(Birmingham Central Library)
Somerset Road
(circa 1920)
(Birmingham Central Library)
Looking down towards Gravelly Lane. No date in the archive for this one but, judging by the fashion of that lone woman, I would say 1920's. The trees are much shorter than in the 1948 Somerset Road photo on the site so it is earlier. The tower seems to be in this one but not obvious in the 1948 Gravelly Lane photo.
Somerset Road,
2002
Villa Names
There seems no obvious pattern to the house names carved into
house stonework along this road. They would seem to date from
1906 due to dates carved on some Norfolk Road homes. Perhaps just
random by the builder as they sounded nice. Here they are in case
someone can spot a pattern, along with a guess at origins;
Court Lane end
| Even Side | Odd Side | Origin may be |
| The Oaks | Simply from the tree | |
| The Firs | Simply from the tree | |
| The Limes | Simply from the tree | |
| Mona Villas** | ? | |
| Bute Villas | ? | |
| Erne Villas | A sea eagle, or lake in Northern Ireland | |
| Lena Villas | A river in Russia | |
| The Torrs | A mountain is a tor, torr is a technical unit | |
| The Cliffs | ? | |
| The Dales | ? | |
| Linden Villas | A lime tree | |
| Priory Villas | ? | |
| Ashfield Villas | ? | |
| Highfield Villas | Highfield (Drive) was visible from the back in 1906 | |
| Walton Villas* | There is still a builder called Walton Homes. |
Gravelly Lane end
*Also the name of a block on Gravelly Lane.
** Also the name of a road off Gravelly Lane.