Yardley Conservation Society

Old Yardely Conservation Area

Yardley today is a District of the City of Birmingham, in the West Midlands, with a history that goes back many centuries.

The Village of Yardley grew up around the Church of St Edburgha's, which remains today at the Heart of the Conservation Area.

Clear signs still remain of the Old Farm, the Blacksmith, the Butchers,

The the Aims of The Yardley Conservation Society

The Society was established in 1969 with the Aims:

1. To represent to the Civic Authories the views of all those concerned with preserving, and enhancing the Outstanding Urban Beauty and Character of Yardley Conservation Area.
2. Provide for members a varied programme of Talks and Social Events.
    

   Meetings	Held on the 2nd Thursday of each month (not August)
   Entrance	From 6.30pm, meeting starting at 7.00pm, finishing at 8.00pm
   Venue	In the Trust School, Church Road, Yardley, Next to Yardley Old Church
   Membership	£3.00 for the year and £2.50 entrance on the door at each meeting
   Visitors	Are always welcome, with an entrance fee of £3.50

The Society is recognised by Birmingham City Council as the representative body for the Yardley Conservation Area.

The Yardely Trust School, Old Yardeley

By A.D. 1260 There is evidence of a school in Yardley, the Masters were monks from the Maxstoke Priory.

This present building probably dates from the 15th Century, it may originally have been the Guild Hall.

W.Sutherns was the last master, the school closed in 1908.

The Trust House is now used as Parish Rooms with a Youth Club upstairs, the Sarah Hassell Lounge downstairs.

The Chairmen of Yardley Conservation Area

The First Chairman was the Vicar at that time - Reverend David A Edwards, who was reponsible for the concept of such a Society.

I served on those early committees, and our Secretary was Ruth duCrow, from Hollycroft. When David Edwards left Yardley the Chair was taken up by Keith Lawley, who was largely reponsible for several major developments.

One was the pedestrianisation of the road by the church, conceived mainly to counter the City's proposal to ease the traffic flow by widening and straightening the existing roadway - with the loss of a large part of the churchyard.

Another of Keith Lawley's achievements was the installation of floodlighting for the church. Much was achieved in those early years, bearing in mind there was no other Residents Assocation.

"Yardley Matters" July 2009, the Parish Magazine of St Edburgha's Church by Lawrence Hawtin

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The next Chairman after Keith Lawley was Malcolm Leonard, he was followed by Raymond Brown, when his health became frail, he handed over to the current Chairman Robert Jones.

Keith was the first long term chairman and was still a member until last autumn when he sadly died. We had hoped to invite him to the 40th Anniversary Celebrations

by Peter Thompson, Former Treasurer Yardley Conservation Society 2009

Old Yardley Village at Night

A letter from Rev David Edwards, Vicar of Yardley dated June 1970

Dear Fellow-Resident,

We enjoyed a very successful and interesting meeting in February, when our City Engineer and Surveyor, Mr Neville Borg, came and told a Parish Meeting something of what would be involved in the recent designation of Old Village of Yardley as a Conservation Area under the Civic Amenities Act, 1967.

At the end of that meeting it was agreed that I should summon a meeting of all interested local residents during the summer, in order to see if we could form a Yardley Conservation Society, to co-operate with the City Council in it's plans to preserve the old village and if possible, to make suggestions to the local authority as to what we think should be done with the houses and land in the area.

I am writing to invite you to come to a meeting to discuss the formation of such a Yardley Conservation Society, to be held in our Senior Church Hall, School lane, on Tuesday 9th at 8.00 pm

If we work together on this, I am sure that we shall be able to preserve our lovely old village as a haven of peace and charm for future generations, and also a pleasant place for people to live in at the moment.

Yours sincerely, David Edwards Vicar of Yardley

Report of a meeting held in Yardley Parish Church Senion Hall on Tuesday 9th June 1970

About 97 local residents were present.

The Vicar of Yardley, the Rev D. A. Edwards took the chair, and explained that the aim of the meeting was to consider the formation of a Yardley Conservation Society

He outlined some of the more important remarks made by Mr Neville Borg at a Parish Meeting in the Trust School on 17th February 1970, in which Mr Borg explained the meaning of Conservation. He also read a letter from Mr Borg dated 8th June, in which Mr Borg expressed his keen interest in the idea of a Yardley Conservation Society.

The meeting then agreed unanimously that a Yardley Conservation Society should be immediately formed, and proceeded to pass the following five rules, some unanimously, others by large majorities,

1. The Society shall be known as The Yardley Conservation Society.
2. The object of the Society shall be to co-operate wherever possible with the City Council in the implementation of the Civic Amenities Act1967, especially as it relates to the Old Yardley Conservation Area, and adjacent areas.
3. The Officers of the Society shall be: -  

   A Chairman

   An Honorary Secretary

   An Honorary Treasurer

   plus four other Committee members

4. A membership subscription of 5 shillings per member, 2 shillings and six pence for old age pensioners, shall be charged for the first year, and this shall be reviewed at the end of the first twelve months.
5. The Society shall meet at least twice a year, and one of these meeting may be the Annual General Meeting. The AGM shall be held shortly after Easter each Year.

The following officers were then unanimously elected -  

Chairman	The Rev D.A. Edwards
Hon Secretary	Miss Ruth Ducrow
Hon Treasurer	Mr F. Drake
Committe members	Mrs P. Pritchard
	Mr Banks
	Miss Foden
	Mr David Frasier

A general discussion was then held on matters of common interest, and the meeting closed at 9.45pm

Major points of concern included, the City Council's intentions with regard to the original scheme to widen Church Road, and the parking of cars in School Lane.

It was agreed that the Chairman should contact Mr Borg and his assistant, Mr R.W. Johnson, at the earliest opportunity.

Signed David A Edwards 9.7.1970

Winter in Old Yardley Village

Photographs by Robert Jones, Former Chairman Yardley Conservation Society www.robertcjones.co.uk