Coleshill

Coleshill is a market town in the North Warwickshire district of Warwickshire, England. It has a population of 6,343 (2001 census). Coleshill is next to the border with the West Midlands just outside Birmingham. Coleshill narrowly avoided being absorbed into Birmingham.

Coleshill dates back to Saxon times, but became important as a staging post on the coaching road from London to Holyhead. At one point there were over over twenty inns in the town.

One of the most notable buildings in the town is the Chuch of St Peter and St Paul which has a 52 metre (170ft) high steeple, and which dates from the 13th century. The font of the church dates from the 12th century.
The town is close to the M6 and M42 motorways.

For more photographs of Coleshill click here or view on You Tube

Crooked House

A well known watering hole on the edge of the Himley Estates is the Crooked House which is excellent for drivers who want the experience of being drunk without being over the legal limit. You can literally watch beer bottles roll up the table here.

The reason for its strange uneven exterior and interior is down to the fact that the house has subsided on land that was used for mining. Too much coal had been extracted from the ground beneath the building and it had to be shored up to prevent its collapse.

Further information and old photographs can be found herehttp://www.sedgleymanor.com/historical/crooked_house.html

Update: Unfortunately, on August 5, 2023, a fire devastated the building, severely damaging the structure. The fire caused the roof and upper floors to collapse, leaving the iconic crooked shape still visible but the building in ruins.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, and it has sparked widespread concern over the preservation of this iconic landmark. In the wake of the fire, plans have been put in place to restore the building, with efforts focused on stabilizing the remaining structure and rebuilding it in a way that respects its historic significance. Various restoration plans and proposals are under discussion, including potential plans to re-open the site as a pub or as a tourist attraction, with extensive care to preserve its architectural legacy.

Local authorities and heritage groups are working together to ensure the Crooked House is restored properly, with consultations ongoing about the future of the site and its place in the community.

Hagley Hall

Hagley Hall and Park is a wonderful example of 18th century English Architecture. Boasting 350 acres of deer park with its own church, the hall houses Van Dyke paintings, fine Chippendale furniture and Rococco plasterwork. The property once belonged to George 1st Lord Lyttelton who was secretary to the Prince of Wales. The hall was completed in 1760.

In 1925 a terrible fire destroyed a large section of the property and much of its contents. However, the damage was repaired and the hall restored to its former glory. Today the hall is home to Lord and Lady Cobham who own the residence which is used as their family home. The hall also caters for conferences, business meetings and events throughout the year. No trip to the West Midlands is complete without a visit to this fine example of architecture and glorious parkland.

Further information about Hagley Hall can be obtained by visiting their website at:

www.hagleyhall.info

Apple Day

The theme of Mary Arden's house is devoted to the history of farming and agriculture in the region. The exhibits in the outbuildings include a stable and barn, a wheelwrights shop, tack room and stables. The country trades are well presented and examples show how the tools were used. The Blacksmith's trade and carpentry section depicts country life as it would have been up to the turn of the 20th Century.

We visited on 'Apple Day', dedicated to the numerous varieties of apple, when a host of country trades and traditional skills were presented with real live demonstrations and presentations.

For more photographs of Apple Day click here

Avoncroft Museum

The Avoncroft Museum can be found just 2 miles from Bromsgrove off the A38. It is signposted from Junctions 4 and 5 of the M5 motorway. The museum features historic buildings in an open air site situated in the beautiful Worcestershire countryside.

The museum was opened in 1967 to provide a location for the reconstruction of a 15th century timber-framed house in Bromsgrove. Since then the collection has grown magnificently into a diverse range of interesting buildings which have been relocated from their original sites.

The collection includes a working windmill, a 1940's prefab house, a church, barns and houses, telephone kiosks of all types including a real live Dr Who Tardis! In fact, this is also the home of the National UK Collection of telephone kiosks, including a complete working telephone exchange.

The museum does its best to depict what West Midlands working life must have been like through the ages. There are workshops from the chain making trade and nail industries. This truly is an insight into the social history of the region as much as it is for the architecture.

On event days there are often demonstrations and crafts people who portray the domestic, working and religious lives of our ancestors. The museum also features a children's playground, gift shop and tea room and a picnic site.

There are buildings from many different periods and the unique setting and diversity of the museum should be of interest to all age groups. Check with the Avoncroft Museum website for the latest news and events. http://www.avoncroft.org.uk/

For more photographs of Avoncroft Museum click here or view on You Tube

Stoke Heath, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B60 4JR. Tel: 01527 831363