Sutton Colefield is a market-town, and large parish, situated in the northwestern part of the county, in an excellent air, among pleasant woods, but in a barren soil. It is a place of great antiquity, and was known in the times of the Saxons: but whatever it was then, there is reason to believe that in latter times it fell to decay, as it appears from Sir William Dugdale, that John Herman, Bishop of Exeter, in the reign of Henry VIII., had such regard for it, as the place of his nativity, that he procured letters-patent from the king to have it incorporated. He also rebuilt the greatest part of the church, and at his own expense erected a town-hall and a market-house.

The church is a stately Gothic structure, consisting of a nave and two side aisles, with a square tower, in which is a clock, six good bells, and musical chimes. It is remarkable that the bodies interred in the vaults of this church, as well as in the churchyard, are consumed to ashes within a few years after they are deposited, which we find ascribed to the elevated situation of the ground; though we are rather of opinion, that the sudden dissolution is occasioned by some internal heat in the soil, which operating on the grosser particles, reduces them to dust sooner than they would do in other places, however the ground may be situated.

Among other benefactions to this place by Bishop Herman, he founded and endowed a noble free-school. It is remarkable, that he enjoined that the master should be a layman, and that every morning the scholars should sing the 130th psalm, beginning with the following words: "Out of the depth have I fried unto thee." The singing of this psalm has been omitted ever since the reformation, because being repeated for the repose of the bishop's soul, it was as considered as superstitious; but the other part of the injunction, namely, that of the master being a layman, is strictly observed.

This town is governed by a warden, two justices, and ten aldermen; it is in a flourishing state, and is endowed with many valuable privileges; particularly a large common, where ail the inhabitants have a right of pasturage. On one part of this common is plainly to be seen the course of the Roman Consular way, called Icknield-street; it is overgrown with furze and heath, but being high-ridged up with stone and gravel, it has baffled all the efforts of time and the plough to efface it.

The principal trade of the place consists in making barrels for guns, axes, forks, knives, buttons, and such other articles as depend upon the different trades in Birmingham, by which great numbers of people are constantly employed. The above articles are made by the assistance of mills, which are worked by some small rivulets that take their rise from the common. But as the streams themselves are not capable of constantly moving the mills, by their common current, reservoirs are made; but these have sometimes been attended with inconveniences, by overflowing their banks. A. particular instance of this happened in the year 1668, when there was so great an inundation as almost to ruin the place; but the loss was made up by voluntary subscriptions of the neighbouring gentlemen.

Walter de Clodshale, a native of the place, having acquired several estates in Birmingham, purchased the lordship of Saltly, and resided in the manor-house, now gone to decay, though its traces remain, and are termed by the common people the Giant's Castle.

This man procured a licence, in the year 1331, from William de Birmingham, lord of the see, and another from the crown, to found a chantry at the altar in St. Martin's church, for one priest, to pray for his soul and that of his wife. He gave, for this purpose, four houses, 20 acres of land, and eighteen-pence rent, issuing out of his estates in Birmingham. The chantorial music continued 204 years, till the year 1535, when Henry VIII. closed the book, turned out the priests, who were Sir Thomas Allen and Sir John Green, and seized the property, valued at 5l. 1s. per annum. At the northwest extremity of Sutton Colefield, joining the Chester-road, is the Bowen Pool; at the tail of which, 100 yards west of the road, on a small eminence or swell of the earth, are the remains of a fortification, called Loaches-banks; but of what use or original is uncertain, no author having mentioned it; 400 yards farther west, in the same flat, is a hill of some magnitude, deemed by the curious a tumulus. The Roman tumuli were of two sorts, the small for the reception of the general, or great men, and the large for the reception of the dead, after a battle; they are both of the same shape, rather high than broad. That before us comes under the description of neither; nor could the dead well be conveyed over the morass. The ground-plot, in the centre of the fort, at Loaches-banks, is about two acres, surrounded by three mounds, which are large, and three trenches, which are small; the whole forming a square of four acres. Each corner directs to a cardinal point, but perhaps not with design; for the situation of the ground would invite the operator to choose the present form. The northwest joins to, and is secured by, the pool. As the works are much in the Roman taste, it might at first view be deemed the residence of an opulent lord of the manor, but the adjacent lands carrying no marks of cultivation, destroys the argument; it is also too large for the fashion; besides all these, manorial foundations have been in use since the conquest, therefore tradition assists the historian; but here,tradition being lost, proves the place of greater antiquity. One might judge it of Danish extraction, but the trenches are not large enough for that people: of themselves they are no security, whether full or empty. It is probably the remains of a British camp, for near these premises are Drudeheath (Druid's-heath) and Drudefields, which we may reasonably suppose was the residence of a British priest; the military would naturally shelter themselves under the wing of the church, and the priest wish the protection of the military. The narrowness of the trenches is another proof of its being British; they exactly correspond with the style of that people. The name of the pool Bowen, is of British derivation, which is a farther proof that the work originated from the Britons. They did not place their security so much in the trenches as in the mounds, which they barricaded with timber. This camp is secured on three sides by a morass, and is only approachable on the fourth, that from Colefield. The first mound on this weak side is 24 yards over, twice the size of any other; which allowing an ample security, is a farther evidence of its being British, and tradition being silent is another.

