It’s always rewarding to learn more about our predecessors. Christopher Chattock was one of the wealthy influential landowners of Castle Bromwich, Sometimes though, even the decision makers and the wealthy cannot halt progress:
Birmingham Daily Post – Wednesday 13th September 1893
THE PROPOSED BIRMINGHAM RACES.
To the Editor of the Daily Post
Sir- A very great wit and a remarkably clever prophet has said that if all the world was shut up and Bedlam let out we should be surprised to see how very similarly things would go on as before. I begin to think that this has been effected somehow, for it seems that wild projects will never cease. If this scheme of Birmingham races near Castle Bromwich is carried out it will be the utter ruin of the place and a disgrace to the country. All the roughs from Birmingham and the Black Country will attend every race, and it would take a wall of granite 50ft. high, or a regiment of soldiers and mounted police, to keep the course clear. When the autumn races were on, all the orchards, gardens and turnip fields would be stripped for a considerable distance around. I know every inch of the land, and can say that it is not sound enough for the purpose. Beside the river, a tolerably strong water course runs through it, and if these were diverted and banked up to keep off the floods it would force the water unusually and immoderately upon the lower and adjoining lands, which would be actionable. When the population of Birmingham and the Black Country was about one-half what it now is I have seen several acres of turnips, &c., spoilt in one day when a prize-fight took place in the hamlet now sought to be inundated and ruined by about as respectable a project. Why, it is actually within walking distance of 10,000 slums!
C. Chattock, Castle Bromwich, September 12.
Bromford Bridge Race Course
The Bromford Bridge racecourse was opened in 1894 by brothers John and Stanley Ford. The lease of the land (measuring 42 acres (17 ha)) was supported by a company owned by the Earl of Aylesford. The first recorded meeting was on 14 June 1895. In May 1914, the grandstand was burnt down by members of the suffragette movement. Following this, the course was requisitioned by the military. During the Second World War, the racecourse was used as an anti-aircraft station and as a depot.
In 1949, the course was bought as freehold by the Birmingham Racecourse Company for £85,000.
The course was redeveloped in 1958. The same year, the course hosted its most valuable event – a 2.5 miles (20 furlongs) handicap with a first prize of approximately £2,500.
