A LITTLE piece of Solihull history is on the market with local property agents Ruxton.
If you were to ask Silhillians to name the most famous person who has lived in their area, the answer might well be ‘Edith Holden’.
Edith was Olton’s very own ‘Edwardian Lady’ who lived at ‘Gowan Bank’, in Kineton Green Rd, Olton, from March 1905 until she married in 1911.
It was while she lived at Gowan Bank that Edith compiled her beautifully illustrated nature notes of 1906 which went on to become known as ‘The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady’.
Published posthumously by Michael Joseph/Webb and Bower in 1977 it quickly became a best-selling book, much loved by people worldwide.
It has since been translated into 13 different languages and her life story was turned into a television drama.
Edith’s beautiful water colour paintings in the 1906 diary have been reproduced on numerous products, including wallpapers, notebooks and textiles.
On the opening page of Edith’s 1906 diary are the words, ‘Gowan Bank’, Olton and the name ‘Edith B Holden’, written in her distinctive sepia calligraphy.
Though Olton is now an urban area, the peace of the countryside still remains in her sizeable and characterful home which has continued to inspire writers and artists from four of the seven families who have lived at the house.
The present occupant has written two books and co-authored three more at Gowan Bank, plus written numerous poems and songs!
The large impressive Edwardian bath, which Edith used, is still in situ and there are numerous original features for those who like ‘a house with a history’.
Now, for the first time in 41 years, this inspirational house is up for sale. It is a spacious Edwardian house on a sizeable plot of land.
Featuring six bedrooms and retaining many original features Gowan Bank is on the market for £975,000 with Ruxton on 0121 704 0100.
