Catherine De Barnes was once a small area of heath within Longdon Manor.
It takes it's name not as one may think from a Norman Lady but from the 12th century Lord of the Manor who's name was KETELBERNE. By the 17th century  the name had been elaborated to Catherine de Barnes, and in the 19th century was known as CATNEY BARNES which incidentally is still used by the Residents association for their Newsletter the Catney News. In 1900 Catney Barnes as it was known boasted a School, Church, Pub, Post-box, Bakery, General Store and a Canal Wharf. There was however no Sewerage System, Mains Water Supply, Gas or Electricity.

From the Geoffrey Dean collection of Old Postcards

A Ghost Story
This is a true story, whether they be ghosts or a time slip or not I do not know to this day.
I lived in Oakfields Way, Catherine-De-Barnes, Solihull. I know Solihull very well and this incident occurred when I was about twenty-three years old, a short while before I left for overseas.

In 1973 I was walking the dog 'Maggie' (named pre-Thatcher and nothing to do with her). I walked down to the canal at Catney Bridge near the Boat Inn and then back along the path towards Lugtrout Lane/Birmingham rather than the Hay Lane/Stratford direction. There was a way up to the fields from there, the other side of the canal to Lugtrout. At the top of the path a farming meadow swept down from a house at the top of the rise and the other side from the canal dip was bordered by "Gallagher's Wood", as I knew it. Owned by J.J. Gallagher, these acres have probably been built on now. But they were old woods, old fenced, lots of silver birch but a real mix of oak and ash and undergrowth. There were paths through to Damson Lane, I'm sure.

It was a late summer's afternoon, early September, warm, clear and bright. As you hear about ghosts they arrive unexpected, but they are never quite as you imagine. As I crossed the field and neared the fence, just beyond, within the edge of the wood was a small coterie of three people deeply involved in animated discussion. Clear and sharp to my eye, as I could illustrate them even now, they were all dressed in medieval garb, in green leggings one of them and a reddish arm shirt as well as drab colours. In the flick of an eye (I didn't turn my head) they were gone and though I crossed to the place with intrigue, rather than fear, I could not find a trace.

I never saw them again, I went back several times and was never afraid to walk the dog there. Whether or not these are ghosts, for your interest, this is what I saw - sharp and definite. I am also convinced that these were authentic figures, not a contemporary group dressing-up and playing 'Plantagenets' as is the wont of some, I know.
Dave Cubby

Have Your Say
Posted Monday, June 16, 2008
Can anyone enlighten me about the history of Newlands Bishop Farm in Berry Hall Lane? It is currently used as an agricultural training centre for adults with learning difficulties and is run by the Family Care Trust. I believe prior to this it was used in a similar way by Solihull Council. Was there ever a farm on the site and where does the name Newlands Bishop come from? Enjoyed reading all the comments.
Ian Kelman

Posted Tuesday, June 3, 2008
I started work at Solihull hospital in 1957 in the wages dept. The old isolation hospital had become a convalescent home for mothers who had recently given birth at Netherwood. Every Friday morning I helped 'put up' the wages for both Solihull and C de B. When I had proved a certain competence I accompanied the assistant administrator to Catney where we doled out the wages. I felt very important! Happy days.
Liz Nye {Walker}

Posted Monday, March 3, 2008
I am trying to locate some photos of old berry hall, my Grandad was a carpenter and worked on the renovations. I think this was before WW2 he is now in his 8o's and living in Australia. We would love any info/pictures.
Thanks
Sharon

I am interested in 'Bogay Hall' and it's owners and land. I work at a house that was once the servants quarters.
Arthur Morgan-Moore

