IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Church Road, BIRMINGHAM, B31 2LU

The YMCA is on the right

Two plaques in the Pound read as follows: The Village Pound. Probably 17th Century. The glacial erratic boulder was formed in a volcanic eruption during the Ordovician period, 450-460 million years ago. During the ice age possibly up to 400,000 years ago, it was carried by an ice sheet from the Snowdon area of North Wales and deposited with many others around Northfield when the area was a frozen wasteland. For generations it lay at the corner of Church Road and Church Hill where it protected the Inn wall. This boulder was moved by Birmingham City Council to this site in 1954 for road safety reasons.

Located for safekeeping inside Image in the 1950s, this glacial erratic is described on the blue notice as "formed in an explosive volcanic eruption during the Ordovician period, 450-460 million years ago. During the last Ice Age possibly up to 400,000 years ago, it was carried by an ice sheet from the Snowdon area... and deposited with others around Northfield... For generations it lay at the corner of Church Road and Church Hill where it protected the Inn Wall"

Thought to be 17th century in origin, and Grade II listed https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101343382-village-pound-northfield-ward#.XyLaqChKjcs & https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1343382 in 1952. Traditionally pounds like this were used for coralling stray animals at a time when the area was much more rural, until such time as their owners could reclaim them; nowadays it's mainly preventing a large rock Image from wandering too far afield.

Situated on the corner of Church Road and Church Hill, The Great Stone is named after the glacial erratic Image in the nearby Image, and the main part of the building dates primarily from the 18th century. It was Grade II listed https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101075657-the-great-stone-public-house-northfield-ward#.XyLXdyhKjcs & https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1075657 in 1952.

This building, of which the half-timbered portion on the right is probably 16th century, and the brick-built portion on the left dates more to the 18th, was once an outhouse to the nearby Rectory. It was converted to garages, and now appears to be in use as offices. The whole structure was Grade II listed https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101220878-outhouse-to-the-rectory-now-garages-between-the-rectory-and-the-pastoral-centre-northfield-ward#.XyLdTyhKjcs & https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1220878 in 1982.

Great Stone Inn and The Pound looking towards St Laurence Church lych gate and tower.

Modern Northfield is a fairly anonymous Birmingham suburb, but its core around the Norman St Laurence Church retains a rural feel and is designated as a conservation area. The Great Stone Inn takes its name from a nearby ice age boulder.