A little to the west of Sutton Colefield Heath, are Sutton Colefield Park and Woods, belonging to the corporation of Sutton; and Four Oaks Hall, the seat of Sir Edmund C. Hartopp, Bart.

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SUTTON COLDFIELD in Domesday “Svtone,” is a municipal borough and extensive parish, 7 miles northeast from Birmingham, 9 south from Lichfield, and 112 from London, in the Northern division of the county. Birmingham division of Hemlingford hundred, Birmingham petty sessional division, Aston union, Birmingham county court district, Sutton Coldfield rural deanery, archdeaconry of Birmingham, and diocese of Worcester. Sutton claims a very high antiquity, having been once a royal manor, and afterwards an appanage of the powerful Earls of Warwick: it was called “the royal town of Sutton Coldfield,” by a charter of incorporation, obtained in the 20th year of King Henry VIII. by John Vesey, or Harman, Bishop of Exeter, 1520-49 and 1553-5, a native of this place, and a prelate of considerable eminence, to whose munificence may be attributed its subsequent prosperity; besides obtaining from the Crown a grant of a large tract of land for charitable purposes, he built a Town Hall and market house, founded and endowed a school, and established various other charities. The town formerly consisted principally of one street, on the road from Birmingham to Lichfield, but has considerably increased within the last few years, the houses being chiefly of red brick, and well built. The section of the London and North-Western Railway from Birmingham to Lichfield has five stations in the parish, viz., Sutton Coldfield, Wylde Green, Chester Road, Four Oaks and Blake Street. The Birmingham, Walsall and Wolverhampton branch of the Midland Railway passes through and has three stations in this parish, viz., Sutton Town, Sutton Park for excursion traffic, and Penns station for Penns lane, Walmley. The town was formerly governed by a corporation, consisting of a warden and 24 members, two of whom were called capital burgesses, under a charter granted by Charles II.: the warden was elected annually, and was chief magistrate as well as coroner for the parish during his year of office; the capital burgesses were elected for life by the Corporation, from their own body. In April, 1855, the town received a new charter of incorporation, and under the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1882, the Corporation now consists of 6 aldermen and 18 councillors, who elect a mayor and act as the urban sanitary authority; the town is divided into 6 wards, viz., Trinity, Hill, Boldmere, Maney, Wylde Green and Walmley. It is lighted with gas and paved, and supplied with water by the South Staffordshire Water Works Co., as well as from private wells and springs: an efficient system of drainage has also been carried out. The parish is divided into four eclesiastical districts, viz., Sutton Coldfield, Walmley, Hill and Boldmere.

The parish church of the Holy Trinity is an ancient building of stone, in the Early English and late Perpendicular styles, consisting of chancel with north and south chapels, nave, aisles, south porch, and an, embattled western tower containing 8 bells: the aisles date from 1533; the nave, being decayed, was taken down and rebuilt in 1760: in the north chancel chapel is the tomb of John Voysey or Vesey, also called Harman, Bishop of Exeter from 1519 to 14 Aug. 1551, when he resigned, and was succeeded by the famous Miles Coverdale, but on the deprivation of the latter by Queen Mary, Vesey was reinstated, and held the see until his death 23 Oct. 1554, at his manor of More Place in this parish, aged 103; the tomb, which bears a recumbent mitred effigy of the Bishop, was restored in 1876: the interior of this church suffered severely from fire in 1760, but was afterwards thoroughly restored, and was re-seated with open benches, and the roof raised in 1874: in 1879 a new aisle was added, the tower arch opened, and the chapels separated from the chancel by carved oak screens constructed from a portion of the choir fittings of Worcester Cathedral, removed during the restorations there in 1865; the cost of these restorations amounted to £6,516: the carved stone font, placed here in 1856, originally belonged to the Norman chapel of Over Whitacre, and was subsequently used as a horse block at an inn in Shustoke: the stained east window is a memorial to the Rev. W. R. Bedford, for 21 years rector of this parish (1822-43): there are also brasses to Barbara, daughter of Ralph Simonds, gent, and wife of Roger Eliot, rector of Sutton Coldfield (1606), with two children, and to Josias Bull, gent. (1606), with 5 children, and a mural tablet to Henry Pudsey, of Langley (1677), with busts of himself and wife: the church affords sittings for 1,000 persons. The register dates from the year 1603, but is imperfect. The living is a rectory, tithe rent-charge £1,247, gross yearly value £1,000, net £250, including 573 acres of glebe, with residence, in the gift of trustees, and held since 1892 by the Rev. William Campbell Riland Bedford M.A, of Clare College, Cambridge, and rural dean of Sutton Coldfield. The population attached to Holy Trinity church in 1891 was 3,852.

