The Estate being built April 1967.

I believe this picture was taken from Redcar Croft/Haydock Close

HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT

of

THE FIRS AND BROMFORD ESTATES

The area covered by the Firs and Bromford Estates was originally farm land. With the growth of urbanization before the War (1939 - 1945) the process of ribbon development took place at the southern end of Chipperfield Road. The remainder of the Firs Estate area remained farm land, except for part that was developed into a golf course, the Club House being on the site of the present Comet Hotel. While this transformation was taking place on the Firs Estate, the present Bromford Estate was being developed into the Birmingham Racecourse.

At this time, both areas came under the Parish of Castle Bromwich Church, and this link is still evident today as the Firs' Royal British Legion still use this church as their church of worship and remembrance. To this day, many people living in the area of the Firs and Bromford Estates state their address as Castle Bromwich.

With the need for housing after the war, the area of the Firs Estate was developed by the City Council. This mainly consisted of three-story flats, high rise flats and terrace housing on a high density level.

The need for housing was the reason for the closing of Birmingham Racecourse in 1960 and the building of the Bromford Estate, which was finalised in 1966. This estate was planned on the New Town principle, containing high and low rise flats, terrace housing, and included and built within these plans were housing for Co-ownership and Private housing.

The two Estates are not, strictly speaking, distinguishable from each other, although they are easily identifiable as a joint entity by a glance at a map of the area. Local residents make a clear distinction, however between the older Firs Estate and the more recent Bromford.

A estimate of the population based on the latest Census Data, would put the population at something over 10,000 in an area of about three quarters of a square mile. There are some 1,000 households on the Firs Estate, 2,000 on the Bromford Estates, and perhaps a further 800 households in the area of older 1930s housing which lies between the post-war estates.