Acocks Green

Acocks Green Synopsis

Until the mid-nineteenth century, Acocks Green lived a life of remote and quiet rural self-sufficiency. It began to develop following the coming of the railway in 1852, becoming a popular residential area for those who wanted, and had the means, to move out of the smoke and dirt of industrial Birmingham. A strong cultursl and educational tradition developed, enabling Acocks Green to compete with Edgbaston and Moseley as a desirable place to live for the middle classes of the late Victorian and Edwardian era.

This collection of over 220 photographs illustrates the history of Acocks Green over the last hundred years. The most far reaching changes probably came with the building of the municipal estates between the wars. This and later developments changed the area into a bustling suburb with a new social structure and over 200 shops!

The city's official record of these changes is housed in the Central Library and many photographs in this book have been selected from this archive. Other photographs have been borrowed from private collections and family albums of local people and together with carefully researched captions bring to life the recent history of this fascinating area.

This book will appeal to all who know Acocks Green and would enjoy a nostalgic glimpse into its past life.