Inscriptions
dating from
Victorian and wartime Britain
have been uncovered at Solihull College’s
Blossomfield
Road Campus; in the roof of the 19th Century
Tudor Grange House.
Discovered during
a
restoration project by
ABL Property Services, the
lead engravings
date from 1894 and are believed to be the work of builders through the
ages.
we are interested in locating anyone who may have information about
these people orif you are related to them - if so could you
please contact
tony@abl-property-services.co.uk and we
will
update the site with your story.
Inscription
reads "WJLB and JEJ, June 1944, In memory of the 2nd
Front."
Inscription
reads "G Woodall ???? - Jan 1935."
Inscription reads "H Andrews -
Jan 1935"
Inscription reads "E
Warner - July 4
1905"
Inscription
reads
"Jacob
Hammond, Bricklayer, High St, Solihull,
March 1901 and
Edward Key,
Stratford Road Shirley,
Bricklayer’s clerk, 1901"
Inscription
reads
"J Haimes Labourer
Solihull Born 1879 Married 1901"
We need help on
this one as it just will not come out as a photograph
Inscription
reads "? Matthews, Labourer,
Born 1876, Married in 1894,
from
Kings Heath.
September 25th 1895 "
Please note that due to the age of the engravings we have had great
difficulty in ascertaining all the detail and if anyone has any ideas
on the best way to enhance the images or any special photographic
techniques please contact us.
Andy Munn,
Property Manager,
Solihull College, said: 
“This
is a fascinating find for the
College;
and particularly timely as its Remembrance Sunday this week. We always
knew
Tudor Grange House played an interesting role in local history, but to
discover
real life evidence like this has brought the building’s past
back to life.”
Tony
Roe, Contract Director, ABL Property Services,
added:
“Working
on a beautiful,
historical building such as Tudor Grange House is always
satisfying. To
find lead-work that has survived for over 100 years is
a testament to the
quality of workmanship and materials that were
employed on its
construction; in most buildings it has been removed or
destroyed.
“I
am sure these men were proud to be working on
such a building and we, at ABL
Property Services, are
equally proud that
our company is working alongside Solihull College
to help to preserve some of our home town's heritage."
Tudor
Grange House has been part of Solihull College’s
Blossomfield Campus since
1976. It was originally built for a Birmingham
jeweller (Alfred Lovekin) in 1883 and was bought by Alfred Bird MP, son
of the
famous Birds Custard manufacturer in 1896. In 1943 the house became the
property of Solihull Council and was used as a Red Cross auxiliary
hospital for
soldiers during the Second World War. The house remained under Council
ownership
until it was handed over to the College.
"Reproduced
in part with kind permission of Solihull College"
At
ABL Property
Services we endeavour to supply all your needs with one
helpful and friendly telephone call - so call us now on:
0121 711 2002
