Bikes in the 1950s, Hawthorne Road

This photograph has been sent by Derek Kyte, who still lives in the area, and depicts him and his friend Noel Booth outside the house where Noel lived.

The bikes were Christmas presents, and bought at Kings Norton Cycles in Cotteridge in the late 1950s.

The Bottom 'Rec' (Bigwood Dell)

The bottom 'rec', or bottom recreation ground, is one of two areas which were part of the original 1906 design of the estate designated for leisure and sports. I have always been told that this area was for older children, and the top 'rec' (behind the the main block of houses) was for younger children.

The area was originally part of Middleton Hall Farm, and the field within the farm was called Bigwood (hence Bigwood Dell). The ground was difficult to build on due to its incline, so was designed as a green-space instead. The reason for the dip leading towards the overgrown area (filled with blackberry brambles, see above) was that this had been a clay pit, used for excavating clay to make bricks (see maps, below). It was one of three clay pits nearby, with another surviving in gardens of Heath Close and the other being filled in and built on, on Heath Road.

In the 1880s, it was already called the 'Old Clay Pit', and trees were marked at its edges, so it was probably eighteenth-century in origin.

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During World War II the area was converted into allotments to help with the war effort. Today, the area is great for blackberry picking.

The bottom 'rec', or Bigwood Dell, is accessed via Hawthorne Croft, which is off Hawthorne Road.

House by House: 38 Hawthorne 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.

• Thomas Sidney Whittall, head, 27, bank clerk, born Birmingham.
• Alice Marian Whittall, wife, 28, ---, born Leicester.
• Eleanor Marian Whittall, dau, 1 month, ---, born Northfield.

1925

On the 1925 electoral register the residents at 38 Hawthorne Road were:

Harold Bailey

Rose Elizabeth Bailey

(this register included men over 21 and women over 30)

Harold and Rose Elizabeth Bailey had lived at 30 Kingsley Road on the 1911 census.

House by House: 36 Hawthorne Road

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

• William Robert Cutler, head, 49, estimate clerk at glass merchants, born West Bromwich.
• Mary Ann Cutler, wife, 47, ---, born West Bromwich.
• Arthur Norman Cutler, son, 9, ---, born West Bromwich.

1925

On the 1925 electoral register the residents at 36 Hawthorne Road were:
William Robert Cutler
Mary Cutler
Arthur Norman Cutler 
(this register included men over 21 and women over 30)

House by House: 34 Hawthorne Road

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

• Frederick Breininger, head, 31, commercial traveller at sheet metal manufactory, born Reading in Berkshire.
• Ellen Breininger, wife, 33, ---, born Birmingham.
• Josephine Breininger, dau, 4, ---, born USA.
• Jeanette Breininger, dau, 3, ---, born USA.
• Edith Ryley, servant, 15, general servant, born Wythall in Worcestershire.

1925

On the 1925 electoral register the residents at 34 Hawthorne Road were:
Emma Clara Crosbee
Rose Nelly Crosbee
(this register included men over 21 and women over 30)

House by House: 32 Hawthorne Road

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

• Ernest Cilmer Swann, head, 29, teacher at parish school, born North Shields in Northumberland.
• Alice Gertrude Swann, head, 29, ---, born Nottingham.

Ernest G. and Alice G. Swann had moved to 8 Hawthorne Road by 1925.

1925

On the 1925 electoral register the residents at 32 Hawthorne Road were:
William Perry Woodward
Barbara Clare Woodward
(this register included men over 21 and women over 30)

House by House: 30 Hawthorne Road

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

• Charles William Dyer, head, 45, advertising clerk at cocoa and chocolate manufactory, born Hockley.
• Mary Jane Dyer, wife, 42, ---, born Selly Oak.
• Chalres Dyer, son, 19, clerk at cocoa works, born Edgbaston.
• Harry Northway Bradbear, boarder, 28, draughtsman at cocoa works, born London.

