Saracen's Head
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The Saracen's Head is the name usually given to a group of late medieval buildings in Kings Norton, Birmingham. The buildings, together with the nearby Old Grammar School, won the BBC Restoration series in 2004.
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[edit] Location
One of the oldest grammar schools in the Midlands, a 12th century church and a 15th century timber-framed house stand on The Green in Kings Norton. They lie adjacent to the churchyard of St Nicolas church, at the north west of the village green. Winners of BBC Restoration 2004, the Old Grammar School and the medieval house are buildings of considerable historical and architectural importance.
The Old Grammar School and the Saracen's Head building, both Grade II* listed, are owned by King's Norton Parish Church, which was unable to restore adequately the buildings prior to winning the BBC Restoration competition in 2004. The buildings are expected to re-open to the public in early 2008. The Old Grammar School is on the Buildings at Risk Register.
[edit] History
The oldest part of the Saracen's Head was built in 1492 as a house for a wealthy merchant (now known as the north range). The house faced the church of St Nicolas, the most prestigious position in the village. The building was expanded in the early 1500s, and a range of buildings was added facing the green in about 1510 (now known as the east range).
In 1643, Queen Henrietta Maria of France stopped in Kings Norton with an army, on her way to rejoin King Charles I at his headquarters in York. It is known that she stayed in the village, and it is assumed that she stayed in the house, although there is no explicit evidence for this.
By the 18th century, the east range had been converted into a public house, called the Saracen's Head. It had also been significantly remodelled, with a brick façade. In the 19th century, a further wing (known as the south range) was added.
By the 20th century, the Saracen's Head was owned by Mitchells & Butlers, who also owned the adjacent Bull's Head. The north range continued to be used as a residence with a shop. Two cottages, thought to have been part of the original east range, that lay between the Saracen's Head and the Bull's Head were demolished. In 1930, Mitchell & Butlers decided to donate the Saracen's Head to Kings Norton Parish, for use as a Parish Hall.
[edit] Timeline
- 1434 – The earliest possible date of construction of the Old Grammar School.
- 1492 – The North Range is built, beginning a 500 year project. By 1507, the East Range is built and by 1512, the North West extension has been added.
- 17th century – 19th century - Old Grammar School is a working school.
- 1547 – The earliest known date of a school in Kings Norton.
- 1629 - Thomas Hall, the most renowned school master of Old Grammar School, begins his tenure.
- July 10 1643 – Queen Henrietta Maria and 5,500 Royalist troops spend the night in Kings Norton.
- 1662 - After the restoration of the monarchy, the Act of Uniformity is enacted resulting in the ejection of one fifth of the English clergy, including Thomas Hall.
- 1771 – The Lea family purchases the buildings and probably turns the East Range into an inn.
- 1806 – earliest reference to the "Saracen's Head Inn".
- Early 19th century – Old Grammar School admits girls for the first time.
- 1867-1892 – The Rudge family are innkeepers.
- 1878 – The pupils leave the Old Grammar School and move to the new school across the road.
- 1888 – The South Hall is added to the East Range.
- June 1882 - The new Central Reference and Lending Libraries opened following a devastating fire. Many donations to the library included the library of the Reverend Thomas Hall given by the parish of King's Norton (vicar between 1640 and 1662).
- 1890 – The ground floor of the North range becomes a grocery and hardware shop, then a tea room.
- 1909-1910 - Extensive repairs are carried out to the Old Grammar School, costing almost £4,000 after which it was presented to the church.
- 1930 – The Saracen's Head closes as an inn. Mitchells & Butlers give the whole building to St Nicolas Church.
- 1951 – The Old Grammar School is last used as a school building, remaining in occasional church use. Further restoration of the Old Grammar School is carried out with the aid of a grant from the American Pilgrim Trust and gifts from local firms such as Cadbury's and many individuals.
[edit] Fabric
[edit] The north range
The north range is a fine example of a late medieval wooden frame house. Despite many alterations over the years, the majority of the original structure is intact. The original entrance to the house faced the church, to the north, and has been blocked up. The current entrance to the ground floor is through a passage that probably did not exist in the medieval period.
[edit] The east range: The Saracen's Head
In the east range the original timber frame can still be seen inside the building, but years of use as a pub has resulted in significant structural changes, including a later brick façade, and the closure of a major entrance to the courtyard behind the buildings.
[edit] The south range
The south range was a Victorian addition consisting of a large hall below which were a number of storage rooms. The south range was demolished in 2006.
[edit] Restoration
In 2004, Kings Norton Parish entered the Saracen's Head together with the Old Grammar School into the second series of the BBC television series Restoration. Twenty-one properties competed, including three for the Midlands heat, the others being Newstead Abbey, Ravenstead, home of Lord Byron and Bawdsey Radar Station at Felixstowe.[1]
After their win, Rob Morris, Canon and Honorary President, said: "In the run up to the finale of the second series of the BBC's Restoration 2004, Historic Kings Norton caught people's imagination across Birmingham and the UK. But it is since the series ended that the real hard work has had to deliver. It is a huge achievement to have come so far, and to be on the cusp of bringing about our goals; to open up a magnificent building of historical importance, a focal point for the local community, a first class resource for community use, and to preserve what is a unique village snapshot of medieval England."
[edit] Naming controversy
During the Restoration campaign, Canon Rob Morris, the rector of St Nicolas' Church made a comment that the name of the building might be unsuitable for a multi-faith city. This comment resulted in unfavourable press coverage in the Birmingham Mail[2] and the Daily Mail.
[edit] Planned changes
The restoration plans for the building include the demolition of the south range and a 19th century toilet, and their replacement with modern facilities that will allow the rest of the site to be used more fully than is possible at the moment. Work will be undertaken to secure the north range, and to remove some 19th and 20th century additions, including earlier repairs. The 18th century brick façade of the east range will be repaired.
Planning permission was granted by Birmingham City Council in June 2006.
[edit] References
- ^ Restoration - Series 2. BBC. Retrieved on 2008-03-26.
- ^ James Cartledge (2004-08-3). Off with his head!. Birmingham Evening Mail. Retrieved on 2008-03-26.