What a fascinating website, reading the different entries and comments brings back all the old memories and faces.  I went to Catney school from 1951 or 2 until 58/59, remember very vividly how the village was then.  Miss Kennedy in her sweet shop, Mr (Tom) Bradley with the petrol pumps outside and then Johnny Walker who used to deliver the morning papers on his delivery boys bike.  At the back of them, down a path was where Chris Stanley and his family lived.  He had two daughters and I'm sure they came to the school.  Course that's long since been built on now as were the fields on and past the sharp bend as you started down Lugtrout Lane.
Opposite the school was Tarplin's builder's yard and at the back was a farm, I think their name was Cooper and they also had two daughters, one of whom if I remember rightly was Christine.
Mrs. Hammond was still teaching at the school when I started, but I don't know how many years she did in all.  A long time I know because she'd taught my Mother before me!
It's nice to see the old place is still there and looking cared for anyway, although I suspect it must be much changed inside.  Happy days, but such a long time ago!  Frightening when you stop to add them up.  Anyone out there remember Coronation day when it was cold and poured with rain, but no matter what the celebrating had to go on!
How quiet and peaceful everywhere was round there back then though.  I remember you could more often than not walk the whole length of Lugtrout Lane and perhaps see no more than one or two cars.
Oh well.  Glad to have found the site anyway and will definitely regularly tune in to read everybody's comments.
Valerie McSweeney (nee Baker)

My name is Wlliam Wallace (Billy).  I went to catney school between 1950 & 1956.  My Aunt Mattie (who I lived with in Malt House Row) was the cook at Berry Hall.  My Uncle Hubert was the baker at Lewis' bakery.  My cousins lived in Henwood Mill. Everyone kept pigs then. I remember it all, the Coronation celebrations, Mrs Hammond, the headmistress of catney school and a whole lot more. I now live on the Isle of Skye but still have family in the Solihull area
William Wallace

I have just discovered that my grandfather, Percy George Everall lived on Lugtrout Lane in about 1905. His parents were John and Fanny Everall (strict Plymouth Brethren) and his brothers and sisters were Eleanor (Nell), Edgar (Ted) and Marjorie. John was a farmer but not a very successful one. Percy claimed to have swum in the River Blythe in his childhood, but whether this was at Catney or not I don't know. Does anyone know anything about the Everalls?
Peter Everall

I went to longfellows restaurant last eve saturday 26-1-07 for the very first time and had the most enjoyable meal. The last time I was in those premises was as a young lad born catney 1927 and used to go there for a stick of liquorice and bag of kali the premises was then owned by mr Kennedy and was the local grocer.
J J Lyons

To those asking about Berry Hall, or 'New Berry Hall, I have recently created a page on the Wikipedia online encyclopedia.  I have always been obsessed with the place and still to this day have not got over the fact that it was demolished.  My entry onto the Wikipedia web site is the culmination of a lot of time spent in Solihull Library researching the Hall in around 1990.  I am glad to have 'preserved' the once stunning Hall's memory by listing it on the encyclopedia.  If anyone has any further info or pictures they would be willing to share with me, I would be most grateful if you could get in touch.  Please have a look on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berry_Hall .  I hope you will find what I have entered so far (it is an on going project!) interesting.
Simon Woodfield

I remember Berry Hall and an empty house next to it that my boyfriend and I would often visit by climbing in or through the front door. The house had many strange and interesting things left in it, I remember a steam tub, one of those with a seat and your head would poke out, also and old screen with pictures all over it. The house was like the Marie Celeste, it had added mystery due to being surrounded by what looked like giant rhubarb! It was very strange. We visited many times as we used to walk from Solihull to the Catny shop where I would buy fudge. As for Berry Hall, just how many ghosts did that place have? One day I was very scared by a very strange noise, a humming that got louder and louder until it was in your head, no ghosts but a swarm of bees, did we run! This was all in the mid seventies, is there any thing left of either of  these buildings now, I never thought to take anything even a piece of mosaic floor would be nice, I do mosaics myself.
Julia Warner

I have been tracing my family tree, I went to Catherine de Barnes school in the early 50's at the county records office i found a Catny school register and to my surprise, 14 of my relatives had been to the school before me including my Great Gandfather the family lived in Malthouse Row
Donald Blizzard

My Greatgrand Parents John & Frances Waters ran the old boat Inn pub in the early 1900's. They had 3 Daughters Eva, Elsie & Lucy and a son Edward. Is there anyone with any information out there
Sue Crouch

I lived in the house next to the smallpox hospital 110 Henwood lane do you remember us Doreen and John Roberts and their 8 children I am Janette youngest but my 3 sisters Karen, Christine and Pamela  used to work at the stables would love to hear from anyone who remembers us have got lots of wonderful memories and tales about Catney
Janette Saman nee Roberts

What a cracking web site!!  I myself have spent many hours over on the Berry Hall Estate as a youngster, and actually have a few small pieces of the mosaic flooring that was in the entrance hall, (acquired during the demolition) the "KEEP OUT" sign, just as a small memento of this once splendid house.  Keep up the good work!
Paul, Solihull

