Category: News

April 23, 2014

Park Life

In 1906 William A Cadbury gifted land, then known as Stirchley recreational Ground to Birmingham City Council. It was to be used by the people of Birmingham for recreational purposes and is held in trust. Today it is known as Stirchley Park. Tucked just behind Stirchley Baths, the Co-op and the houses on Bond Street, not everybody knows of it’s existence.

Being over one hundred years old the park has a varied history, not least that during WWII it was used as a firing range by the Home Guard. Last year the park was home to an event as part of the Heritage lottery Fund bid for Stirchley Baths- ‘Sink or Swim’. The redevelopment of the baths means the bowling green which sat adjacent to the park is now to be used for other purposes. In the early part of the 20th century The Stirchley Social and Working Mens Club formed a bowling team and this became their home for the next eighty years, the teams won several awards. Once the redevelopment work on the baths is complete there will be access from the park to the new community hub.

In 2012 improvements started to happen in the park and this led to the development of the Friends of Stirchley Park; a group of volunteers led by chairman Peter Evans. The group works to promote and improve Stirchley Park for the community. Since their formulation, noticeboards and benches have been added to the area. Here’s a great video illustrating community involvement.

The park boasts many exciting things, including the Bourne Brook which provides respite to local ducks. Last year the Stirchley Love Seat was kindly received by the friends of Stirchley Park and is the second permanent artwork Place Prospectors have commissioned for the Park – the first being ‘Sleeping Child’, a graffiti artwork painted by Title.

The park is also home to the 5 O’ Clock Club- a group of dog walkers who meet daily. Recently I was lucky enough to meet Marvin, Lucy, Alfie and Ferrous. Their owners do a daily litter pick of the park and are currently working on a botanical survey to discover what wild specimens the park boasts.

In February last year, in partnership with Birmingham Trees for Life, five Hawthorn trees were planted to help shield a boundary wall. More improvements have been proposed, including additional planting, seating and graffiti. The Friends of Stirchley Park and local councillors are keen to hear ideas from local residents. The park noticeboard recently asked for ideas for new graffiti artwork. The park is a place for all the people of Stirchley to enjoy and get involved.

April 6, 2014

Sign of the Times

Stirchley is littered with old signs. Inspired by fellow heritage fan Tracey and her love for ghost signs, one afternoon I spent an hour searching for some along Pershore Road. If you’re familiar with the area you’ll have seen the many house and ‘villa’ names on properties. One such stone sign is an historic reminder of Stirchley’s community in times past.

The brickwork of 1399 Pershore Road (at the junction of Hunts Road) has a stone reading ‘The Central Bakery 1891’. In 1875, a group of locals formed the Ten Acres & Stirchley Street Co-operative Society (TASCOS). By 1914, the society had 12 branches and had spread as far as Bromsgrove. At its height it had over 50 branches, its own dairy, bakery, laundry, fishmongers and funeral home. It was an independent society, which in 1971, merged with the Birmingham Society.

.The Co-operative Group has its origins in Rochdale, Lancashire. Famously established in 1844 it was based upon the notion of ethical trading and belief that the profits of the business should be shared amongst members according to their purchases. By 1900 there were over 1,400 separate independent co-operative businesses in the UK, all members of a wider Co-operative Movement. During the 1900s, many of these independent societies began to merge.

At the TASCOS bakery, bread and cakes were baked on the premises and sold in the shop and distributed to shops throughout the area. The original bakery was only a stones throw away from the current Loaf and Stirchley Stores which is a co-operative run business.

Many of the Co-op’s great buildings are still standing, in one form or another. The fancy dress shop in Cotteridge (with the life-size cow outside) was a co-op shop and on Pershore Road stood a butchers with the slaughter house at the back. The Wolsey Sausage factory still operates at the rear on Charlotte Road.

The site where the Co-op supermarket now stands on the corner of Umberslade and Hazelwell was once a fantastically beautiful Edwardian department store. Originally built in 1915, it was known as TASCOS branch number one and housed many departments, such as ladies shoes.

To see more historical photos of Stirchley visit

https://www.flickr.com/photos/co-ophistory/sets/72157594372662134/

March 23, 2014

Farewell Stirchley Community Centre

Stirchley Community Centre closed its doors on the 14th March

to allow the development of a new TESCO supermarket.

Sue Jackson’s farewell poem.

Farewell Stirchley Community Centre

A sad. sad day for everyone
No matter what the occasion
Emotions run high when saying goodbye, but,
You’ll all meet again in a brand new location

Mel is a’ mopping. T Dancers are bopping
The toddlers are playing in the hall
Stitchers are sewing, the place is just glowing
No one wants to leave at all

David massaging, the staff are all charming
Soccer Stars having a ball
Nassar’s children are chanting, makes you feel just like dancing
The atmosphere a welcome to all

Shambuyi is preaching, Ghana Union are meeting
And STELLA are laughing with glee
Martial Arts is exciting, self defence is enlightening
Then a break for a nice cup of tea

Table tennis balls pinging, they sound like their singing
Shuttlecocks high in the air
The Alliance are meeting and Pilgrims are eating
Their cake – it’s a private affair

New venues were found after shopping around
Don’t get too comfy that’s all
Groups are welcome back, there’s no doubt about that
The new centre means total recall

SEJ

Sue Jackson on the final day.