Moor Pool (or Moorpool) is a garden suburb within the ward of Harborne, Birmingham, England. It was designated a

Conservation Area Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural, ecological or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the ena ...

in July 1970, which was raised by an Article 4(2) direction order in 2006. A Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan was adopted in March 2012.

History

Memorial plaque to John Sutton Nettlefold within Moorpool Hall, Harborne - geograph

Moorpool Bowling Club clubhouse - geograph

The Moor Pool estate was established in 1907 by

John Sutton Nettlefold John Sutton Nettlefold (23 September 1792 – 12 April 1866) was a British industrialist and entrepreneur. Early life and family Nettlefold was born in London. Nettlefold was a Unitarian; he married a co-religionist, Martha Chamberlain (1794&n ...

, who was part of the Guest Keen Nettlefold ( GKN) family. It formed part of the Garden City concept, shared by

George Cadbury George Cadbury (19 September 1839 – 24 October 1922) was the third son of John Cadbury, a Quaker who founded Cadbury's cocoa and chocolate company in Britain. He was the husband of Dame Elizabeth Cadbury. Background He worked at the schoo ...

Bournville Bournville () is a model village on the southwest side of Birmingham, England, founded by the Quaker Cadbury family for employees at its Cadbury's factory, and designed to be a "garden" (or "model") village where the sale of alcohol was forbidd ...

, to create low density housing with many interspersed green spaces, and community facilities. The estate was built with a community hall (complete with

skittle alley Skittles is a historical lawn game and target sport of European origin, from which the modern sport of nine-pin bowling is descended. In regions of the United Kingdom and Ireland the game remains as a popular indoor pub game. Playing Skit ...

and snooker tables), two tennis clubs, a bowling green, numerous allotments, and the Moor Pool (pond) itself; all of these facilities remain today for residents' use. The homes and buildings were designed by William Martin, an architect known for working with John Henry Chamberlain to build 41 of the Birmingham board schools (including the nearby Harborne Clock Tower / School Yard), through their practice Martin & Chamberlain.

Moor Pool Heritage Trust

In 2014 the residential landlord of the estate, Grainger plc planned to sell off the local amenities, including the hall, the bowling green, tennis courts, skittle alley, fishing pond, some open space and shops. The Moor Pool Heritage Trust made a deal with Grainger to acquire the community facilities for £325,000. After a fundraiser, which included a £98,900 Heritage Lottery Fund grant, the acquisition was completed on 14 December 2014.

Nettlefold Pocket Park

In 2016 it was announced that Moor Pool Heritage Trust had been awarded over £8,500 to create a pocket park on an overgrown site on the corner of Margaret Grove and Moor Pool Avenue. The name Nettlefold Garden was chosen (after a naming competition), to reflect the heritage of the Moor Pool estate. The park was officially opened to the public by Cllr Carl Rice, the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, on 21 May 2017.

Listed Buildings

Key

Buildings

References

External links

Moor Pool Heritage Trust

Moor Pool Residents' Association
Areas of Birmingham, West Midlands Garden suburbs Populated places established in 1907 Conservation areas in England Harborne {{WestMidlands-geo-stub