History of the Residents’ Society

In 1971 the Calthorpe Residents’ Society was formed by a group of local residents worried about proposed development on the Calthorpe Estate, an elegant “Garden Suburb” occupying much of Edgbaston and part of Harborne, a short distance from Birmingham City Centre. The aim was to form a group who could engage with the Calthorpe Estate management to make representations on behalf of and protect the interests of those who lived within the boundaries of the Estate, to mutual benefit. The Society is independent, apolitical, secular and voluntary and is open to all who live on and work in the Calthorpe Estate, as well as those who just admire its heritage and beauty.

Mainly due to the efforts of the Society the older part of the Estate was, in 1976, designated a Conservation Area, one of the largest such urban areas in England. The Society has in the past given invaluable guidance to residents on the Leasehold Reform Act (1967)and subsequent legislation assisting many to purchase their own freeholds. For further details please see Founder Member David Henson's interesting article on the First 40 years of the Society.

The Society continues to monitor the Calthorpe Estate 'Scheme of Management' , the aim of which is to preserve the character of the Estate with its famously numerous, beautiful trees, open spaces and historic buildings. This is operated by Lambert Smith Hampton for the Calthorpe Estate and the many residents who are subject to the Scheme should be aware of their legal obligations under it.

The Calthorpe Residents' Society continually reviews planning applications and development on the Estate, offering help and guidance to individuals and groups as required. Talks and events of local interest take place each year. Increasingly the Society is linking with other local groups, promoting local charities and events to the benefit of as many residents as possible. Whilst the Society has had much past success in preserving historic buildings, continued vigilance is required to ensure that the wonderful streetscapes are not eroded by loss of trees, front gardens and inappropriate gates and railings. Traffic speed and anti social parking have become significant issues in recent years. The Society is becoming more proactive in improving amenities and influencing development.

Membership of the Residents Society is open to all residential owners and occupiers and to business’ and organisations on the Calthorpe Estate and those who know and admire the area, subject to a small annual fee.

The approximate current boundaries of the Estate may be seen on this Google Map overlay.

Roads of the Calthorpe Estate are (in Alphabetical order):

A

Aboyne Close

Ampton Road, except 14,14A, 15, 15A

Anstruther Road

Antringham Gardens

Appleton Court

Arthur Road

Ashley Close

Aston Bury

Augustus Court

Augustus Road,                4-10 (consec), 19-23 (consec), 25-27, 42, 43, 45-48, 60, 83-86, 91-94

Austen Place

B

Balcaskie Close

Balden Road

Barlows Road

Barnsley Road

Barsham Road

Beaufort Road

Beechcroft

Belgrove Close, Richmond Hill Road

Berrow Drive

Birch Hollow

Birnam Flats, Harborne Road

Bishbury Close

Blackbushe Close

Blakeney Avenue

Boundary House

Bramshill Court

Bristol Road, 49-181 (odd)

Bromford Gardens

Brook Road

Broomhurst, (off Augustus Road)

C

Cala Drive

Calthorpe Mansions, 23-28, 30-34, 101-104 (consec)

Castleton Court, Wheeleys Road

Chad Road

Chad Square Shops

Chadbrook Crest

Century Tower

Chancellors Close

Charlotte Road

Christchurch Close

Church Road

Clare Drive

Cley Close

Cockthorpe Close

Constance Road

Cornerways

Croftdown Road

Crofters Court

Crondal Place

Crookham Close

Cropthorne Court, Calthorpe Road

D

Deeley Close, Elvetham Road

Dollery Drive

Don Close

Duncombe Grove

Dunston Court, Wheeleys Road

E

East Drive

Eastern Road

Edencroft

Edward Road

Egerton Court, Wheeleys Close

Elm Tree Road

Elmhurst

Elmwood Court

Elvetham Road

Estria Road

Euan Close

F

Fairlawn

Fakenham Croft

Fallowfield, Norfolk Road

Farquhar Road

Farquhar Road East

Finlarigg Drive

Fitzroy Avenue

Foster Way

Frederick Road

Fugelmere Close

G

George Road

Gilchrist Drive

Gilldown Place

Gillhurst Road

Gimble Walk

Gough Road

Green Walk

Greening Drive

Grenfell Drive

Greville Drive

Griffin Court

H

Hagley Road

Hagley Road West (1, Cornerways)

Hallfield Close, Carpenter Road

Hamilton Avenue

Hampshire Drive

Hampton Court, George Road

Harborne Road, 81-261 (odd), 170-194 (even), 263-301 (odd), 303-427 (odd)

Harrisons Road

Hartford Close

Hartley Place

Hawthorn Road

Hazeley Close, Beech Lanes

Heaton Drive

Hermitage Road

Hermitage Square

High Point

Hintlesham Avenue

Hitches Lane

Hollies Croft

Hindon Square

I

Ingham Way

Islington Row

J

Jacoby Place

K

Kelton Court

Kenward Croft

Kesteven Close

Kingscote Road

Knightlow Road

L

Lara Close

Leigham Drive

Lloyd Square

Lordswood Road

M

Malcomson Close

Malmesbury Park

Malt Close

Marsland Close

Mead Rise, except 8, 10 & 12

Meadow Road

Melton Drive

Metchley Lane

Metchley Park Road

Michael Court

Michael Drive, except 25, 26, 27, 31, 33

Minley Avenue

N

Niall Close

Norfolk Road, except 17-24 only

North Drive

Norwich Drive

Nursery Road

O

Oak Hill Drive

Oak Close

Odell Place

Ormsby Court

P

Pakenham Road

Pale Lane

Parkfield Close, Elveham Road

Pavenham Drive

Pebble Mill Road

Pershore Road

Petersham Place

Phoenix Court

Phoenix Green

Pixall Drive

Porters Croft

Priory Road

Pritchatts Road

R

Raglan Road

Richmond Court

Richmond Hill Road, except 38, 49, 54, 56, 58 only

Rodman Close

S

St Georges Close

St Georges Court

St James Court

Seymour Court

Sheepmoor Close

Sir Harrys Road, except 50-60 (consec),1-4 (consec)

Sir Richards Drive, 1-75 (odd)

Somerset Road

Speedwell Road

Spey Close

Spreadbury Close

Spring Road

Stanley Court, Islington Road

Star Hill

Stockdale Place

Stonebury

Strutt Close

Summerfield Court, Westfield Road

T

Templefield Square

The Close

The Dreel

The Regents

V

Viceroy Close

W

Walmead Croft

Warwick Crest

Wellington Road, except 51,52,53, 53A, 70, 71 only

West Acre Flats, Hermitage Road

West Drive

West Point, Hermitage Road

Westbourne Gardens

Westbourne Road

Westfield Road, except 3-11 (odd), 63-65 (odd), 99-111 (odd)

West Green Close

Wheeleys Road

Whetstone Close

Wilsford Gardens

Winchfield Drive

Wintney Close

Woodbourne

Woodbourne Road, except 58 - 64 (even)

Woodview Drive

Word Hill

Wyatt Close

Y

Yateley Road

Yelverton Drive

Yew Tree Road