Perry Hall (demolished around 1928)

Fire at Perry Hall

Date unknown

Considerable alarm was occasioned last night by a report that Perry Hall, the seat of Hon. A. C. G. Calthorpe was on fire.  Fortunately however, the outbreak was not serious, not much damage was done.  On Wednesday, children attending the parish schools were allowed to use the grounds for their annual treat with tea provided for them at the hall and it supposed that a beam in one of the flues became ignited with the unusual heat and this led to the outbreak.  Nothing, however, was not noticed until about 10.o.clock last night when one of the under gardeners noticed that the kitchen which adjoins the hall, was filled with smoke.  He then communicated with the Head Gardner, Mr. Mitchison, who fearing a serious outbreak, despatched a messenger to the tram depot at Perry Barr from whence the Aston and Birmingham Fire Brigade were summoned.  Meanwhile Mitchison got a garden hose to water and played upon the part of the wall from which the smoke was coming.  Presently a mass of plaster fell, revealing a smouldering beam which has been built in the flue.  Whilst he was at work and about a quarter of an hour after the messenger had been despatched the Aston Fire Brigade arrived and they were soon followed by the Birmingham Brigade with the steamer.  Their labours were designed to assist in the removing the beam and some of the ceiling lathwork and when this was done the fire appeared to have been stamped out.  There were a number of servants about the house to assist Mr. Mitchison or the result might have been serious.

The Hon A. C. G. Calthorpe and the members of his family were in London.  Perry Hall is a fine example of Elizabethan architecture was built in 1569 being one of the most ancient occupied residences in the Midlands.  The report of the fire caused a large number of people to assemble and the Handsworth Fire Brigade, to whom the news had unofficially come, turned out, but as with the other brigades, active service was not required.

The hall was not touched but the kitchen was seriously damaged. 

 Perry Hall Stable Block. c 1902

This postcard was purchased from Tower Hill Library