Where is The Great Stone?

The Great Stone is at 158 Church Road, Northfield, Birmingham, B31 2LU

 

In brief

A timber-framed 18th century public house near St Laurence Church in Northfield. In the heart of old Northfield village.

The Great Stone, Northfield (June 2010). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Great Stone Inn - history

The inn probably dates back to the 18th century.

A timber-framed building with painted brick and a tile roof.

The pub is close to St Laurence Church in the historic old Northfield village.

Now a traditional pub with a beer garden.

Run by Great Pubs, but was formerly run by Mitchells & Butlers (M & B).

In 2010, they won an award for ‘best managed house’ and in 2011  ‘best community pub in the East and West Midlands’, in the Great British Pub awards.

The Great Stone, Northfield (June 2010). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Contact details

The Great Stone Inn

 

Where is The Village Pound?

The Village Pound is close to 154 Church Road, Northfield, Birmingham, B31 2LU

 

In brief

Dating to the 17th century, The Village Pound was a high walled structure to keep livestock in, such as stray cattle, pigs and sheep. It is now the home of the Great Stone, moved by Birmingham City Council to this site in 1954. A glacial bolder formed in a volcanic eruption 450 - 460 million years ago.

The Village Pound, Northfield (May 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Village Pound - history

The Grade II listed Village Pound is thought to date to the 17th century.

When this part of Northfield was in the countryside, the pound was used to stop stray cattle, sheep or pigs getting out. Or even dogs!

Since 1954, The Great Stone (a glacial bolder) was moved here by Birmingham City Council.

The Village Pound, Northfield (May 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Great Stone - history

For generations The Great Stone was at the corner of Church Road and Church Hill in Northfield, where it protected the Inn wall.

A glacial erratic bolder that was former in an explosive volanic 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 where the area was a frozen wasteland.

Birmingham City Council moved the boulder to this site in 1954 for road safety reasons.

The Great Stone at The Village Pound, Northfield (May 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown