Editing Sparkbrook (section)

==Places of interest==
Many of the churches within Sparkbrook were constructed in the late 19th century and early 20th century. One of the most prominent churches in the area is [[St Agatha's Church, Sparkbrook|St Agatha's Church]] on the Stratford Road, consecrated in 1901. It is a [[Listed building|Grade I listed building]].<ref>[http://www.saintagathas.org.uk/ Saint Agatha's Church website]</ref><ref>[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=22976&strquery=Sparkbrook#p31 British History Online: St Agatha Church entry]</ref>

[[Christ Church, Sparkbrook|Christ Church]], on the corner of Grantham Road and Dolobran Road, was one of the oldest churches in the area, being consecrated in 1867. The spire belonging to the tower was removed in 1918, and following a bomb blast in [[World War II]], the tower was demolished. In 1927, The Diocesan Home for Girls received a licence permitting public worship within the building.<ref>[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=22976&strquery=Sparkbrook#p19 British History Online: Christ Church entry]</ref> Following damage caused by the [[Birmingham Tornado (UK)|Birmingham Tornado 28 July 2005]] the church was demolished.<ref>[http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/10/325323.html Indymedia UK – After the tornado: "market forces" force demolition of Sparkbrook Church]</ref><ref>[http://www.ecclawsoc.org.uk/documents/recent_judgments_2005.pdf Ecclesiastical Law Society] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061211204446/http://ecclawsoc.org.uk/documents/recent_judgments_2005.pdf |date=11 December 2006 }}</ref> However the Christ Church has been rebuilt in 2013 after being destroyed by the tornado in 2005. The Health centre that is on the site of the Christ church has been rebuilt in 2012. 

[[File:Lloyd's Farmhouse 1.jpg|thumb|The home of [[Sampson Lloyd II]] – founder of [[Lloyds Bank (historic)|Lloyds Bank]] – in Farm Park]]
Consecrated in the same year as St Agatha's Church, [[Emmanuel Church, Sparkbrook|Emmanuel Church]], was a chapel of ease to Christ Church until it received its own parish in 1928. Located within the church is an ancient blank bell from [[Ullenhall]].<ref>[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=22976&strquery=Sparkbrook#p23 British History Online: Emmanuel entry]</ref>

Ladypool Road mission hall was opened in 1894 by the Sparkbrook Gospel Mission (founded 1886).<ref>[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=22981&strquery=Sparkbrook%20Gospel%20Mission#p206 British History Online: A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 7: The City of Birmingham] – Religious History</ref>

In 1849, a group called the Methodist New Connexion, opened a chapel in the area, their first for 11 years along with a similar chapel on Bridge Street in the city centre.<ref>[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=22980&strquery=Sparkbrook#p33 British History Online: Protestant Nonconformity]</ref>

Lloyd House is a [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]] building situated on Sampson Road. It was built between 1742 and 1752 by [[Sampson Lloyd]], the founder of [[Lloyds Bank (historic)|Lloyds Bank]]. The building is used as offices by the Bromford Corinthia Housing Association.

In 1780, Sparkbrook was the home of [[Joseph Priestley]], one of the founding fathers of modern chemistry. In 1791, his mansion was partially destroyed in what became known as the [[Priestley riots]]. It stood on what is now Priestley Road. 

Sparkbrook is also home of the legendary Farm Park just off of the Stratford Road near Grantham Road.