the ancient Ridgeways of England, it ran from the castle to Grimstock Hill Romano-British settlement at Coleshill. It is now mostly underneath Chelmsley Wood and the M6. The following houses have all disappeared; some are remembered on road signs: ‘Camden House' – dated to the 17th century and was a gardeners’ cottage for the Hall. ‘The Cedars' – was built in 1897 by Alderman Thomas Clayton JP. It was a large country residence with its own generating plant. ‘Eldon House' – dated from the middle of the 18th century and used as a farm and the rectory. ‘The Elms' ‘The Firs' – was a large house near Castle Bromwich Hall. It was usually occupied by the estate bailiff to the Hall. The site is now a post World War II housing estate of the same name. 'The Gables' – dating from 1800, but it was a mock half timbered 16th-century manor house. 'The Granary' – dated to the early 18th century was the village malt house. It is now a private residence. The upstairs room was once used for Church meetings and the adjoining building was an early bowling alley. This adjoining building has been demolished and a private house erected upon the site. 'Hawkesford' 'The Hawthorns' 'The Hollies' 'Rainbow Cottages' – a group of cottages opposite the Post Office. 'The Southfields' – dated to the middle of the 19th century. In 1908, it was occupied by Edward Randall who owned the first motor car in the village. During the Second World War, it became a secret plastics factory. The house is now part of the Remembrance Club. 'The Sycamores' – later known as Poplar Farm 'Timberley House' – was built in the late 18th century as a farmhouse. It was demolished in the 1930s and a cinema was built on the site. Before fitting out it was used a store in the Second World War. This was demolished in 1962 and a small supermarket now exists there. 'Westeria' 'Whateley Hall' – probably built in the 18th century in classical style, but there is evidence of a moated structure from the 14th century. The Hall was surrounded by considerable wooded grounds and was the second largest house in the village, after Castle Bromwich Hall. The Knight family was in residence from the 1860s until 1935 when it was sold and demolished. The Hall was owned by the William Newton II