towards Quinton, Parliamentarian troops extensively damaged the buses to Harborne church and took over the Hall, which was eventually destroyed. In 1717, the Middlemore line Train to Five Ways station Walk available through the ‘Walk Run EDGBASTONhaving (North) been extinguished, the lordship of How to find Edgbaston BRIEF HISTORY of How to find Edgbaston HISTORY of EDGBaSTON Edgbaston was purchased by Sir Richard Gough. EDGBASTON Central Cycle’ app: www.walkruncycle.com/EDGBaSTONDuring 10 years at Edgbaston he rebuiltWalk both the orWalk Cycle developed in 2018 by Heritage Edgbaston is an elegant leafy suburb just one BLUE PLAQUES Celboldestone in the Doomsday book of 1086 is mile west of Birmingham city centre. Celboldestone in the Doomsdayhall and thebook church. of 1086 The is Hall wasEdgbaston tenanted in is 1796 an elegant leafy suburbvolunteers just one from TASBE thought to refer to Edgbaston and depicts it as an by William Withering who became a membermile west of ofthe Birmingham (The city Arts centre Society. Birmingham Evening) area of cultivated land of about 250 acres. birmingham-edgbaston-walkthought to refer to Edgbaston and depicts it as an th It is easy to walk and cycle to. Within the Edgbaston Edgbaston church dates from the 13 century and area of cultivated landLunar of about society, 250 a groupacres. of eminent men such as th Edgbaston Hall, the manor house, somewhat Edgbaston church dates fromJames the Watt, 13 Josephcentury Priestlyand and Matthew Boulton. th century Edgbaston Public Transport Village there are a number of cycle stands. later. At the beginning of 17 From City Edgbaston Hall, the manorThey house, were nowfeared the byGolf the common people and was inconspicuous. when celebrating the 2nd anniversary of Publicthe Transport Buses along Hagley Road , buses to Harborne club, somewhat later. During the English civil war, During the English civil war when Edgbaston Hall when Edgbaston Hall wasstorming the seatof the of Bastille, Robert were attacked by a mob.From City was the seat of Robert Middlemore, a Roman Train to Five Ways station Middlemore, a Roman TheCatholic Hall w asand threatened Royalist, but successfullyBuses along defended Hagley Road towards Quinton, Catholic and Royalist, Parliamentarian troops Parliamentarian troops extensivelyand the arrival damaged of military the support from Birminghambuses to Harborne extensively damaged the church and took over ended the riot. the Hall, which was eventually destroyed. In 1717, church and took over the Hall, which was Walk developed in 2018 by Heritage eventually destroyed. In 1717,Goughs the marriedMiddlemore into linethe Calthorpe familyWalkTrain and thetodeveloped Five Ways stationby Heritage Volunteers from The Arts Society the Middlemore line having been extinguished, volunteers from TASBE having been extinguished,Calthorpe the estatelordship continues of to dominate Edgbaston the lordship of Edgbaston was purchased by Sir (The Arts Society Birmingham Evening) Birmingham Evening and sponsored by Calthorpe Residents’ Richard Gough. During ten years at Edgbaston he Edgbaston was purchasedto bythis Sir day, Richard many Gough. roads being named after family ch. The Hall was th rebuilt both the hall and the chur During 10 years at Edgbastonmembers. he rebuilt From bothearly the C19 migrationWalk of developedwealthy in 2018 by Heritage Society and Calthorpe Estates, plus supported by the Local tenanted in 1796 by William Withering who hall and the church. The Hallmanufacturers was tenanted from in 1796 the city to the leafy volunteerssuburb from TASBE became a member of the Lunar society, a group www.tasbe.org by William Withering who oustedbecame the a member tenant farmers of the and allowed(The theArtsInnovation building Society Birmingham Fund. Evening) of eminent men such as James Watt, Joseph Lunar society, a group ofof eminent large elegant men suchhouses as on tree -lined streets. No Priestly and Matthew Boulton. They were feared and sponsored by Calthorpe Residents’ Society James Watt, Joseph Priestlytrade and or Matthew manufacturing Boulton. was allowed on the estate. by the common people and when celebrating the second anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, They were feared by theHowever, common c opeoplencessions and were occasionally made were attacked by a mob. Edgbaston Hall was when celebrating the 2andnd anniversarythe Blind Institute,of the the Deaf and Dumb threatened but successfully defended and the storming of the Bastille, wereInstitute, attacked the Botanical by a mob. Gardens, the Oratory and arrival of military support from Birmingham ended The Hall was threatened butits successfullyschool and defendedland for Warwickshire cricket club the riot. and the arrival of military supportwere granted from Birmingham in C19th. Goughs married into the Calthorpe family and the ended the riot. Birmingham Botanical and Horticultural Society Calthorpe estate continues to dominate Edgbaston to this day, many roads being named Goughs married into the Calthorpeobtained a family lease onand land the off Westbourne Road and th century the and sponsored by Calthorpe Residents’ Society