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Introduction
Building
House description
The garden
The garage
Improvements
Neighbours
Back to Bill's pages
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The house was newly built by the Wassell Brothers
George and Fred in 1937-38 for
Bill and Nora. It was quite some years
later before a house was built next door, further uphill. Old bricks were
used in the construction which was art deco style, with a flat roof.
Unusually for the Midlands it was completely covered with cement
render.
Bill made leaded windows for the door and tall window at the front of the
house and the other windows were in metal frames.
1937 |
1938 |
A mortgage was taken for the construction costs of
£1000. At £20 per month this was finally paid off in 1964.
The house was built at the top of the hill in Perrins
Lane, a constant worry to Nora as we grew up and hurtled down the hill
running or on our bicycles - and later in cars.
1943 |
1971 |
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Bill did a lot of finishing work in the first few
years - this must have been difficult in the war years in terms of cost,
getting materials and time. In 1940 Bill closed his stained glass
business and worked at the Austin Motor works at Longbridge until 1953
when he resumed business. He was an electrician and was involved in
the construction of ambulances for the war effort. He also did ARP
work on the roof of the factory, spotting enemy planes, and was secretary
for the spotters club. This was
voluntary on top of his work. He left to catch a bus at 7 in the
morning and was rarely home by 7 in the evening. |
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The back of the house started with just
steps going down to the garden but Bill built a reinforced concrete
terrace with large supporting pillars. He always planned to use
glass to edge the terrace but that never happened - a wire fence protected
those using the terrace from falling over the edge.
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