South face of The Red House - Great Barr, Sandwell, West Midlands

Image: © Martin Richard Phelan Taken: 22 May 2016

Crossing Red House Park from the south, this is the first sight of the Red House the visitor sees. It presently stands derelict but has been bought for conversion into eight flats. A previous occupant was Joseph Horn, an engineer and an Associate Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers, who was recorded in the 1841 Census as living in the house with his wife Elizabeth and others, presumably their domestic staff. Owned by Sandwell MBC (Metropolitan Borough Council) it was at one time leased to the conservation organisation BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) now restyled as TCV (The Conservation Volunteers). For a number of years, the Friends of Red House Park have been campaigning to secure the house as a community asset but it seems they have finally lost the battle. Additionally to the eight flats, six houses are to be built on the site, a retrograde step as this will deprive park visitors of their car parking area and will increase traffic flow on the narrow roads in the area. Source: RedHousePark.org.uk http://redhousepark.org.uk/ and the contributions by my fellow Geographer here http://www.geograph.org.uk/snippet/7980. Time taken 2.03 pm BST (British Summer Time).

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