ten acres of the Botanical Gardens were first after family members. From early 19 Calthorpe estate continues to dominate Edgbaston BLUe PLAQUEs North Edgbaston opened to the shareholders of the Society in 1832. migration of wealthy manufacturers from the city to this day, many roads being named after family to the leafy suburb ousted the tenant farmers and th CIRCULARWALK on members. From early C19 migration of wealthy allowed the building of large elegant houses manufacturers from the city to the leafy suburb lined streets. No trade or manufacturing was www.tasbe.org www.calthorperesidents.org www.calthorpe.co.uk tree- Blue Plaque Walkousted the tenant farmers and allowed the building www.tasbe.org allowed on the estate. Concessions were of large elegant houses on tree-lined streets. No occasionally made and the Blind Institute, the and sponsored by Calthorpe Residents’ Society Deaf and Dumb Institute, the Botanical Gardens, trade or manufacturing was allowed on the estate. 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century the migration of wealthy wealthy of migration the century 19 early the From Here are some of the places you will see on the walk the on see will you places the of some are Here th Between the wars Tolkein enjoyed academic life at the Continue to Rotten Park Road to cross Hagley Road North Edgbaston University of Leeds and then at Oxford where he found once more. Turn right into Manor Road. Number 6 is time to start writing the fantasy novels for which he is on the right and the plaque is by doorway 18. The route famous. ‘The Hobbit’ was published in 1937, but ‘The Lord of the Rings’, which he began as its sequel in 1938, was N6 Sir GILBERT BARLING (1855 - 1940) not completed until 1950 and not published until 1954. - 6 Manor Road Birmingham Civic Society’s first chairman, Gilbert Barling Retrace your steps to Hagley Road and cross back lived in this house for 15 years up to the time of his death. The walk begins on the Hagley Road just again. A short distance further west is the Oratory. He was born at Newnham on Severn, Gloucestershire off the Five Ways roundabout. As you and educated at a boarding school at Weston, near Bath. walk around look for the blue plaques N3 Cardinal JOHN HENRY NEWMAN (1801 - 1890) He matriculated from Queen’s College Birmingham in at the locations indicated on the sketch - The Oratory, Hagley Road 1885 and went to St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in London map at the bottom of this page. John Henry Newman was a poet and theologian, and an to study medicine. He became a Fellow of the Royal important and controversial figure in the religious history of College of Surgeons in 1881. He was appointed resident Start on Hagley Road the side opposite Morrison’s in the 19th century. Originally an evangelical Oxford pathologist at the General Hospital Birmingham and in store. From here walk away from Five Ways to Plough University academic and Church of England priest, he 1885 become Professor of Pathology. In 1904 he was & Harrow (plaque 2 at entrance to hotel). For the third became leader of the Oxford Movement, a group of appointed Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the newly Tolkein plaque, cross Hagley Road into Highfield intellectual Anglicans who wished the church to return to formed and progressed to Road and house number 4 is on the right hand side. some of the Catholic rituals and beliefs from before the Vice-Chancellor from 1913 to 1933. His association with reformation. He and some of his followers eventually turned the General Hospital continued throughout his career and N1, 2 and 4 JRR TOLKEIN (1892 -1973) to and were accepted into the Catholic Church. Newman he became its President in 1925. - N1 91 Duchess Place/91 Hagley Road (demolished 2019) then left Oxford and was ordained as a priest in Rome. - N2 Plough & Harrow Hotel, 135 Hagley Road He returned to England as an Oratorian* and finally settled Distinguished War service earned him the CB (Military) - N4 4 Highfield Road in Edgbaston where he lived for nearly 40 years founding in 1917, CBE in 1919 and also a Baronetcy. In 1936, in John Ronald Ruel Tolkein was born in South Africa where in 1859 the Oratory School, dubbed the Catholic Eton. recognition of his wide-reaching work for the Hospital, the his father was managing an English bank. His paternal Newman was also a literary figure of note. He penned University and other public service, Barling was presented ancestors had fled Germany in the 18th century but the several theological works, but also wrote poetry including with the Birmingham Civic Society’s Gold Medal. family was very English. Aged 3, while he was visiting ‘The Dream of Gerontius’ and popular hymns such as England with his mother, his father died and so he went ‘Lead Kindly Light’ and ‘Praise to the Holiest in the Height’. A short distance around the corner to the right is to live with his maternal grandparents in Kings Heath, Pope Leo XIII created him Cardinal in 1879. Newman picturesque St. Augustine’s Church which has Birmingham. They later moved to Sarehole, then a accepted the gesture as a vindication of his work, but additional information on Barling. Worcestershire village, now in Hall Green where a made two requests: that he not be consecrated a bishop blue plaque adorns his former home, Sarehole Mill. on receiving the cardinalate, as was usual at that time; Follow the map from here, walking west on Melville The marshy area around here features often in his and that he might remain in Birmingham. He was beatified Road, turn right into Holly Road, right on Gillot Road, writings as do some of the buildings around his next by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. left into Portland Road and finally left into City Road. home in Edgbaston. *Oratorians commit themselves to membership of a particular, independent, self-governing local community without actually taking vows, an unusual and N7 Sir (1886-1977) innovative arrangement created by St. Philip. In order to be founded, an oratory - George Dixon School, City Road Despite her Protestant background, his mother turned must normally have a minimum of four members, two being ordained. to Roman Catholicism and when she died from diabetes Born in Birmingham of Jewish parents, Balcon won a aged 34, she left Tolkein and his younger brother under Continue walking west to cross Monument Road. scholarship to George Dixon School in 1907 but had to the guardianship of ‘Father Francis’ (Morgan) at the There are some cafes and restaurants on this stretch. leave in 1913 owing to family finances. He was initially Oratory. Tolkein was educated at King Edward’s School Cross the main road again at the lights and continue apprenticed to a jeweller, but poor eyesight curtailed this Birmingham and for a short time at St. Philip’s. His poor west on the left side of Hagley Road. Number 146 is career and also exempted him from active service in the performance in exams was blamed by Father Francis on now an office block and the plaque is missing. First World War. Instead, he joined the Dunlop Rubber his infatuation with Edith Bratt who lived in the boarding Company in Aston and worked his way up to being PA to house in Duchess Road where the boys were staying. N5 Sir ROWLAND HILL (1795 - 1879) the Managing Director. In 1921, invited by a friend to join A plaque on number 4 Highfield Road (N4) suggests - 146 Hagley Road (plaque missing) him in film distribution, Balcon moved to London and started that he moved here for a year immediately following this on the path which helped make the British film industry Sir Rowland Hill, English teacher, inventor and social episode. In spite of his guardian’s disapproval, but great. He founded the Ealing Studios in London, famous reformer, was born in Kidderminster and is best known for obeying instructions not to see her again until he was 21, for the Ealing comedies of the 40’s and 50’s, among them the introduction of the postage stamp. He campaigned for he remained true to Edith, who was 3 years older than he, such classics as ‘The Lavender Hill Mob’ and ‘Whisky a comprehensive reform of the postal system, based on and eventually married her in 1916. They stayed at the Galore’. Another blue plaque to Michael Balcon exists on the concept of Uniform Penny Post, and his solution Plough & Harrow Hotel (N2) in June that year before he the site of the Ealing Studios today. of prepayment, facilitating the safe, speedy and cheap left to join the war effort. He had deferred enlisting until transfer of letters, was to have world-wide benefits for he had finished his degree at Oxford, where he graduated In 1950, when working on ‘The Blue Lamp’, Balcon personal and commercial correspondence. The Penny in 1915 with first class honours in English, but was now changed the name of the main character to that of his Black stamp appeared in 1840 to coincide with the 21st called to face action on the Somme. In the second world old school’s founder, George Dixon. This film was the birthday of Queen Victoria. war, he was recruited as a codebreaker. pre-cursor of the highly successful TV series ‘Dixon of Dock Green’. The acclaimed actor Daniel Day Lewis is Previously he was influential in educational reform. His Balcon’s grandson. progressive ideas on liberal and scientific teaching were widely admired and numerous educational reformers From the school you can continue up City Road, adopted his methods. He taught at his father’s school and turn left into Fountain Road and you will come back established Hazelwood School here at 146 Hagley Road. to Hagley Road from where any bus will take you to Unfortunately the blue plaque commemorating the school Five Ways (or you can walk!). Alternatively, you can and Hill’s time here, has been missing for some years. retrace your steps from the school to Portland Road N7 where again the bus will take you back to Five Ways. He lived on this site from 1819 to 1827 before moving to London as headmaster of a school in Tottenham carrying on the principles of Hazelwood.

St. Augustine’s Church Birmingham N City Centre N1 N6 N2 N3

N5 N4 Unfortunately plaque no longer in place To find out more about Edgbaston Village, along with the range of places to eat, drink and relax Five Ways visit www.edgbastonvillage.co.uk Train station