BMB

The Selly Park Estate was developed as an area of large plots for upper and middle-class housing in the
second half of the 19th-century. It lies between the Bristol and Pershore Roads, 3-miles south of
Birmingham's centre. However, this upmarket estate was unlikely to be a major source of customers for a
branch in the Selly Park/Ten Acres area. Development along the Pershore Road from Birmingham
brought potential customers as terraced houses and tunnel back houses were built through Ten Acres
towards Stirchley and Cotteridge.
In 1926, the Bank identified land at the junction of Pershore Road and Dogpool Lane as being suitable
for a branch to service this area of the city. The land was owned by the City Council's Tramways
Department, and consisted of 1,289 square yards. Agreement was reached with the Tramways
Department for transfer of the land to the Bank, but approximately 829 square yards were required by the
Public Works and Town Planning Department for road widening purposes, leaving 460 square yards for
utilisation by the Bank.
On this corner site, a substantial building was erected that included not only the branch, but other
commercial premises with residential accommodation above. The branch was formally opened on
September 15th 1928, by the Lord Mayor (Alderman A H James).

Managers:
1929 to 1931 - A M Hodgkins

1963 - A Clemons
1965 to 1970 - S C Stringer
1972 - K T Burden
1975 - K N Parkes
1976 - C M Humphries
1977 - S R Pink

Official branch opening on
September 15th 1928. The Lord
Mayor is on the left edge of the
doorway with the Bank's Chairman
(Percival Bower) on his left.
The Bank's General Manager
(J P Hilton) and his Deputy
(Frank Ellison) are on the right
of the group

Interior of Selly Park in 1928

2009: the premises are now a
fast-food takeaway