Urbanisation

This topic is studied in detail in my "Urbanisation of Yardley". The first O. S. map shows a sprinkle of buildings stretching from Spark Green over Sparkhill to Showell Green, along the ridgeway Highfield / Fox Hollies Roads, along the Turnpike, 35 bordering Yardley Wood Common and 20 about the northern edge of Billesley Common, with a dozen in the southernmost part of the Quarter - whose total of buildings of all kinds was about a hundred. The dwelling pattern then and for perhaps three decades more was related to a rural economy; there were farmhouses, cottages, and a country mansion or two.

Thereafter suburban development began to make inroads upon agriculture and husbandry. It spread southward from built-up Bordesley into Spark Green and Greet; mansions like the Chains on Sparkhill and farms like Grove were bought and razed by building societies, straight streets were cut across pastures, and there was sporadic growth of villas and terraces for the better class of artisans and minor professional people. But along the high-hedged lanes of southern Swanshurst Quarter mansions were built among the old large farmsteads.

Wealthy folk came out from Birmingham's smoke to the fresh air and clean fields of rural Yardley. They had their carriages for transport to Acocks Green Station on the Oxford Line from 1852. Urbanisation in closely linked to public transport; steam tramcars to the Cole on Stratford Road mad possible the large-scale terrace building of south Sparkhill and Springfield.

Between 1851 and 1901 Yardley's population increased 11-fold. The greatest growth was centrally in the parish, from the '70's. Many streets were laid out but infilled fitfully by small builders. However the end result was always that of a practically continuous brick facade along both sides; 2 or 3-storey narrow tunnel-backs in red brick from Greet claypits and imported slate with Georgian and baroque decorations. After the widening of Stoney Lane over Spark Brook, seven streets were completed down to it, and a shopping street of sorts developed.

South of Durham Road streets were named after members of the Smith-Ryland family who owned the land. In '95 the late Stuart Mermaid was replaced by a twin-towered hotel, but the old carved inn-sign was retained, and Sparkhill Institute was opened. Four years later Eastbourne Market opposite the Mermaid accelerated the change of Stratford Road to a shopping street. Villas were steadily converted to shops, and their small front gardens became forecourts. Meanwhile in Wake Green and Hall Green the fancy mansions were going up in large gardens.

In 1905 the Women's Hospital moved from a converted villa opposite the Council House to its present site on Showell Green Lane. Springfield's long terraces were quickly and uniformly built and soon occupied. Hall Green Parade was built as a shop row in 1913. When the World War I began, Green Bank Estate of wider, lower houses - still joined in rows but otherwise the same as post-war semi's - was near completion. Sarehole Road extended only to Dunsmore Road. The Showell Green Estate, Sidney Road, etc. had just been completed.

A castellated chocolate factory beside Webb Lane and the new railway had failed after a hopeful start. South of Wake Green Road / College Road the landscape had changed little, apart from rebuildings.