An Edwardian gem that is Winterbourne House & Garden

I've only visited the garden at Winterbourne once, way back in August 2008, so was before I picked up Birmingham photography. One of the last places we went to with my late brother (passed November 2008). In the years since, I took some exteriors of the house fro Edgbaston Park Road when it was being restored, and another time for the blue plaque of John Nettlefold, who lived here.

Winterbourne House & Garden

Winterbourne House and Winterbourne Botanic Garden is located on Edgbaston Park Road in Edgbaston and belongs to the University of Birmingham. It has been on the site since 1903, and been part of the University since 1944.

 

History of Winterbourne

Winterbourne House was built between 1903 and 1904 as the family home of John & Margaret Nettlefold. They commissioned the local architect Joseph Lancaster Bell to design and build the house. It was made of brick and tiles. The original garden was designed by Margaret Nettlefold herself. They lived here with their children until 1919, when John was getting a bit unwell.

The property was sold to the Wheelock family, who had 9 children. They lived here until 1925. It was then purchased by John Nicholson, who was a local businessman, and a keen gardener. He made improvements to the garden, adding a rock garden and alpine area. He was here until his death in 1944.

Winterbourne was then passed onto the University of Birmingham. Initially the house was used as student halls. The house has had a variety of uses since 1944. During 2009 to 2010, the house was fully restored. During this time the Birmingham Civic Society placed a blue plaque on the house for John Nettlefold.

The garden has many plants from around the world. The house now has a gift shop and tearoom. Plus an Art Gallery. During the Pandemic, the garden has only been open to members.

 

2008

So far the visit of August 2008 was the only time I've been to Winterbourne House & Garden, so is a bit hard to remember this visit (from 12 to 13 years ago). Other than it was one of the places we went to that year before my brother passed away of cancer in November 2008.

View from the garden of Winterbourne House.

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Below, one of my late brothers photos of a small boggy pond.

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A pond with water lilies (my late brothers photo below). Not sure if this is the Chad Brook or not.

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Large leaves over the pond (or Chad Brook). (One of my late brothers photos below).

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Looking at my archive photos from that visit, I didn't take much, so only had a handle of photos like this. The pond / Chad Brook with water lilies.

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One of my late brothers photos towards the house.

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He also took this one in the garden.

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Yes this was one of his photos as well (I Photoshopped myself out of it).

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What looks a ships deck.

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The ships deck from the front.

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2009

About a year or so after loosing my brother, during December 2009,  I was walking past Winterbourne House on Edgbaston Park Road, while there was so on the ground at the University of Birmingham. Work was underway to restore the house. Was the same day as I got the statue of George I outside of the Barber Institute of Fine Arts (another place we visited back in 2008, but couldn't take photos inside unfortunately).

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A University of Birmingham sign says this is part of the Green Zone. G.11 is Winterbourne House and G.12 is Winterbourne Botanic Garden.

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Looked like at the time they were also doing work on the grounds outside near the car park entrance.

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Details of the first and second floor with the roof covered in snow.

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A sign welcomes you to Winterbourne. Garden Entrance to the left.

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It was a blue sky day, snow everywhere but settled. The front drive was quite big. Public car park is also on this side.

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2013

The last time I got photos of Winterbourne House & Garden from Edgbaston Park Road was during February 2013, to see the blue plaque that had been installed there. Although I have walked up Edgbaston Park Road in the years since, just not taken any more photos of Winterbourne since then.

Saw this sign as I got close to Winterbourne House & Garden. Tearoom * Gifts * Gallery * Plants. University of Birmingham.

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The house was looking as good as new, cars in the car park to the right.

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The drive on the left is the entrance to cars going to the car park.

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Heading to the blue plaque on the right.

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The Birmingham Civic Society unveiled this blue plaque in 2010 in memory of John Sutton Nettlefold (1866 - 1930). He lived in this house from 1903 until 1919.

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Winterbourne during the pandemic

During the pandemic, Winterbourne Garden is open, but the house, shop and tearoom remain closed until further notice. But you can order gifts online and click & collect only (they don't offer a postal service). You can also get a Winterbourne Membership if you want to.

They are not operating a pre-booked system. They have reduced the number of visitors they can have at one time. Only University members or students with ID's can visit at the moment. So it looks like if you are not a member, or don't belong to the University you can't visit right now.

Would be nice to go again one day in the future when things get better.

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown

 

A visit to Kinver Edge and the Rock Houses during September 2020

On the afternoon of the 6th September 2020, we booked to go to the National Trust property and grounds of Kinver Edge and the Rock Houses. Located in Staffordshire near the village of Kinver (and not too far from Stourbridge). The Holy Austin Rock Houses were still lived in until the 1960s. Due to the pandemic, you couldn't go into the houses, just peek into them.

