Solihull Past

'Many of you will already be familiar with Sue’s excellent books ... Solihull Past is no exception.' - Solihull News

Solihull was founded as a new town in the 12th century, in the Forest of Arden. It flourished in the early Middle Ages, but eventually declined into a quiet village in north-west Warwickshire. Turnpike roads brought some custom to its coaching inns in the 18th century, but it was not until the railway came in 1850 that its suburbanisation began…

Easy commuter transport from Birmingham induced wealthy professionals and businessmen to move their families to Solihull’s ‘salubrious’ surroundings. Growth was slow but steady as more houses were built to attract new residents, and by 1894 Solihull was created a Rural District Council, at a time when schools and churches were extending their premises to accommodate continued growth in population. The second half of the 20th century saw the village disappear under the developing town as offices, hotels and shops were built, including Mell Square, and by 1974 Solihull had progressed to Metropolitan Borough status, the highest tier of local government at the time.

This well-researched and quite fascinating account records the town’s growth from medieval market town to modern commercial centre, with its roots proudly remembered in its motto, Urbs in Rure (‘The Town in the Country’). The text is illuminated by a splendid selection of photographs, providing a welcome companion volume to the author’s earlier and very popular book, Solihull: A Pictorial History.

SUE BATES was born in Birmingham and educated at King's Norton Grammar School and Birmingham Polytechnic, where she qualified as a librarian in 1970. She is the author of several books and pamphlets and in June 2021 was appointed Information Manager at Sandwell Central Library, West Bromwich. Well-known as a local speaker, she has also been heard on local radio and contributed a regular column for Solihull News. She was co-founder of the Local History Circle of Solihull Society of Arts, and was Hon. Sec. of Birmingham Bibliographical Society 1986-91. Now a Fellow of the Library Association, she was awarded the LA Centenary Medal in 1998.