1925

On the 1925 electoral register the residents at 30 Hawthorne Road were:
Herbert Andrew Bailey
Kate Bailey
(this register included men over 21 and women over 30)

Herbert A. and Kate Bailey were living at 32 Kingsley Road on the 1911 census. Herbert's brothers lived on the estate too.

House by House: 28 Hawthorne Road

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

• Harold Baker, head, 51, photographer, born Birmingham.
• Blanche Lilian Baker, wife, 34, retouching and finishing photographs, born Birmingham.

1925

On the 1925 electoral register the residents at 28 Hawthorne Road were:
Harold Baker
Blanche Lilian Baker
(this register included men over 21 and women over 30)

House by House: 26 Hawthorne Road

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

• Charles Percy Collyer, head, 37, commercial traveller - groceries, born Harrow in Middlesex.
• Gertrude Annie Frances Collyer, wife, 38,---, born Marylebone in London.

1925

On the 1925 electoral register the residents at 26 Hawthorne Road were:
Charles Percy Collyer
Gertrude Annie Frances Collyer
(this register included men over 21 and women over 30)

House by House: 24 Hawthorne Road

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

• George Powney, head, 27, commercial clerk at chocolate manufacturers, born Kings Norton.
• Alice Victoria Powney, wife, 24, ---, born Dorchester in Dorset.

George Powney's parents lived at 20 Hawthorne Road at the time of the 1911 census.

1916-1919
George Powney served in World War I; he joined on 22nd May 1916 and was discharged on 25th November 1919. He served only in England, and suffered from nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys) which may have been why he did not serve abroad. His discharge form shows that he was a Quaker, and was still living at 24 Hawthorne Road in 1919.

1925

On the 1925 electoral register the residents at 24 Hawthorne Road were:
George Powney
Alice Victoria Powney
(this register included men over 21 and women over 30)

Goerge Powney's parents still resided at 20 Hawthorne Road in 1925. 

House by House: 22 Hawthorne Road

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

• Herbert Twine, head, 27, accountants chief clerk at the Borough Council of Birmingham, born Birmingham.
• Lilian Florence Maud Twine, wife, 25, ---, born Selly Oak.
• Ellen Mills,mother-in-law, 58, ---, born Coventry.

1925

On the 1925 electoral register the residents at 22 Hawthorne Road were:
Oolings Howell Bishop
Gladys Bishop
(this register included men over 21 and women over 30)

House by House: 20 Hawthorne Road

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

• Samuel Powney, head, 56, chocolate worker, born Wombourne in Staffordshire.
• Mary Elizabeth Powney, wife, 32 [should be 52], ---, born Sedgley in Staffordshire.

Samuel and Mary Elizabeth's son, George, was living at 24 Hawthorne Road at the time of the 1911 census.

1925

On the 1925 electoral register the residents at 20 Hawthorne Road were:
Samuel Powney
Mary Elizabeth Powney
(this register included men over 21 and women over 30)

The couple's son, George, was still living at 24 Hawthorne Road in 1925.

House by House: 18 Hawthorne Road

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

• Percival William Herbert, 37, head, commercial traveller for cycle trade, born Islington in London.
• Annie Marie Herbert, 37, wife, ---, born Clapham in Surrey.
• Ivy Florence Herbert, 9, dau, ---, born London.

1925

On the 1925 electoral register the residents at 18 Hawthorne Road were:
Hubert Sumner
Ruby Sumner
(this register included men over 21 and women over 30)

Hubert's brother, Theodore Sumner, lived at 4 Hawthorne Road on the 1911 census.


NB: 18 Hawthorne suffered bomb damage during World War II and was completely rebuilt in the late 1940s, as were numbers 12, 14 and 16. 

House by House: 17 Hawthorne Road

1911
No 1911 census has been found for this property, which may mean that it was misplaced or that the property was empty in 1911.

1925

On the 1925 electoral register the residents at 17 Hawthorne Road were:

William Woodward

Annie Evelyn Woodward

(this register included men over 21 and women over 30)

The Woodward family stayed at 17 Hawthorne Road until about 1955, when the Titley family moved in. 

House by House: 16 Hawthorne Road

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

• George James Phillips, head, 49, ironmonger (shopkeeper), born Birmingham.
• Amy Phillips, wife, 39, ---, born Handsworth.

1925

On the 1925 electoral register the residents at 16 Hawthorne Road were:
Amy Phillips
(this register included men over 21 and women over 30)


NB: 16 Hawthorne suffered bomb damage during World War II and was completely rebuilt in the late 1940s, as were numbers 12, 14 and 18. 

House by House: 15 Hawthorne Road

1911
No 1911 census has been found for this property, which may mean that it was misplaced or that the property was empty in 1911.

1925

On the 1925 electoral register the residents at 15 Hawthorne Road were:

Arthur Bernard Clements

(this register included men over 21 and women over 30)

House by House: 14 Hawthorne Road

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

• Ernest Harris, head, 30, clerk at cocoa and chocolate manufactory, born Bradforson Avon in Wiltshire.
• Annie Harris, wife, 33, ---, born Birmingham.
• Thomas Harris, son, 3, ---, born Bournville.

1925

On the 1925 electoral register the residents at 14 Hawthorne Road were:
Arthur Ernest Harris
Annie Gertrude Harris
(this register included men over 21 and women over 30)


NB: 14 Hawthorne suffered bomb damage during World War II and was completely rebuilt in the late 1940s, as were numbers 12, 16 and 18. 

House by House: 13 Hawthorne 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.

• Ernest William Washbourne, head, 38, accountant with urban district council, born Aston.
• Sarah Jane Washbourne, wife, 35, ---, born Kings Norton.
• Edith Winifred Sarah Washbourne, dau, 11, ---, born Kings Norton.
• Alexandra Mary Washbourne, dau, 8, ---, born Kings Norton.
• William Bertram Washbourne, son, 5, ---, born Kings Norton.
• Margaret Jessie Washbourne, dau, 1, ---, born Kings Norton.
• Janet May Bryden, sister in law, 19, paper bag maker at cocoa manufatory, born Kings Norton.

1925

On the 1925 electoral register the residents at 13 Hawthorne Road were:

Ernest William Washbourne

Sarah Jessie Washbourne

(this register included men over 21 and women over 30)

House by House: 12 Hawthorne Road

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

• Arthur Tom Butler, head, 38, carpenter at cocoa and chocolate makers, born Stow on the Wold in Gloucestershire.
• Bertha Matilda Butler, head, 33, housewife, born Bromsgrove.

1917-c.1919

From March 1917 to at least 1919 the Butler's were still residing at 12 Hawthorne Road as A. T. Butler was a British Red Cross volunteer during World War I. His duties were described: 'Convoys Selly Oak, Snow Hill, Rubery Hospitals Queens, Mayfield, 1st Southern Hospitals Stamped:- County Director B'Ham & (Part) Worcs Voluntary Aid Detachments Date Oct 30 1919 94 Charlotte Street, Birmingham'. The record is from 1919 and Butler is described as 'still serving'.

1925

On the 1925 electoral register the residents at 12 Hawthorne Road were:
Arthur Tom Butler
Bertha Matilda Butler
(this register included men over 21 and women over 30)


NB: 12 Hawthorne suffered bomb damage during World War II and was completely rebuilt in the late 1940s, as were numbers 14, 16 and 18. 

House by House: 11 Hawthorne 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.

• John Molesworth James, head, 60, bank manager, born Birmingham.
• Amy Frances James, wife, 58, ---, born Balsall Heath.
• Rhoda Broomfield, servant, 18, general servant, born Bromsgrove.

1925

On the 1925 electoral register the residents at 11 Hawthorne Road were:

John Molesworth James

Amy Frances James

Kathleen Jane Davis

(this register included men over 21 and women over 30)