Kinver Edge and the Rock Houses

 

A visit to Kinver Edge and the Rock Houses during September 2020. This was on the afternoon of the 6th September 2020. As before, we booked the tickets via the National Trust website (which goes onto the EventBrite app). Outside of the forest was a car park, and we passed an ice cream van. We booked in for 2:30pm. You head up to the gate, and get your ticket scanned, then proceed to walk up to the Rock Houses.

 

This National Trust site is near the village of Kinver in Staffordshire, and isn't too far from Stourbridge (around 4 miles away). There is caves in the hills, some that had houses built into them. Kinver Edge includes a heath and woodland. The National Trust was first given the estate in 1917 (around 198 acres) by the children of Thomas Grosvenor Lee (who was a Birmingham solicitor born in Kinver). The Trust acquired a further 85 acres between 1964 and 1980. In 2014 Worcestershire County Council approved the transfer of Kingsford Forest Park to the National Trust. By 2018 the parks signs were now reading National Trust Kinver Edge.

Kinver Edge was home to the last troglodyte homes in England. One of the rock houses was called Holy Austin (which you can visit). It was a hermitage until the Reformation. The Holy Austin Rock Houses were lived in until the 1960s. In normal times you can visit them, but during the summer and autumn of 2020, you could only peek into the rock houses.

Further up was a tearoom and caves. You could put your mask on, and order a coffee and cake and sit at the tables outside (this was when restrictions were eased, and before they were strengthened again).

Also located here was Nanny's Rock, which was a large cave, but it was never converted into a house. There was also Vale's Rock, which had also been known as Crow's Rock. It had been converted into houses and was last occupied in the 1960s. But due to it's dangerous condition it is out of bounds to visitors. Although you can see it from the tables and chairs of the Tearoom area.

From 1901 to 1930, it used to be possible for visitors to get the Kinver Light Railway, which connected to Birmingham's original tram network (operated from 1904 to 1953 by Birmingham Corporation Tramways). But it closed due to the popularity of the motorbus and motorcars. These days, only cars and coaches can get to Kinver Edge on Compton Road. Although I only remember parking spaces available for cars.

 

After you explore the rock houses and caves, you can head up into the Woodland and climb up to the Toposcope (if you want to).

 

After showing our tickets in the EventBrite app, we walked around to the Rock Houses. This was the first glimpse of one of them.

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These are the Holy Austin Rock Houses at Kinver Edge.

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Teas written on the wall of one of the Rock Houses. Probably Vale's Rock.

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There is at least three levels to the Rock Houses here at Kinver Edge, along with some caves.

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It wouldn't be long before I got to see this Rock House up and close, but first had to walk up some steps.

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A Keep Out sign near the rocks. Not all areas are safe for the public to go.

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I would get a better view of these Rock Houses once we went up the steps.

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Close up to the first Rock House at the corner. The Holy Austin Rock Houses on the Lower Level.

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You could peek into the Rock Houses, but a rope prevented you from entering.

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A look at the objects on the table in this Rock House.

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Pots and pans in this small cave.

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Some Rock Houses had open windows, and you could peek into them. Looks like a bedroom.

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The window of this Rock House was only slightly open.

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A path goes around the Rock Houses to view some more of them. These are the Holy Austin Rock Houses. Ghost sign above barely readable.

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Doors on the Rock Houses to the left were closed, so you couldn't see inside of these ones.

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A look at Nanny's Rock (I think). Caves that were never converted into Rock Houses. For many years it was known as Meg-o-Fox-Hole. Someone may have died here in 1617 known as Margaret of the fox earth. Visible from the Middle Level, near tables and chairs from the Tearoom (over a fence).

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When you get to the Upper Level, there is a cave you can enter. The ground is covered in sand, plus I think graffiti had been scratched into the rocks over the years. This is near the Tearoom. These are the Martindale Caves and have a 1930s appearance.

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The Tearoom is on the Upper Level, to the left of the caves. Tables and chairs were outside to the right (in front of the caves). But if occupied, you had to stand up having your coffee or tea. Toilets were around to the left. This house has been restored to a Victorian appearance.

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After going through the gate, exiting the Rock Houses, saw a view of the Victorian style Tearoom house. Toilets on the left. From here you can follow the paths and steps up the hill to the summit of Kinver Edge.

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The Toposcope at the top of the hill on Kinver Edge. It has a map of the Midlands, which was restored by the Rotary Club of Kinver in 2014 (it was originally presented by them in 1990). Showing all the counties of the West Midlands region. Plus the major towns and cities (including Birmingham). Plus major hills such as the Lickey Hills and Clent Hills.

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Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown

Return to Packwood House during July 2020

The second National Trust we booked to go back to was Packwood House. This was near the end of July 2020. This time though, we were able to go inside of the house. But the entrance was moved to the back. And only a limited number of people inside at one time. Some parts of the garden wasn't open. But you could go all the way around the lake, and have a picnic on the lawn.

This visit to Packwood House was booked for the 20th July 2020 for around 12pm. As before you go to the National Trust website, and book the tickets in the EventBrite app. The way into the grounds from the car park had changed. You still go through the Barnyard, but a different gate was opened near the house.

You could get in the queue to go into the house, which had only just reopened (many other National Trust properties around the country, the inside of properties were not open). Use the hand sanitiser and put your face mask on. Only the ground floor was open this time. The door at the back was the way in. And you exit via the Great Hall.

One reason to go back was to go all the way around the lake. As back in 2018 they were restoring a path. This time though the path was open, and you could go through gates to the field at the back.

 

Heading from the car park to the Barnyard, saw these social distancing signs. Please keep 2 metres apart.

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In the Barnyard saw Fergie the tractor. It is over 70 years old.

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The Yew Garden was closed. Saw this view from the back of the house.

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Queuing to go into Packwood House. There was hand sanitiser and buckets to bin your paper towels.

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Bit weird having the rooms to just your household bubble. This was the Drawing Room.

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In the Long Gallery. Was the odd National Trust volunteer around.

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Now in the Great Hall. The long table and chairs had been moved. The door to the far right was the way back outside.

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Checking out the lake, was gulls taking off and landing all the time.

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View of the back of the house. This was The West Front, and last summer it was the way to queue to go into the house. First up it was time to have a sandwich on the lawn to the right.

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After having a sandwich, we continued the walk. Now heading around the lake.

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Quite a lot of Canada geese and ducks around as you would expect with a lake like this.

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The gate from the Packwood Causeway leads into the Pool Tail Copse.

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A woodland to walk through. Tall trees, lush and green in the height of summer.

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There was an Orchard on the way back towards the gardens with a view of the lake.

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Glimpses of the Carolean Garden. Most of the garden was roped off, and you couldn't go any further. This was one of the brick Gazebos.

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Another one of the Gazebos near the South Front of the house.

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A wheelbarrow and rope. You couldn't go any further in the Carolean Garden.

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The East Front of Packwood House used to be the main entrance to go into the house. But not during the pandemic. This door was closed. And now this garden was the way out. The Sundial Gift Shop in the outbuildings to the right was also closed.

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Some of the flowers and plants in the garden near The East Front of Packwood House.

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On the way out, saw that The Barnyard Cafe was closed. But instead, you could get a coffee in the Barnyard from a trailer. The Kitchen Garden was also closed (I think, might have missed the entrance to it this time). The extensive grounds were open for people to walk around if they wanted to.

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See also my post on the return to Baddesley Clinton in July 2020.

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown

Return to Baddesley Clinton during July 2020

It might seem like a while ago now, but way back in the summer of 2020, when lockdown restrictions were being eased. You could book to visit National Trust properties again. The first one we booked for was Baddesley Clinton in early July 2020. You choose a date and time in advance and a number of tickets. And you could go around the site in about 90 minutes. The house wasn't open.

From March to June 2020, most National Trust properties were completely closed during the first lockdown. Then in the summer, as restrictions were being eased, they were able to reopen certain properties, but just the gardens and estate, but not the interior of the houses. The first one we booked to return to was Baddesley Clinton.

Tickets were usually released on the Friday, and were available to the Sunday, and they were going fast. We booked to go on the 6th July 2020, at around 11:30am in the morning.

There was a one way system in place. They scanned the QR code on the EventBrite app outside. The shop was reopened, but you had to wear your face mask inside. The cafe was only open to buy your coffee and anything else for takeaway, so you had to sit outside to have your drink.

 

Arriving in the car park, on the walk to the entrance. Saw these two signs. One about how to stay safe and enjoy your visit. The other about keeping 2 metres apart.

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The Welcome to Baddesley Clinton sign. With (then) updated signs. Including one about the one way system.

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After the tickets in the EventBrite app were scanned, could already see that part of the Courtyard was roped off.

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To the back of the house in the garden, they had five pots blocking off access to that path.

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This was the way to go in the garden. The box hedges were interesting to look at.

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They only had maybe one or two gardeners during the first lockdown, but the plants looked impressive. This was the borders and the Glasshouse. To the left you pass through the Vegetable Garden.

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View of the hall over the Wildflower Meadow. Some paths were closed to the public.

