Where is Boddington Garden?

Boddington Garden is on Birmingham Road, Maney, Sutton Coldfield B72 1QR

In brief

The land where Boddington Garden is now, was once a driffold, used for the nearby manor to impound stray animals, the area was near a parish church. Now it is a garden with benches and flowers near the Driffold Gallery.

Colourful flower beds at Boddington Garden in Sutton Coldfield (April 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

Boddington Garden - history

The history of this land goes to it being a driffold.

It was set up near a manor to impound stray animals, in the area near the parish church.

In 1300 the Earl of Warwick gained a charter to hold a market each Tuesday, and for a fair to held on the eve of Holy Trinity.

Animals, local produce and other items such as weapons and agricultural tools were sold here.

A second charter was brought in during 1353 for another fair to be held at St Martin's Eve and Day.

Boddington Garden was named for a local man called Dr Boddington.

In 1840 he wrote a pioneering paper on the treatment of TB.

He advocated open-air treatment and put his ideas into practice at his sanatorium (demolished 1935).

Today driffold gives it's name to the nearby Driffold Gallery.

Boddington Garden in Sutton Coldfield (August 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown