This beautiful view reveals the kind of countryside lost when the area was urbanised in the 1920s. Dolphin Lane was also known as Shady Lane, clearly very appropriate. The Dolphin pub was at the Warwick Road end of this lane.

Beech Lane, c. 1905

This is Gospel Lane. Beech was a farmer at Redstone Farm, which was at the Warwick Road, but gave its name to the far end of Gospel Lane in Hall Green.

This Italianate rebuild of 1869/70 was the home of the Walker family. Zaccheus Walker III was a successful merchant, and his son, Zaccheus IV, who lived at the Hall until his death in 1930, was virtually seen by many as the squire of Acocks Green. He bred horses and dogs, and local youths trespassing and scrumping were in for a nasty surprise!

This stood near where the Gospel Oak pub, or whatever new name it acquires, is now. It was owned by the Severne family, and was compulsorily purchased by the City in 1929 for housing.

This view was taken by the Council Schools. In 1929 the Warwick cinema up the road on the left had opened, which led to the immediate closure of the Picture Playhouse silent cinema at the corner of Station Road and Warwick Road.

We are looking towards St Mary's Vicarage and the Village. The vicarage was knocked down in the mid-1970s, and the vicar moved to a house on Dudley Park Road. The site is occupied by houses, but no provision was made for sufficient parking for church members.

These shops on Yardley Road were an important local centre until at least the 1960s, but these days local shop rows are struggling to compete with the attractions of supermarkets and out-of-town centres.

This view was taken further along the road towards the Swan. (Carl Meddings)

The Westley Brook flows under here, and has proved troublesome until sewer works at Station Road in the 1990s were undertaken. The cottages on the left are next to the old New Inn, and there is a police station by the lamp post. The police moved to new premises on Yardley Road in 1909. Thanks to John Bick for this postcard.

The earliest part of the church dates from 1863, but the most striking part is the 1882 Gothic spire at the corner of Botteville Road.

Thanks to Christine Jensen for this image. This is a social event that may be greeted with less enthusiasm these days.