A selection of Birmingham's great Manor Houses - more 'Did you know' facts from Elliott!

There are many manor houses around Birmingham, some open to the public, some not. In Handsworth is Soho House. In Tyseley not far from the local tip is Hay Hall. Over in Highgate is Stratford House. In Bournville is Selly Manor with Minworth Greaves.

Take our full post for great 'Did you know' facts from Elliott Brown.

Soho House

Soho House was the home of Matthew Boulton from 1766 until his death in 1809. Now a museum ran by the Birmingham Museums Trust. The Lunar Society regularly had meetings here in the dining room. This Grade II* listed the house is in Handsworth. After Boulton's death it has had various uses as a hotel / hostel. Birmingham City Council acquired it in 1990 and it's been a museum since 1995.

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Photo courtesy Elliott Brown.

The Dining Room at Soho House became known as the Lunar Room where members of the Lunar Society met. The architecture of the room dates to the late 18th century. Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery acquired the dining table in 1987. Other furniture was bought with assistance from the Lunar Society in 1994 - 95.

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Photo courtesy Elliott Brown

Hay Hall

Hay Hall was a 15th century moated manor house near Redfern Road in Hay Mills (Tyseley). Now used as offices. A manor house has been on this site since around 1260 and was built for the De La Haye family. It passed to the Este family in 1423. By the 20th century the whole area had become industrial, but Hay Hall was saved. It's been Grade II listed since 1952.

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Photos courtesy Elliott Brown

Stratford House

Stratford House is located close to Highgate Middleway and can be seen from the no 50 bus route on the Moseley Road in Highgate. Grade II* listed, the building dates to around 1601 and is one of the oldest surviving houses in Birmingham. It was built for Ambrose and Bridget Rotton. In recent years it's been used as offices and a club. There was a fire here in late 2015, but the building has since been fully restored and is vacant once again.

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dndimg alt="Stratford House in 2010" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Stratford House 2010.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos courtesy Elliott Brown

Selly Manor

Selly Manor was moved to Bournville in 1907 by George Cadbury. It's a timber framed building dating back to the 14th century, at least to around 1327. The Manor House used to be in Bournbrook, before it was relocated with Minworth Greaves to the corner of Sycamore Road and Maple Road in Bournville.

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All photos by Elliott Brown