Churches (265) : St Nicholas, Elmdon

The parish church of St Nicholas in Elmdon, West Midlands was built in the late 1700s largely replacing an earlier medieval church, though the tower has survived. The church was built by Albert Spooner who had bought the Elmdon estate and had the church built along with the adjacent Elmdon Hall. The Hall was demolished in 1956 but the church is still there!

The earlier church dated from the 14th century and traces of it remain in the foundations of the current church. The tower is 15th century, the rebuilt church in a matching style. The tower has had a parapeted top added to it. The nave was extended in 1979. The church is mostly built from flint and rubble.

Solihull rails

This weekend it was time for another local station update, actually i do not have many stations left in the West Midlands which i really need to get updated imagery for. This time it was the turn of Dorridge, Solihull and other stations along the same line. You can see my photos here. Progress on the third book is being made, i need to get it finished by the end of July which isn't that long away now!

Heading through East Malling

In Kent.

West Midlands Places (20) : Kings Norton

Kings Norton is an area in the south of Birmingham, originally in Worcestershire.

There has been human settlements in the area since at least Roman times. Kings Norton itself has Saxon origins and was the northern most manor of Bromsgrove. The name comes from the Old English Nor Tun or northern settlement. The manor was held by Earl Edwin at the time of the Norman Conquest. After Edwin revolted against William his lands, including Kings Norton, were taken from him and held by the King.

King James granted Kings Norton a market charter in 1616. A mop fair for people looking for work was also held every year in October. Kings Norton expanded in the 18th and 19th centuries thanks to new transport links including the Worcester & Birmingham and Stratford Canals. Kings Norton also gained a railway station in 1849.

Kings Norton became part of Birmingham in 1911 and has continued to develop and urbanise. Kings Norton continues to have a number of buildings which survive from it's time as a separate market town. The oldest is the church of St Nicolas which dates from the 13th century.

Churches (264) : St Luke, Goostrey

St Luke's is the parish church of the village of Goostrey in Cheshire, however it isn't the first church on the site. The village has had a church since at least 1244, though this church was timber framed, and much changed over the years. Finally, it was replaced by the current church in the 1790s. The church has a three bay nave with a small chancel and an apse. There is a tower to the west.

The church is built from red brick with an ashlar dressing.