Tudor to Georgian Times

Detailed evidence for a view of the Quarter between the C 16-19th awaits the reconstitution of the disbanded Discovering Yardley Group or at least the production in some form of material we extracted during five years' work. The early evidence was published as 'Medieval Yardley' by the group's leader V. Skipp (1970) with maps by myself.

A steady increase in the number of farms and a shrinking of wood and waste may be assumed. Enclosure of Great Fields (on both sides of Stratford Road over Sparkhill) took place early; holdings were exchanged to permit grouping of closes near the bounding farmhouses, vacant strips were taken up be neighbours, and the whole expanse was hedged and ditched. But total enclosure came late to the rest of Swanshurst Quarter and was not complete until the 1840's.

Squatters continued to establish themselves on the common edges, eking out a living by labouring or nail-making; no early hovels survive, but their brick replacements remained on Brook and Wheelers Lanes until recently, and a cottage row still stands beside the last remnant of Showell Green, but recently obliterated by the new dwellings of Fernside Gardens.

The first bridge over the Cole hereabout was at Greet Mill, recorded in 1620. It was for foot travellers only. Horsemen and waggoners continued to use the ford - and some of them paid the penalty for trying to cross through the sudden floods to which the river has always been prone. Timber footbridges at the other four fords of the Quarter were washed away on occasion; brick replacements were not provided until the early C 15th.