Edwardian Splendour in the heart of Birmingham.
The tarmac driveway leading to Winterbourne may not be familiar to the family who lived here, but the wonky roof line (an intentional design feature) and the crunch of gravel underfoot in the walled garden would make them feel much more at home.
Winterbourne was built in 1903 for John Sutton Nettlefold and his growing family. Many of our visitors today know the Nettlefold name from the old GKN factories and they always find it interesting when they make the connection.
When the house and garden were left to the University of Birmingham in 1944, the house was empty of contents. Acquisitions over the years mean there are now some original Nettlefold owned items on display if you know where to look. The latest is the rather spectacular dinner service which can currently be seen in the Drawing Room. This family heirloom would have once been used in the dining room at Winterbourne.
The house was built in the Arts and Crafts style – ideas popularised by William Morris but still going strong during the Edwardian period when the house was built. One of the main tenets of the movement was the use of local, artisan, craftsmen for the building work and avoiding increasingly available mass produced fixtures and fittings.
Evidence of this local craftsmanship can still be traced today in the makers mark on many of the window latches where the name ‘Hope’ is still visible. In this case, not only were Henry Hope and Sons locally based manufacturers but they were also family friends of the Nettlefolds.
These days we still pride ourselves on our links with the community as we welcome thousands of day visitors and members through the door each year. Whether we are putting on a special event, or just sharing the peaceful tranquillity of the space, there is still a gravel crunch to help link our visitors to the history of the site.
Eleanor Hill
Senior Visitor Services Assistant
Winterbourne House & Garden
Biddle & Webb are delighted to be hosting three valuation events at Winterbourne House & Garden this year. Free entry is available for visitors who bring along an item to be valued and consignment to auction is available on the day. Enjoy a day out at one of Birmingham’s Arts & Crafts gems and have an item valued too.
Biddle & Webb will be at Winterbourne House & Garden for free valuations from 10am until 4pm on the following dates:
Wednesday 22nd March 2017
Wednesday 26th July 2017
Wednesday 20th September 2017
See you there!