The Catholic church, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, in High street, is a structure of brick, consisting of nave only, and has 200 sittings: there is also a Catholic chapel at Boldmere, dedicated to St. Nicholas, with sittings for 50 persons, and served from Erdington.

There is a Baptist chapel at Little Sutton, seating 200 persons, and a Calvinistic chapel at Maney, with 100 sittings: the Congregational chapel, in Park road, erected in 1880, is a building of red brick with stone dressings in the Gothic style, with a tower and spire, and will seat 400 persons.

The Wesleyan Methodist chapel on the Parade was erected in 1888, and affords 200 sittings.

A cemetery of 4 acres was formed in 1877, at a cost of About £3,200, and has one mortuary chapel (unconsecrated); it is under the control of a cemetery committee.

The Town Hall, erected in 1858 and 1859, at a cost of £6,000, on a declivity at the foot of Mill street, is a building of red) brick, faced with stone, in the Gothic style: the municipal business is transacted in the northern portion, termed the Municipal buildings. The Sutton Coldfield Literary Institute occupies rooms in the building, and there are others available for public lectures, besides a reading and news room, well provided) with daily and weekly newspapers and periodicals', and a library containing upwards of 3,500 volumes, to which strangers are admitted on, payment of 1d.

A new County Police station and Magistrates’ court, in which the Petty Sessions are held, was erected in 1888 in Station street, at a cost of over £2,000.

The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agriculture.

Fairs are held on Trinity Monday, March 14, September 19, and November 8.

The Provident Dispensary, in Coleshill street, was erected in 1888.

The estate bequeathed by Bishop Vesey for the benefit of the town, now (1895) produces an annual revenue of about £2,500, which is for the most part applied in charities (educational and otherwise), under the control of interim trustees, appointed by the Charity Commissioners.

There are ten almshouses in Mill street, four at Hill, four at Walmley, and two at Boldmere. In addition to a free house and fuel, the married inmates receive 30s., and the single 18s. monthly.

At New Oscott is the Princess Alice Orphanage, an institution in connection with the Children’s Home, London; it was built in 1884 at an initial cost of £13,000; it has since been considerably developed by the erection of detached residences: there are at present (1895) 145 children.

New Hall, 1 ¼ miles south, an ancient structure in the castellated style, surrounded by a moat, claims to be the oldest inhabited house in England, and is now used as a college for boys: it was erected in 1200, and enlarged in 1360, and is now held by the mortgagees of John de Heley & M. Chadwick esq. who is the 26th lineal descendant of the founder. Moor Hall, the residence of Albert R. Dean esq. situated one mile north-east from the town, is a fine mansion of stone, in a densely wooded park, and has extensive pleasure grounds: it stands on the site of the original hall, erected and inhabited by Bishop Vesey (1528), and part of this structure yet remains: about a quarter of a mile west is a farmhouse said to have been the birthplace of the bishop. Peddimore Hall, 4 miles east, was formerly the seat of the Ardens, who were residents here before the Conquest. The double moat remains, but a farmhouse now occupies the site of the ancient mansion.

Adjacent to the town is a picturesque park of upwards of 2,400 acres, granted by Bishop Vesey to the Corporation of Sutton, in which the inhabitants have the privilege of pasturing horses and cattle on payment of a small fee; the Crystal Palace promenade gardens, situated near the park, cover an area of 25 acres, portions being set apart for cricket, golf and tennis: on and adjoining the park are several fine pools, notably Wyndley, Spade Mill or Powells, Blackroot, Bracebridge, and Longmore, all more or less available for boating, fishing and bathing. A portion of the ancient road known as “Icknield Street " crosses the park, which contains many objects of interest. Four Oaks Park, formerly the seat of Sir Percival W. C. Hartopp bart. was purchased by a Limited Company in 1880 for the purpose of founding race and steeple chase meetings, but these are now 110 longer held, and the estate has been divided into building lots, which are being rapidly acquired. This place is fast becoming a residential suburb for Birmingham and Walsall, for which purpose it is admirably adapted, as well from the beauty of its scenery, and its bracing air, as from the dryness of of its scenery, and its bracing air, as from the dryness of its soil.

