Description:Howard House was established as a working boys’ home in 1968 as one of the units replacing Copeley Hill Hostel when it was forced to close because of the development of the Gravelly Hill Interchange (Spaghetti Junction).
Howard House was a purpose-built children's home in Newtown which could accommodate eight boys (mirroring the other unit built at the same time in Newtown – Copeley House).
Each was a two storey building with lounge, dining room, quiet room, staff sitting rooms, kitchen and a toilet on the ground floor and, on the first floor, eight single bedrooms, three staff bedrooms and bathrooms.
In the early 1980s, Howard House was still in use as a home for working boys and still had accommodation for eight boys.
In 1982, it is listed as being due to change function. In the Social Services Committee minutes of the meeting of 8th October 1986, it is listed as a home for physically handicapped children. At this stage, it still had accommodation for eight children.
The last listing found for Howard House is in May 1989 when it is listed as a ‘residential establishment for people with a mental handicap’, still with eight beds. Since that time, it is no longer listed and this presumably was closed as a residential home.
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Image: Publicity photograph taken for the Children's Committee, Birmingham City Council 1967. The Birmingham Children's Homes project has no photograph of Howard House children's home at this stage.
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Source: This history was compiled by the Birmingham Children's Homes Project, an initiative to explore Birmingham City Council-run children’s homes between 1949 and 1990.