Tudor Grange House - A Solihull Gem!

Tudor Grange is a large suburban house in Solihull, next to Solihull College on the Blossomfield Road. It was built in 1887 for Alfred Lovekin and later home of Sir Alfred Bird. 


Where is Tudor Grange House?

Tudor Grange House is at 75 Blossomfield Rd, Solihull, West Midlands, B91 1SA. It is located next to Solihull College & University Centre.

 

In brief

A suburban house built in 1887 in the Jacobean style by Thomas Henry Mansell for the industrialist Alfred Lovekin. It later became the home of Sir Alfred Bird and his family. The house was later a part of Solihull College, but as of 2021, it is being redeveloped into a care home. It is a Grade II* listed building. The scheme has been given the name of Blossomfield Park. 

Tudor Grange HouseTudor Grange House from Blossomfield Road, Solihull (September 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Tudor Grange House - history

The house was built with a stable block in 1887, in the loose Jacobean style. The architect behind the build was Thomas Henry Mansell of Birmingham and it was built for the industrialist Alfred Lovekin. Panelling was by Plunketts of Smith Street, Warwick. The house is built of red brick with ashlar dressings and a tile roof.

The house was later owned and lived in by Sir Alfred Bird and his family (of Bird's Custard fame). He extended the house with a single storey of two bays. English engravings of heroes from Greek mythology, Roman Emperors and characters from English legend were added, some of which were by Robert Bridgeman.

The interior had a Dining Room, Morning Room, Drawing Room, Study and Music Room created in the Jacobean and Elizabethan styles. Some panels were made with Flemish or German C16 or C17 glass.

Alfred Lovekin lived here until his wife died in 1900, and he sold the house in 1901 to Alfred Bird, son of the founder of Bird's Custard Company who became MP for Wolverhampton West in 1910, was knighted in 1920 and made a baronet in 1922, the year of his death.

His widow lived on in the house until her death in 1943. The house was used as a Red Cross auxiliary hospital during and after the Second World War.

The house was bought in 1946 by Warwickshire County Council and became a school for children with special needs until 1976 when it became part of Solihull Technical College.

In recent years, Solihull College was not using the building that much and it was put it up for sale in 2016. It was sold to a new owner Macc Group in 2018, who decided to make better use of the site. As of 2021, the house is being converted into a care home with 64 beds, alongside with 44 assisted living units.

A new service road from Blossomfield Road has been built, and some of the trees cut down, opening up the view from the road.

Once complete it will be called Blossomfield Park. 

Tudor Grange HouseTudor Grange House from Blossomfield Road, Solihull (May 2011). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Tudor Grange HouseTudor Grange House from Blossomfield Road, Solihull (September 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Blossomfield Park in late 2022. There is now a short railing on Blossomfield Road, and you can see towards Tudor Grange House from the bus.

Blossomfield ParkBlossomfield Park - Tudor Grange House (November 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

By early 2023, it appears that the care home at Blossomfield Park is now open at Tudor Grange House, while Alfred Place to the right is still to be completed.

Tudor Grange HouseBlossomfield Park - Tudor Grange House (January 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

In 2024 it won the 2023 West Midlands Conservation Award from the Victorian Society.

 

Contact details

Blossomfield Park

T: 0121 824 5133

Project dates

26 Sep 2021 - On-going

Passions

History & heritage, Civic pride, Classic Architecture

Contact

Your Place Your Space

Jonathan Bostock

0121 410 5520
jonathan.bostock@ yourplaceyourspace.com