Local History 2
"The Stream"
1925 Map
A stream surfaces at Upper Cottage Farm and runs downhill through various front gardens, back gardens, and underground culverts. It is visible in the front garden of 279 Old Birmingham Road, runs underneath Middle House Drive through a culvert and finishes up in a surface drain in the pavement outside 277 Old Birmingham Road. We have been unsuccessful in finding out if it has a name. In the 1970 map it is marked in yellow. At the left hand edge is Lickey Hills Garage. The 1925 map is a bit further downhill and as you can see was in the open, before the houses were built. Interesting to see the land behind where the garage is now was allotments, and there was an orchard further up.
The Piggeries Old Birmingham Road B60 1HG
The light industrial units were converted to housing, but before this but they used to be a workshop which we believe was owned by a relative of Les Morris. He used to maintain a number of old cars there. He was the curator of the Patrick Collection (motor museum) in Kings Norton and was a very keen car enthusiast, new and old. He lived in the bungalow on the corner of Old Birmingham Road and Linehouse Lane. His driveway/garage was tucked away at the back of the property. A resident drove past his place one day on his way home and spotted a very unusual car on the drive. A few days later, he saw him at Les Morris’ garage and quizzed him about it. He was amazed that he had even recognised it as it was the then very-new Porsche 959 supercar and he had driven it over from the factory himself to go into the Patrick Collection. He said it was the first privately-owned one in the country.
258 Old Birmingham Rd B60 1NU
Photograph copyright Sue Hughes 24 May 2019
Previous known as High Lea and later Tranquility House, this property was the childhood home of Jeremy Paxman b.11 May 1950 in Leeds, who attended Lickey Hills Preparatory School (now Hillscourt Rose Hill Rednal Birmingham B45 8RS) He was also a member of 1st Lickey Scouts in the early 1960s.
Firs Farm "Rainbows Farm" Old Birmingham Road B60 1NS
photograph copyright Mike Dodman
Although shown on the map as Firs Farm, to locals this has always been known as Rainbows Farm (from the family who have lived there for many years) and grew crops including runner beans, they were also the local coal merchant. The "farm shop" was initially from a room just inside their back door, then later they did open in a separate adjacent building. After the farmers retired it was owned by a property developer, and has been sold again. It is situated within the Green Belt. The advertisement is taken from The Lickey Parish Magazine October 1942