For Jason Jennings ( Old Berry Hall ).  Nice to see someone asking. We went there religiously every year as a family outing to collect conkers. We would take our sheep dog " shep " who would roll in cow dung and stink the car out on the way home. If travelling toward Knowle on the newer bypass from hampton/cornyx lane area, take a look on the left hand side and you will see a small area with wooden fencing and a style. This is a public footpath that goes right up to ( or did) Old Berry Hall and its Victorian like derelict Greenhouses. Last I remember about 25 years ago was the quarry type tiles in the hallway of a building that seemed to have no roof over it. I was revisiting with a metal detector in the hope of good finds. No such luck.
Luke

Could somebody please tell me exactly where the old berry hall is situated.  I remember playing around there as a child around 1987, and the building itself was dilapidated to the point of there hardly being any of it left.  I seem to remember reaching it from berry hall road or perhaps Ravenshaw way/road, a short walk across a field somewhere to the rear of whale tankers?  I don't suppose any of it is left by now and has probably been redeveloped.  My interest was always in the lake next to it, which was very overgrown and looked like it may be the home to many a monster fish :)  I've driven around those roads over recent years, trying to remember where it was i played as a child, but cannot get a fix on exactly where to go.  I guess it always was private property anyway, perhaps if it would be trespassing to find this lake, somebody may educate me ...Thanks
Jason Jennings

BEESLEY/NEWSPAPERS - Can anyone remember which local newspapers were around in the 40's and 50's, my great grandfather by the name of BEESLEY appeared in an issue and i'd like to find out why
David Calcutt

I would like to know who now owns north lodge?
Sue

Tom Barstow's e mail address does not seem to be operating -please can you tell me how I might contact him re info I have on Berry Hall.  Thank you
Mike Smith

I used to keep my horse at Henwood Stables in Henwood Lane. His name was Joey. This was next to the 'smallpox' hospital as it was  known in the 1960's. When it was not being used we used to go scrumping for apples as it had an excellent orchard. We used to ride down to Henwood Mill as it often had water in the ford which the horses loved. We also used to tie our horses up at the Boat Inn and go in for a pie and a pint. I can still remember faces from these days but unfortunately am a bit hazy on names. Would be lovely to hear from anyone I used to ride with. There used to be a posh bungalow next to the stables owned by the Gills.
Helen Murray nee Flemming

If anyone has any information on my great grandmother, Clara Hewitt -born around 1860 in Catherine de Barnes; she married a John Mallett around 1898 and moved to Havering in Essex.  We think her occupation was laundry maid. As far as we know they had two children, Frank and Arthur, born 1899 and 1904 respectively. Many thanks
Bev Mason

My dad and some of his brothers and sisters were born at Catherine-de-Barnes; my dad in March 1919. Is anyone still around that may remember the Symcox family? Mr Edward John Symcox, Mrs Leah Symcox, two older boys from his first marriage (one Harry, other name possibly Edward), Brian, Aubrey (my dad) Joan, Hubert (Mac) and later Joyce and Oliver and finally Winifred, though the last three may have been born when they moved to Walsgrave-on-Sowe, Coventry. These family history activities have a lot to answer for!
Anne Ayres nee Symcox  

As a boy I went to Catney School in the early nineteen sixties under the tutillage of Mr Dingley who used to ride his bike past our house in Barston Lane. I used to walk to school past Henwood Mill (when the ford wasn't in flood) and the old infectious diseases facility. I moved to Australia in 1962 but my father purchased the book about Catherine-de-Barnes and it is still in my possession along with many happy memories!
Bryan Shirley

Maternity Hospital
I was born at Catherine de Barnes Hospital on March 25 1953. My mother told me I was one of the first babies born here, it would be interesting if someone could find me on the hospitals records to see if that was true.
I now live in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Christopher James Stevens
I am the Mother that gave birth at Catherine de Barnes on March 25, 1953 (my son asked a question earlier) Reason for Chris being born there was that Netherwood Maternity Hospital, adjoining Solihull Hospital., was being painted so they didn't want any births occurring there. Matron Windridge was the Matron at that time, and Chris was the first baby born at the facility.
Marjorie Stevens

