Description:In February 1961, 124 Church Lane was transferred from the Public Works Committee to the Children’s Committee to use as a children’s home.
The building had been purchased by the Public Works Committee as part of a road-widening scheme – the building was to be demolished to make space for the scheme. However, as the road widening was not to take place immediately, the building was available to be used a children’s home for 5 years.
124 Church Lane was intended to replace Handsworth Wood Road children's home which was closed as it was (mistakenly) thought that the building would imminently be needed by the Health Committee. However, when Handsworth Wood Road reopened as a children’s home (becoming Milton Grange) in 1963, Church Lane was also kept on as a children’s home.
At some time between 1961 and 1966, the number of the building changed from 124 to 150 as part of a renumbering of houses on the road.
The home was initially able to accommodate 16 children, both boys and girls. This was reduced to 14 in the 1980s.
The building was not demolished and so it continued in use as a children's home way beyond its initial 5 years, finally closing as a children’s home in 2001.
This home on Church Lane was not the only children’s home on Church Lane – there was another at number 112 in the 1970s and 1980s.
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Image: The building photographed in 2010 with the kind permission of the current owners.
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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.