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Going around The Great Pool with the usual water lilies. View to the familiar footbridge opposite.

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Went around the long path. Benches were turned around. You could only turn left from here.

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The bridge over the moat. The hall was closed to the public.

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Nice to see Baddesley Clinton hall again. Had been inside there only once, back in June 2018.

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Back through the courtyard. Another area roped off. Taped on the ground showing you which way to go.

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Another lap around the grounds. Another look at the Walled Garden. Sundial in the middle.

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No Entry Follow one-way system. Had to go around the lake twice.

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Locked gate to the Wildflower Meadow.

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A grass path roped off, no entry.

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Another view of the Wildflower Meadow.

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The Barn Restaurant was open for takeaway only. Payments by card or app only. All tables and chairs out of use. Socially distant queue. Had our drinks outside in the Courtyard.

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The shop was open from 10am to 4:30pm. I think at this point it had only just reopened. During this time, the path to the gardens, coffee shop and toilets was the temporary way in.

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A pair of hares. This used to be the Visitor Centre where you used to buy your tickets. Seen on the way out of the shop.

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The next post will be on the Return to Packwood House. Near the end of July 2020.

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown

Babbs Mill Lake in the Kingfisher Country Park

A Christmas Day morning walk on Friday 25th December 2020 around Babbs Mill Lake. Located in Kingshurst, Solihull within Babbs Mill Jubilee Park. Which is now a satellite park of the Kingfisher Country Park, which stretches from East Birmingham into North Solihull. The lake and park was named after the nearby Babbs Mill, which dates to the 18th Century.

Babbs Mill Lake

Heading towards Kingshurst in Solihull on Christmas Day, 25th December 2020, for a walk past Babbs Mill Lake. The lake is man-made and is near the River Cole. It is located within the Kingfisher Country Park. But the local park it is within is now called the Babbs Mill Jubilee Park, which was formed in 1977 during the Queen's Silver Jubilee year. It was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 2002. The Kingfisher Country Park was declared in 2004, and was a joint venture between Birmingham and Solihull.

 

Babbs Mill Lake is named after Babbs Mill, which still survives to this day. It is a Grade II listed building dating to the 18th Century. It was named after the miller, John Babb, who died in 1651.

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First views of Babbs Mill Lake. We started the walk from the car park near Fordbridge Road.

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Island in the middle of the lake, seems like a lot of birds goes there.

dndimg alt="Babbs Mill Lake" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Babbs Mill Lake KCP 25122020 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

First view of the morning winter sun. This was not a sunrise or sunset, but the sun was pretty low in the sky.

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A ramp going off into the lake towards the geese and swans.

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At the end of the ramp was quite a lot of Canada geese. With the bright morning sunshine making it a bit dark here.

dndimg alt="Babbs Mill Lake geese" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Babbs Mill Lake KCP 25122020 Canada geese.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Too the right was a lot of gulls on the railing. This was close to some picnic benches, where I saw pigeons on them as well.

dndimg alt="Babbs Mill Lake gulls" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Babbs Mill Lake KCP 25122020 gulls.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

More of the morning sunburst off centre to the right.

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Then off centre to the left.

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A line of four trees making nice shadows with the sun behind to the left.

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A newly laid footpath curves around the lake to the right.

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The path doesn't seem quite finished. Plus was another section with unfinished tarmac. But saw the odd graffiti tag that will need removing by the local Council.

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Can't get enough of that sunburst! Wow!

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Sunburst to the left of the lake.

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Sunburst to the right.

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We only went around two sides of the lake. Was a muddy path after this.

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The lake from the muddy path.

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We turned back, and instead headed up the path towards Shard End (leading to Packington Avenue). The Birmingham / Solihull border is somewhere to the left of here.

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Later walking back to the car park, got a few more shots, including the sunburst again.

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The sun was now directly behind that line of trees, making incredible shadows!

dndimg alt="Babbs Mill Lake" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Babbs Mill Lake KCP 25122020 (17).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Coming back saw a couple of Domestic geese near the lake, got this shot of one on the grass.

dndimg alt="Babbs Mill Lake Domestic goose" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Babbs Mill Lake KCP 25122020 Domestic goose.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

I didn't see any herons around Babbs Mill Lake, but later saw one coming into land near the Cole Valley Route in the Kingfisher Country Park. Not far from Packington Avenue in Shard End. This area is probably part of the Norman Chamberlain Local Nature Reserve.

dndimg alt="Heron Kingfisher Country Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Heron Cole Valley Route KCP 25122020 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I only managed to get two photos of it, this second zoom in came out a bit better. But would have been nice to see it near the lake.

dndimg alt="Heron Kingfisher Country Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Heron Cole Valley Route KCP 25122020 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown