Genealogy Forum UK

Dennis wrote:I e-mailed Terry Daniels. He knows of no good photograph of Whiteheath Villa. The people who spoke about it in his Whiteheath book, now online, remembered it, but nobody had a picture. Terry has a map and is hoping to get hold of the sale particulars. One of his ancestors, George Cockbill, is listed as a tenant for part of the land - he grazed the animals used in his haulage business on it.

Hi Dennis,

Many thanks for your efforts here. A pity that Terry does not have photos, I think if he doesn't, it's highly likely that that no-one does

Although, if he can get hold of any information, that's is always a major bonus!

I had the same discussion some 13 years ago with a Dave Ogden who remembers the Villa very well. He was working at the council at the time if I remember and was part of the compulsory purchase team who bought the Villa, along with other buildings so that they could be demolished to make way for the Lion Farm estate. Unfortunatley, I lost contact with Dave and several attempts to make contact again have failed. Wonder if he checks in here from time to time...?

Whiteheath Villa was a standalone, modern style brick house. It had several outbuidlings and land surrounding it. It appears on the OS map of the time (I have copies of this). It was indeed demolished after it had been compulsory purchased by Oldbury Council to make way for the Lion Farm estate. It lay some 300 to 400 yards back off the Birchfield Road, up a dirt track on the right hand side. My father remembers it well as his father (my late grandfather) lived there with the family.

My father can describe a lot of the Villa from memory but details are lost.

The annoying thing is that I did have photos of the Villa (or at least they were in the family) but these have been lost over time...

I contacted the Smethwick archives yesterday and they are going to have a look for me
they said so will contact them again tomoz see if they have anything.

Thanks so much for your time Jan!

I've been to Smethwick Archives a few times to try and find something but to no avail. Maybe we'll be lucky this time!

Fingers crossed.

mallosa wrote:...and this -

"On questioning mom she says Whiteheath Villas were a row of houses on the north side of Birchfield Lane and they were demolished. She thinks they were just along the road from the row of houses owned or rented by John Evans.
I think sometime ago I found a website Langley in old photographs and it connected to a site on Whiteheath gate
From memory whiteheath villas were listed Will look into it"

Just to put you in the picture, Mark mentions John Evans - ...here he is

Lee, this is another reply I've received from Mark...

"After speaking to dad he says mom is incorrect and he thinks Whiteheath Villa was situated adjacent to Accles football ground
I've found in a copy of the 1902 ordinance survey map, Whiteheath Villa situated adjacent to the Ramrod Colliery Tramway just inside the Oldbury Boundary. If you want me to scan part of the map and send it to you let me know"

Whiteheath Villa was at the back of Throne Road.Prefabs were built after the 2nd world war where the Bulls Head car park is now.At the side of the prefabs was a dirt track and Whiteheath Villa was situated about 400 yards along this track.This track was more or less the border of Oldbury-Rowley Regis.
I may be wrong but i have vague recollections of a big house around there in the 50's.
I've asked a few people and who knows maybe a photo will turn up.

Hi Rob,

Yes, your description of the Villa and its location are more inkeeping with the descriptions my father gives and from those my grandfather had when he was still with us. I'm really curious to see if any photos exist. Although, Whiteheath Villa, being I guess a residential building, may not have been important enough to warrant being photographed for any special reason. The only thing I can think of is that Oldbury UDC (as they were known back then) compulsory purchased it from Accles and Pollock so that they could pull it down and build the Lion Farm housing estate. Maybe they photographed it before they did? Do we have anyone on here from Oldbury Council or who was on the council at that time (around 1969 I'm told)? Maybe Accles and Pollock have historical documents on it? I'll contact them next...

Some years ago, I was in contact with a Dave Ogden who seemed to be a bit of an expert on the area. I'me sure he told me that he was at Oldbury UDC and was even invloved in the compulsory purchase of the Villa and could get me plans, documents, etc. if I wanted them. Shortly after that I lost contact and never managed to get hold of him again...maybe someone knows him or he even reads these messages?

Lee

The only Ogden i know is Stanley but it wouldn't be him.
Lion Farm was built 1958-59 so was Dave Ogden working for the council around this time?

Still waiting to hear from the archives so will let you know on that one Lee
and did send dave an email but must not heard back

Lee, I wonder if you can contact him through this site - http://www.theblackcountry.net/about.htm

Scroll down and you will see the following...

Dave Ogden defines the area well on the "History" page on his Black Country Pages. Dave is the list owner for the "Black Country Mailing List" which provides email communications with researchers interested in local and family history with a Black Country connection.

Failing that, perhaps if you contact Ian Beach (following paragraph)
Worth a try?

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