Where is Stratford House?

Stratford House is at 82 Stratford Place, Highgate, Birmingham B12 0HT. Now occupied by Age UK Birmingham and Age UK Sandwell.

 

In brief

A timber framed manor house built in 1601 for Ambrose Rotton and his wife Bridget. A remarkable survival, that in recent years has survived a fire, and has been fully restored.

Stratford House (June 2010). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Stratford House - history

The manor house was built in the year 1601 for Ambrose Rotton and his wife Bridget. The house was originally part of a 20 acre farm owned by Ambrose, who kept sheep, oxen, cows and pigs. It is located in the Highgate area of Birmingham and is now a Grade II* listed building (it was first listed in 1952).

Stratford House in 1950. Ink drawing by John L. Baker. Topographical view of Birmingham, from the Birmingham Museums Trust collection.

 

In 1840, a goods yard was opened nearby at Camp Hill by the Midland Railway. The companies successor, the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, in 1926 bought the house and wanted to demolish it. There was a public outcry and the house was saved. There was further plans to demolish the house in the 1950s due to it dilapidated state. But it was bought by Ivor Adams in 1954 and it was saved.

Old houses, Stratford Place, Birmingham in 1951. Watercolour. By Allen Edward Everitt. Topographical view of Birmingham, from the Birmingham Museums Trust collection.

 

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the house was home to Network Records, one of the UK's exponents of Techno music.

By the late 2000s and early 2010s it was occupied by Birmingham Centre for Art Therapies (BCAT).

In 2014 it was a swingers club called the Tudor Lounge (who signed a 10 year lease with Birmingham City Council). This opened in January 2015, but by December 2015 there was a major fire here. The building was extensively restored during 2016.

Restoration of Stratford House from the no 50 bus (April 2016). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Restoration work continuing at Stratford House (May 2016). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Stratford House fully restored (April 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

From 2020, the building is now home to Age UK Birmingham and Age UK Sandwell.

In April 2021, Birmingham City Council approved plans for the road in front of Stratford House to be closed to create a Knott Garden.

Stratford House (June 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Transport

It is near the number 50 bus route on the Moseley Road, near Highgate Middleway and Highgate Park.