‘The Mount’ Red Hill - A brief history
'The Mount', Red Hill - A brief history
From Stourbridge towards Oldswinford, Queen's College was situated at the highest point of Red Hill Road, on a site which formerly extended along the Oldswinford Road as far as School Close, that is up to Glover and Wheeler's Charity School, and taking in the escarpment sloping down as far as the Hagley Road. This eminence of escarpment was once the site of a windmill, malthouse and other buildings, as well as an 'old licensed public house' which fronted Red Hill Road, traces of the cellars of which could be still seen in the foundations of the College buildings c1957. In 1834, as shown on one of the first ordnance maps of this district, there were two windmills in the Stourbridge area, one on the Queen's College site, the other in the vicinity of Mount Carmel at Wollaston. A plan of Stourbridge prepared from an actual survey made in 1837 shows the windmill on the College site. Church Street was then known as Windmill Street, and Junction Road, opposite the College, was Halfpenny Hall Lane. It is not known how long the windmill occupied the site but it is certain that it was there for many years, for in an engraved view of Stourbridge in Nash's 'History of Worcestershire' Vol.II, p.207, published in 1799, the windmill is seen clearly dominating the Stourbridge landscape. In 1820, one John Lawrence, a miller, made his will and gave to his youngest surviving child 'all that his Windmill with the Malthouse, Houses, Lands and appurtences in the parish of Oldswinford in the County of Worcester' then in the occupation of Thomas Collis and his undertenants. On the 1837 Stourbridge Town Plan by John Wood the windmill is clearly shown. In 1937 the entire property passed into the hands of Charles Roberts of The Quarry, Pedmore, who, while disposing of certain plots of land fronting Red Hill Road, retained the College site until 1860. The windmill was dismantled sometime prior to 1857 and in this year the malthouse became void and the old licensed public house served its purpose no longer.
OLD maps of STOURBRIDGE: http://www.oldstourbridgemaps.kjdocs.co.uk/
The association of Red Hill district of Stourbridge with scholastic institutions is known to extend over a quarter of a millennium. William Scott, in his 'History of Stourbridge', published in 1832, gives an account of Glover and Wheeler's Charity School, 'a respectable establishmenrt for the education and elementary relief of the poor.' 1855 "The School at Red Hill, endowed by John Wheeler, Esq., and Henry Glover, Esq., is for the education of 25 boys. The building is a large brick erection, with a house for the master, who is allowed to take other scholars, not on the foundation. Mr. Chetwynd, Master." [Source: Billings Directory of Worcestershire 1855], Henry Glover was one of the original feoffees of the Oldswinford Hospital School, founded in 1667 by Thomas Lord Foley, of Witley Court, Worcestershire. John Wheeler, of Wollaston Hall, a co-benefactor of his native place, died in 1708. During the latter half of the 19th century and the early years of the 20th century, Greenhill House, situated at the junction of Church Street and Junction Road, was used as a private day and boarding school. The present day Red Hill Secondary School [previously The home of The County High School for Girls from 1928 to its dissolution in 1976] occupies land on both sides of Junction Road.
OLD maps of STOURBRIDGE: http://www.oldstourbridgemaps.kjdocs.co.uk/
The association of Red Hill district of Stourbridge with scholastic institutions is known to extend over a quarter of a millennium. William Scott, in his 'History of Stourbridge', published in 1832, gives an account of Glover and Wheeler's Charity School, 'a respectable establishmenrt for the education and elementary relief of the poor.' 1855 "The School at Red Hill, endowed by John Wheeler, Esq., and Henry Glover, Esq., is for the education of 25 boys. The building is a large brick erection, with a house for the master, who is allowed to take other scholars, not on the foundation. Mr. Chetwynd, Master." [Source: Billings Directory of Worcestershire 1855], Henry Glover was one of the original feoffees of the Oldswinford Hospital School, founded in 1667 by Thomas Lord Foley, of Witley Court, Worcestershire. John Wheeler, of Wollaston Hall, a co-benefactor of his native place, died in 1708. During the latter half of the 19th century and the early years of the 20th century, Greenhill House, situated at the junction of Church Street and Junction Road, was used as a private day and boarding school. The present day Red Hill Secondary School [previously The home of The County High School for Girls from 1928 to its dissolution in 1976] occupies land on both sides of Junction Road.