Castle Bromwich Community Website

England is home to 50% of the world's Bluebell population, but the delicate English Bluebell is under threat from the stronger Spanish Bluebell which is grown in our gardens but increasing escaping and colonising in woods and hedgerows where it hybridises with the orginal English variety changing its characteristics. This is just one of the bits of knowledge gained during a walk with the Ranger in Yorkswood today.

It's all too easy to overlook the Natural Environment we have on our very doorstep. How many of us travel hundreds of miles to see what is only a few steps away from our homes? The Kingfisher Country Park is worth a visit and my walk through Yorkswood this morning showed me that there was far more to enjoy than just Bluebells. The habitat is diverse and as is the range of birds and vegetation seen on the walk.

For anybody who missed today's Bluebell Walk, Solihull Rangers are organising a a Bluebell Trail in Coldlands Wood from 10.30 am on Sunday May 9th.

Over many years I have held old photographic exhibitions in Water Orton, depicting how our small corner of Warwickshire appeared in the past. Amongst the hundreds of old pictures were one or two that had been taken by Water Orton's own Victorian photographer, Edwin Howard JAques. Many I am sure will know the story behind the rescued glass plate negatives and the family home in Vicarage Lane.

Now with the help from The Village Carnival Committee, Palm aboratory, Rea Street, Birmingham, 3S Stationery and Craft Supplies of Coleshill and 21st Century Technology I have been able to have over 300 of Edwin's plates turned into almost A3 sized pictures with easy to read captions. Thanks to Water Orton Methodist Church a special and unique exhibition will be held on the weekend of the 24th and 25th April 2010, 10am to 5pm in the Church opposite Tesco Express on the Birmingham Road, Water Orton.

There will be an entrance fee of £1, which will include a cup of tea and biscuit. Parking can be found on the Railway car park and thanks to Peter and Sharon at the Digby Hotel, Coleshill Road, both only a short walk to the exhibition.

The photos depict Victorian scenes and life in many of our Midland counties and visits to far-flung countries of the world, including a gem from the American Civil War of 1864/5. A fragile glass slide that has survived for over 140 years! Help is required to pinpoint many of the locations and to know if some of the buildings are still standing in our homeland, England.

Pupils of Alderlea Boys' School Circa 1960/61

Do you recognise anyone in these photos? If so, could you share the information here and with M Dickers who posted the photos here with a request for further information. Email md18446@telus.net The photographs were provided by Mr Hedges - back row second from right in photo below.

Teachers of Alderlea Boys' School Circa 1960/61

Behind many of the headstones and graves in the graveyard at St Mary & St Margarets Graveyard in Castle Bromwich lies a tragic story. The grave of Wing Commander A B Mobley is just one example.

Born on 17th August 1913 in Castle Bromwich, Wing Commander Arthur Benjamin Mobley made his first and last flight from Castle Bromwich air field. His tragic death on 29th July 1950 whilst flying in an air show at Castle Vale was witnessed by his young son who saw his plane plummet to the ground in a field adjoining Caste Bromwich Aerodrome. Wing Commander Mobley died from shock due to multiple injuries.

Further research is being carried out on the history of the people buried in the graveyard and it is intended to publish the details of the research on this site over the coming months.

My son and I were in the closed graveyard at St Mary & St Margaret's Church Castle Bromwich a few weeks ago when we were approached by somebody who had come to view the graves. During the course of the proceeding conversation, he informed us that he was something of a connisseur of graveyards and that in his opinion, Castle Bromwich ranked as one of the best.

To those who view the garveyard only when the grass cutting is overdue or when the brambles are taking over despite volunteers' efforts to eradicate them, this might seem a somewhat strange opinion; but to anybody who spends any time looking at the headstones the poignant glimpses into past lives and deaths bear witness to his views. The tragic lives of those killed during world wars one and two, many buried many miles from home; the stories of children swept away by illness or killed in accidents; and the devastation of families almost obliterated by the flu pandemic. Over the coming weeks some of these stories will be published in the History section of this website, starting with the story of Captain Edwin Tufnell Hayne.

Graveyards give a fascinating insight into the changing social attitudes, life opportunities and beliefs about death and what comes after. A glimpse around Castle Bromwich graveyard shows many 19th Century inscriptions along the lines of "Peace, perfect peace."  A typical inscription for a man lists his occupation or achievements in life such as the inscription for Alderman Clayton whereas women were generally referred to as wife or mother.

Similarly the gravestone for Edwin Kempson lists him as Curate and details his professional development, but merely describes Mary as his wife.

Over the years different materials have been favoured for the manufacture of gravestones and this is clearly illustrated in the Castle Bromwich graveyard with early stones being fashioned from limestone and standstone and more recent from marble. The symbols used on the garves has also changed over the years with the early use of crosses being supplemented with books, flowers and even celtic symbols.

Ivy, evergreen and fruit depicting the memory of the person will never fade away.

A lily piety and purity.

A book - a sign of faith and a book of life.

People travel thousands of miles to visit famous cemeteries such as Arlington, but those closer to home are equally as poignant and fascinating.