ENCLOSURES

The final enclosures of land in Yardley were made during the 1840's. In our districts no open-fields remained to be carved up among the neighbouring landowners, Taylors and Greswolds, because enclosure of Greet Fields had been completed long before. Only a narrow strip of common survived at Showell Green; all but a tiny patch of it was duly enclosed, as were Greet Common and Wake Green.

Several lanes were now public roads, required to be brought up to Commissioners' standards. These including Showell Green Lane. Wake Green Road, and a track which after 1853 was called College Road. The whole area limited by Stoney Lane, Spark Brook, and Tyseley Brook, was now parcelled into quadrilateral closes, hedged, ditched, and sometimes drained.

There was little agriculture - 'Ploughed Field' (Lea Road) was so called because of its oddity; the few large farms were pastoral, producing meat, milk products, and some vegetables for Birmingham markets. Many farm-workers lined in, but there were some smallholders and rural craftsmen.

Those who lacked work went to the town to find it. All this was to change during the next half-century except for the commuting, which was to increase greatly.

In 1847 Henry Greswolde owned 812 acres in Yardley Parish, his local holdings including Manor Farm, Shaftmoor, and Grove Farm. John Taylor, lord of manor, and his brother owned 1368 acres between them in Swanshurst Quarter; Greetmill Hill was the only property hereabout. The Ryland family owned some of the land between Stoney Lane and Warwick Road; they later purchased the Gravel Field part of Grove Farm.