Development from 1911 to 1920
Building in what this essay will continue to call Yardley despite
its having no administrative existence did not cease abruptly
in 19l4, on the outbreak of war. But it was to decline with increasing
rapidity, and then stopped for several years. The county and millrace
bridges over the Cole on Stratford Road were replaced by the present
bridge in 1913, and the tram terminus reached Robin Hood (Six
Ways), the following year. Hall Green Parade of shops was built
opposite Green Bank House, and the up-building of Reddings Lane,
Russell and Southam Roads continued. Bromyard Road extended the
line of the new riverside thoroughfare (Sarehole Road) to Formans
Road, whose present bridge replaced the footbridge so often washed
away by floods. A new 'name' estate was begun off Showell Green
Lane. Acocks Green continued to grow outwards, and there were
two small terrace estates off Wharfdale Road. More terraces appeared
on Church and Clements Roads, and Wroxton Road was newly made
with similar houses. There was more infilling on Lyttleton and
Francis Roads in Stechford. The improvement of Warwick Road permitted
the laying of tram tracks as far as Broad Road (1916): legal disputes
prevented extension to the junction green until 1922. That was
to become the post-war centre of Acocks Green. Industry had so
far made little use of the North Warwickshire Line, a castellated
chocolate factory (Hall Green Works) on Webb Lane being the only
consequent venture - and that a failure. But on Kings Road had
begun that industrial development on Hay Hall Farm-land which
was to continue during and after the war. Other factories appeared
on the east side of Wharfdale Road.
In 1913 the remaining manorial land in Yardley, 640 acres,
was up for sale. The greater part was bought by Birmingham Corporation
for future housing: stretching from Swanshurst Lane to the south
boundary, bordered on the west by Yardley Wood Road and the Stratford
Canal, and on the east by Priory Road and Tritterford millpool
thence northwest and west to Swanshurst Pool, the 470 acres included
four large farms (Billesley, Titterford, Quagmire, and Ivyhouse),
Titterford steel-rolling mill, nine cottages, and various smallholdings
and pastures. A building estate ('Cole Bank', including Southam
Road North), Sarehole Farm and Mill, and a large 'small'-holding
of 46 acres between Stratford Road and the railway, comprised
the remainder which was acquired for private development.
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