PREFACE

This booklet is one of a long series (over 30 in all) written by John Morris Jones, former Headmaster of George Dixon Junior School, during the period 1960 - 1983, in which he covered almost every district of the City of Birmingham.

In many ways they were the earliest detailed local history studies aimed at the non-historian, and particularly focused at children.

At the time they were first produced typewriters and simple ink duplicators were the major tools for printing in schools; mistakes were hard to remove and maps were even more difficult to reproduce clearly.

This particular booklet was produced by the City of Birmingham Education Department in a slightly more readable form, and comprises a summary of many pieces of information split between all his other volumes as it looks at the whole city at once.

Since that time individuals and local history groups have added somewhat to JMJ's work but his series still forms a good platform for our young people to start from.

As a school librarian I found them a very useful resource but difficult for the pupils to use - hence this effort at improvement.

I have made no attempt at editing or corrections except obvious typographical errors, nor at bringing facts up-to-date with the latest discoveries and developments.

My aim has simply been to make the document more accessible to young readers - splitting long, hard paragraphs, and making language more accessible.

Thanks are due to Mr Andrew Blizzard (former Schools' Liaison Officer with Birmingham Central Library Local Studies Department) for some copies of original documents.

OTHER HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY BOOKLETS by John Morris Jones

Acocks Green & All Around MANORS OF ASTON PARISH (including Aston
Bygone Balsall Heath Manor, Bordesley & Deritend, Duddeston & Nechells,
Hall Green & Hereabout Saltley & Little Bromwich)
Handsworth Moseley
Ladywood Rotton Park & Round About
Local Rivers As Sources Of Power Round Dudley Road
Manor Houses and Manorial Families of Birmingham Sparkhill & Greet
Manors of North Birmingham (1983) Swanshurst Quarter
Manor of Yardley Waters of Birmingham
MAPS OF BIRMINGHAM Yardley Church End

PRINCIPAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION IN MORE MAPS OF BIRMINGHAM
Guides to Weoley Castle, St. Martin's Church Roads & Rails of Birmingham 1900-39-R. Coxon
History of Birmingham Vol. III 1939-70-Sutton & Smith Birmingham-D. Hickman
History of Birmingham Water Dept. 1974 Birmingham Buildings-B. Little

Printed and Published by the City of Birmingham Education Department. Copies may be bought from:- Education Dept., Margaret Street, Birmingham 83. Other booklets are not for sale, but may be consulted in the Local Studies Dept. of Birmingham Central Library and at some suburban libraries.

Clinton Davies
Summer 2001