The principal landowners are Sir Robt. Peel bart. of Drayton Manor, Staffs the mortgagees of John de Heley Mavesyn Chadwick esq. George Algernon Beynon Disney Hackel esq. J.P. Col. Thomas Henry Clarke. Terry J.P. of Bur-vale, Walton-on-Thames, Rev. W. K. R. Bedford M.A, J.P. and the Corporation, who own the manor; there are also numerous small owners. The soil is sandy and peat; subsoil, gravel. The chief crops are wheat, barley, oats and potatoes. The area of the whole parish is 13,030 acres, divided into: Boldmere ward 1,051, Hill 2,907, Maney 848, Trinity 3,223, Walmley 4,242, Wylde Green 759 acres; rateable value, £54,316. The population in 1881 was 7,737, and in 1891, 8,686. The population of each ward is: Boldmere 1,463, Hill, 1,471, Maney 1,916, Trinity (town) 1,548, Walmley 1,031, and Wylde Green 1,257. The population of each ward in 1894 was estimated at: Boldmere 1,755, Hill 1,860, Maney 2,150, Trinity 1,873, Walmley 1,031, and Wylde Green 1,329, making a total population of the parish, 10,000. Hill is 1 ½ miles north; Walmley 2 ½ miles south-east; Wylde Green, 1 to 2 miles south-west; Oscott, 2 miles west.

Places of Worship, with times of services

Holy Trinity Church, Rev. William Campbell Riland Bedford M.A. rector; 8 & 11 a.m.; 3.30 & 6.30 p.m.; Wed. & Fri. 12 noon & Fri. 7.30 p.m.

St. James's, Hill, Rev. Montagu Webster M.A. vicar; 10.45 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; in winter, 3 p.m.

St. John the Evangelist, Walmley, Rev. John Westley Davis M.A. vicar; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

St. Michael’s, Boldmere, Rev. Albert Edward Riland Bedford M.A. vicar; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

Catholic, Lichfield road, Rev. James Rigby, priest; 8.30 & 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; daily, 8.30 a.m.; Thurs. 7.30 p.m.

Catholic, Boldmere, served from Erdington, 8.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; daily, 8.30.

Calvinistic, Maney, 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.

Baptist, Little Sutton, 10.30 a.m. & 6 p.m.

The Brethren, Maney, 10.45 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

Congregational, Park road, Rev. Joseph Shillitto; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Wed. 7 p.m.

Wesleyan Methodist, Parade, Rev, Frank Cox; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Thur. 7.30 p.m.

Schools

Grammar, Lichfield road, founded by Bishop Vesey in 543, & endowed with a considerable extent of land: under a scheme of the Charity Commissioners, dated June, 1882, three exhibitions of £50 each were founded, tenable for three years at any university. The school was rebuilt in 1728 & new buildings were erected in 1862 & 1887, for 150 boys, including about 50 boarders, & there are now (1895), including boarders, about 75 boys. The school is governed by a body of 12 trustees, 4 being co-optative, 4 elected by the ratepayers the remainder chosen by the town council. The Rev. Albert Smith M.A. of Lincoln College, Oxford.

Corporation, Mill street, erected in 1828 & rebuilt & enlarged in 1870 & 1888, for 395 children; average attendance, boys, 215; average attendance, girls, 160.

Corporation, Church hill (infants), for 81 children; average attendance, 78.

Corporation (boys), Hill, built in 1892, for 128 boys;, average attendance, 85; George Field, master; (girls), built in 1826 & enlarged in 1892, for 160 girls; average attendance, 5 8; (infants), built in 1873, for 74 children; average attendance, 57.

Corporation (boys), Green Lanes, built in 1860 & enlarged in 1889, for 145 boys; average attendance, 110.

Corporation (mixed), Boldmere, built in 1860 & enlarged in 1880, for 160 girls; average attendance, 130.

Corporation (girls & infants), Walmley, for 90 girls & 90 infants; average attendance, 81 girls & 60 infants.

Corporation (infants), Maney, built in 1874, for 74 children; average attendance, 74.

Corporation (infants), Little Sutton, built in 1873, for 80 children; average attendance, 31.

Catholic (mixed), Lichfield road, built in 1872, for 80 children; average attendance, 50.