Friday 16 December 2011

History

The land on which the Nature reserve stands is part of the Springfield estate and has been owned by the City of Birmingham District Council since 1946. When it was purchased from George Jackson JP. The particulars of sale describe Springfield House {formerly Springfield Hall, designed in the late eighteenth century for Richard Moland by Joseph Bonomi}as a Georgian residence with garages, stabling, two cottages, chauffeur's quarters, well timbered grounds, garden, park, entrance lodge, cottage, orchard, heated glasshouses, and walled garden. Total area 196 acres, 2 roods, 28 perches.
The Jacksons left Springfield House for Oare Manor, Somerset, in the Second World War when it was commandeered as offices for Singers of Coventry.
Springfield House 2012
Part of the garden of Springfield House became Temple Balsall Nature Reserve in 1969 when an agreement was made between the City of Birmingham Estates Department and the West Midlands Trust for Nature Conservation. Warwickshire Nature Conservation Trust now the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, took over the management of the reserve in 1970.