Sheldon In 1867

Fewer apparent changes since 1756 than between previous periods. Garretts Green and other lanes now fairly well surfaced, if narrow and dusty. Elder Field fully enclosed, as is the whole manor since the final enclosure of the northern fields: Elder in 1787, the commons in north and southwest in 1813, and lastly Ashole Field in 1840. Fields properly drained with earthenware pipes, very necessary on clays. Meadows much improved thereby.

In the north on Garretts Green Lane there is a railway cutting for the London-Birmingham line, 1838 - no station through sparsely populated Sheldon or Yardley. Follow line to Mackadown Farm, high bank across Platt Brook valley. Tidy landscape of small hedged fields, brick farms : 96 buildings in parish, nearly 500 people - land cannot support more, rest must migrate to the city. Three quarters of the land is owned by the Earl of Digby of Coleshill Hall, 24 large tenants held all but 100 acres in Sheldon. Scatter of small cottages, but many workers and servants lived in their employers houses.

Village little changed, smithy still busy. Church being almost completely rebuilt, except for tower. New Rectory in part to south. School rebuilt 12 years before, old one demolished 1858. 'Room for paying poor' - Workhouse in Coleshill for Sheldon paupers, but some still supported locally. Widest gap now between classes, rich and poor : tenants prosperous, labourers very poor. No industry in parish, only village crafts.