Stuart Times

In 1628 what had been Rotton Park was sold, apparently as a whole, by Sir Edward Marrow to Humphrey Perrott of Belbroughton. 59 acres of the Edgbaston part of the Park were bought by Robert Mansell in 1689, and it was at about that time that a Dr. Hinckley acquired the land now largely in public use as Summerfield Park. The only building to survive from the Stuart period anywhere near our dis-trict is the brick farmhouse at the corner of Park and Bacchus Roads.

Though Dudley Road was an ancient and much-worn highway, Hagley Road was not as now the main road to the west from Birmingham. The way to Halesowen went along Holloway Head (the gorge-like tracks up valley sides were called 'holloways'), Wheeleys Lane and Road, Arthur and Ampton Roads. At St. Bart's the road forked, the Old Bromsgrove Road turned south past the hall, while the Halesowen Road continued to Harborne, Tennal, and Ridgacre by way of Edgbaston Park and Somerset Roads, joining the present Hagley Road at The Quinton. Bristol Road from Holloway Circus to Bourn Brook did not then exist : the highway to the south-west went from Edgbaston Hall alongside the Great Pool (Priory Road to the bend), then turned to cross the brook on the dam of Over Mill, continuing along Toy Lane to join the Roman road at Bourn Brook. The line of the road can still be traced in part on Edgbaston Golf Course, and a short stretch of holloway survives in a mansion garden.