Beyond Billesley Common, on Hollybank Road is the Hollybank Spinney. Also called the Hollie Lucas Memorial. The piece of land was named after Hollybank Farm. Named in memory of Christopher Hollins Lucas, who was killed during the Great War in 1918. Was a grandson of Joseph Lucas. Just a path and trees along the Haunch Brook. Just a small pocket of the Shire Country Park.

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Hollybank Spinney on The Haunch Brook Pathways


Hollybank Spinney on The Haunch Brook Pathways


Beyond Billesley Common, on Hollybank Road is the Hollybank Spinney. Also called the Hollie Lucas Memorial. The piece of land was named after Hollybank Farm. Named in memory of Christopher Hollins Lucas, who was killed during the Great War in 1918. Was a grandson of Joseph Lucas. Just a path and trees along the Haunch Brook. Just a small pocket of the Shire Country Park.


Hollybank Spinney

Part of the Haunch Brook Pathways, which goes through Billesley Common, if you leave the Common at Hollybank Road in Kings Heath, and cross over the road, is a small section called the Hollybank Spinney. This is also called the Hollie Lucas Memorial. The path amongst the trees goes from Hollybank Road towards Ardencote Road, so it's not very long. There is another short path from Hollybank Road that leads to Chamberlain Road.

The land was named after the Hollybank Farm which used to be on the site. It was given to the City of Birmingham by the Lucas family, known for Lucas Industries, in memory of the late Hollie Lucas, a grandson of the late Joseph Lucas (1834 - 1902).

Christopher Hollins Lucas fought during the First World War (1914-18), which at the time was called The Great War. He was also called Hollies Lucas. He was a second lieutenant in the 8th battalion of the Prince of Wales North Staffordshire Regiment. He was killed in action at the age of 21 on the 10th April 1918 in Belgium.

His medals were sent to his parents, who at the time lived on Cambridge Road in Kings Heath. A road off Wheelers Lane was named Hollie Lucas Road in his memory.

 

My visit to the Hollybank Spinney on a walk from the Kings Heath High Street towards the bus stop on Haunch Lane near Billesley Common, during July 2020.

Approaching the Hollybank Spinney from Hollybank Road in Kings Heath.

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Lots of trees and long grass.

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Onto the path towards Ardencote Road.

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Here's the sign about Joseph Lucas, and his grandson that this area is named after.

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The path curves around the trees.

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Near the end of the path, it's not very long.

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Man walking his dog near the end of the path as it goes onto Ardencote Road.

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Bit hard to see the Haunch Brook from here.

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The Haunch Brook is down there. Goes under this tunnel towards Kings Heath, not sure were it emerges though.

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Going back on the path towards Hollybank Road.

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Trees and bushes everywhere. A little bit of paradise.

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About halfway back to Hollybank Road.

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Not too far back to the end of the path.

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The Hollie Lucas Memorial on the left (the Joseph Lucas sign I saw earlier).

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Near Hollybank Road, noticed workmen who were resurfacing the paths in Billesley Common.

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The other end of the Haunch Brook from Hollybank Road.

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Almost hard to see here too. Some unwanted rubbish on the banks of the brook.

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One more path to take. This leads to Chamberlain Road.

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This path was much shorter.

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Trees all around the Haunch Brook near Chamberlain Road.

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Chamberlain Road is a cul-de-sac with this turn circle at the end. The path into the Hollybank Spinney is straight ahead.

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Chamberlain Road leads to Haunch Lane. Then just a walk down the hill to the bus stop outside of Billesley Common (the wait in my mask for the 76).

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

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