The Newton Road Area stretches from West Bromwich to the Scott Arms junction.



Map image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.

The Newton Road forms the main link between West Bromwich and Great Barr.

It is thought the route may have Roman origins and has been suggested it was called Blake Street, linking Icknield Street north of Sutton Coldfield.

This picture painted in the 1920's gives a good indication of the rural nature of the area.

Starting from Christ Church the road is about one mile to the Great Barr boundary crossing the M5, the railway (near where Newton Road Station existed) and the River Tame.

The Old Newton Road still partially exists in parallel to the modern duel carriageway which was built around 1964 soon after the picture above was taken.

. A feature of the Old Newton Road was the 'Jacobs Ladder' as shown in this Sandwell Libraries postcard.

The area is still rural and part of the Sandwell Valley.

Entering Great Barr the Newton Road rises towards Scott Arms.

After the Asbury Tavern and Malt Shovel public houses there is Bishop Asbury's birthplace.

In 1964 the Newton Road was being made into a duel carriageway. On the right the end of Bishop Asbury's house can be seen while on the left past the Fina garage construction of the new Asbury Tavern public house is being undertaken to replace the old Newton public house behind it.

The Junction with Hamstead Road is by the Church. In 1971 it was much quieter.Traffic lights are now planned for this junction in 2010.

The road crosses the Tame Valley canal and passes Fairyfield and the Red House.

Before being made into a duel carriageway the Newton Road was still an impressive wide road. The cyclist is Harry Watkins who was the Head Gardener at the Red House for many years.