Harborne Through Time

This fascinating selection of photographs traces some of the many ways in which Harborne has changed and developed over the last century.

Harborne changed very little until the nineteenth century. Until then it was a farming community, with a resident Lord of the Manor, one parish church, a chapel and a few pubs. The main industry in the town was nailing. Harborne was in Staffordshire, and was part of the ancient parish of Harborne and Smethwick in the diocese of Lichfield. During the latter half of the nineteenth century, the population increased from 1637 in 1841, to 3,617 in 1861 and 10,113 by 1901.In 1891, Harborne became a suburb of Birmingham and in 1905 it became part of the new diocese of the city. Until 1930, when it was demolished, it had a Tudor farmhouse. It also had a railway and a fire station but those too have gone. Harborne does boast one jewel - the Moor Pool Estate, now a conservation area. This book is sure to evoke a wealth of memories and interest anyone who knows the area and would enjoy a visit into its past.