'Many of you will already be familiar with Sue's excellent books ... Solihull Past is no exception.' - Solihull News Founded as a new town in the 12th century, Solihull, in the Forest of Arden, flourished in the early Middle Ages but then declined into a quiet village in north-west Warwickshire. The turnpikes brought some custom to its coaching inns in the 18th century but it was not until the railway came, in 1850, that its suburbanisation began. AUTHOR: Sue Bates was born in Birmingham and educated at King's Norton Grammar School and Birmingham Polytechnic, where she qualified as a librarian in 1970. She is the author of several books and pamphlets and in June 2021 was appointed Information Manager at Sandwell Central Library, West Bromwich. Well-known as a local speaker, she has also been heard on local radio and contributed a regular column for Solihull News. She was co-founder of the Local History Circle of Solihull Society of Arts, and was Hon. Sec. of Birmingham Bibliographical Society 1986-91. Now a Fellow of the Library Association, she was awarded the LA Centenary Medal in 1998. 173 b/w illustrations
