House by House: 54 Kingsley Road

Click to enlarge.

1911
The first census recording the houses was taken in 1911, so these were probably the first tenants of the house.

• Percy William Roberts, head, 30, married, overseer of department (press, spinning, stamping), born Acocks Green.

Percy William was married to Kate Valentine Roberts, who was staying with her parents in Kings Heath (50 All Saints Road) the night of the 1911 census.


1918
On the 1918 absent voters list, the following usual resident of 54 Kingsley Road was:
Percy William Roberts (216702 Gnr, K Bty, RHA)


1920
On the 1920  electoral registers the residents at 54 Kingsley Road were:
Percy William Roberts
Kate Valentine Roberts
(this register included men over 21 and women over 30)


The Roberts family moved to 45 Kingsley Road, and by 1930 to 51 Kinglsey Road.

Percy Roberts was secretary to the Tenants committee from the 1930s, and one of his duties was to collect rents, which at that time were collected door-to-door. When work needed doing to any of the houses, the centenary booklet states that he 'did not pay a bill until he had personally inspected the completed job'.