Berry Hall
Travelling around the area I have always noticed and wondered about a certain property named North Lodge on Hampton Lane which is unoccupied. Have you any information on this property and history
M Cartmell

The North Lodge on Hampton lane is one of two properties that remain intact that were once part of the Berry Hall Estate. The other being South Lodge in Marsh Lane, now a listed building.
Berry Hall was owned by the Gillot Family who in 1873 purchased a great deal of land in the area.
The Gillots were owned a factory  in Birmingham producing steel pens.
The Hall was described as "a solid Victorian home with no expense spared".
The Architect, J.A. Chatwin had a reputation of being one of the best in England.
Joseph Gillot senior (known as "His Nib's"!) died in 1872 and his business passed on to his eldest son, also called Joseph. Joseph II died in 1903. The Hall passed to his son, yet another Joseph who himself died just four years later leaving the proceeds of his estate to the RSPCA and Batersea Dogs Home.

Berry Hall c1925

The property was bought by a Mr Upton of Sutton Lodge, Warwick Road and later changed hands several times until about 1950 when the house and parkland were sold to an anonymous investor.
The estate is now managed by Berry Hall Estates who in recent years had to comply with a dangerous structures order and demolish what was left of Joseph's house.
The main attraction of the grounds was an arboretum, the trees are still there today including a rare Whitty Pear and what is said to be the largest Gincko in the country.

Information obtained from 'Catherine de Barnes Past and Present, by Pete Peters and Betty Simmonds with Marilyn Price.

Spanning almost 1000 years of history, Catherine de Barnes Past and Present has been produced by three members of the local history group. The 80 page publication contains over 30 photographs and illustrations along with a wealth of historical information on the area including Henwood Priory, Berry Hall and the Gillott Family. The book is priced at £4.95 and is available from Mr Peters on 0121 704 9276 All profits from the sale of the book are being donated to Warren Pearl Marie Curie Centre in Solihull. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in the village.

Family History
Wilson Family
I was born at 259 Hampton Lane, my granny's house, (opposite the Boat Inn) and lived in Henwood Lane from 1943-1948. My father George Wilson was born in 1917 in Catney and lived there until 1948, worked at Lewis's Bakery. We went to a re-union at Catney school on 19th.May, it was really excellent.
Thank you Mr.Peters, any plans for another?
Ann Horton nee Wilson

Samuel and Gertrude Cockram
My father was born on Henwood Lane in 1920. He remembers walking to Catherine de Barnes. His family immigrated to USA in the early 30s. Does anyone have information about that area? His father's name was Samuel Cockram, mother's was Gertrude (nee Hill) Cockram. Thanks.
Kathleen Randall

28 July 2001
We have lived in Catney for 17 years and have never regretted moving here. The villagers are always friendly and look out for each other. It is a great place to bring up a family or retire to.
Zena and Doug Dadswell

16 July 2001
Currently purchasing a house in Catherines Close, Catherine de Barnes
(subject to contract so far!) any historical documents about the hospital site most welcome.
Pat McBride

The only information I have is to be found in the excellent book 'Catherine de Barnes Past and Present' by Pete Peters and Betty Simmonds' from which the following is taken.
"One of the more unusual developments that took place in 1907 was the building in Henwood Lane of a hospital for contagious (infectious) diseases.
This was a joint operation by Solihull and Meriden Councils and was constructed with a main block housing individual one bed wards and several separate bungalow style buildings. Accommodation was provided for ten staff and sixteen patients. The object was, of course, to isolate the patients;
such places were often known as `fever hospitals'. During the earlier part of the 20th century diphtheria, typhoid fever, smallpox etc. were still quite common. When they became much rarer in the 1950's it was used as a convalescent maternity hospital. Following the building of the maternity block at Solihull it reverted to an isolation hospital and was `mothballed'.
However it had to be ready at one hours notice to receive patients with what by now were very rare but highly dangerous diseases. The only patient to be taken there was a lady secretary from the smallpox research laboratories who sadly died from the disease. By 1990 the health authorities decided that the
hospital was no longer required and the buildings were converted into houses and flats with the name of Catherine's Court."
 

Name E-mail

Narrowboat short break and day hire on the Grand Union canal. Moorings and boatyard services.

LONGFELLOW'S English Restaurant 255 Hampton Lane Catherine de Barnes 0121 705 0547