Berry Hall Farm

Berry Hall Farm in Solihull is a moated, half-timbered house from the fifteenth century, standing right in the middle of the West Midlands town. Also called Old Berry Hall, it ranks among the oldest buildings in the area and is a rare survivor of medieval timber building in the Birmingham conurbation.

What is this place?

The house sits on Ravenshaw Lane. It began life simply as Berry Hall and was the seat of the Waring family, who lived here from 1505 until 1671. Historic England dates the structure to the late 1400s with later alterations, and notes that it was once considerably larger. It was listed in December 1949 at Grade II*, a category reserved for particularly important buildings rather than merely locally interesting ones.

Only part of the original residence remains. Local historians believe a wing that may have contained the great hall was lost. The exposed timber frame with brick infill is typical of late medieval manor houses in the Midlands.

Why is it called a "Farm"?

In 1867 the estate was bought by Joseph Gillott, a Birmingham maker of steel pen nibs. He built himself a grand new mansion on the grounds in the 1870s and wanted that house to carry the Berry Hall name, so the old building was renamed Berry Hall Farm. The Victorian mansion, which was still lived in during the 1950s, was demolished in the late 1980s. One piece of Gillott's estate survives: Berry Hall Lodge on Marsh Lane, a Neo-Elizabethan gatehouse of 1884 designed by J. A. Chatwin and listed Grade II.

Can you go inside?

Berry Hall Farm is a residence, not a museum with ticket desk and opening hours, and it is not run by the National Trust or English Heritage. Treat it as a landmark to admire from outside: the moat and the timber-framed front can be seen from around Ravenshaw Lane, so keep to the public road and respect the occupants' privacy.

How do you get there?

The house is in central Solihull, a short walk from the main shopping streets. Trains from Birmingham Moor Street and Snow Hill reach Solihull station in roughly 15 to 20 minutes, and from there it is an easy walk. If you drive, use a town-centre car park and walk, since the residential lanes nearby are narrow.

What else is nearby?

Within easy reach are the parish church of St Alphege, Malvern Park. Further out, the village of Hampton in Arden has more historic houses set in classic English countryside.

Frequently asked questions

Is Berry Hall Farm open to visitors? No. It is a private home without regular public access, but it can be viewed from the outside from Ravenshaw Lane.

How old is the building? It dates from the fifteenth century; Historic England places it in the late 1400s, with later changes.

What is the difference between Berry Hall Farm and Berry Hall? Berry Hall Farm is the old medieval house. Gillott moved the Berry Hall name to his new Victorian mansion, which was pulled down in the late 1980s.

Is anything else from the Gillott estate still standing? Yes, Berry Hall Lodge of 1884 on Marsh Lane, listed Grade II.