Wolseley Motor Works, Birmingham
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Wolseley Factory, Drews Lane, Washwood Heath, Birmingham, B8 2QE
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Visit websiteThe Wolseley factory in Drews Lane, Washwood Heath is a large surviving motor works. When built Wolseley was part of the Vickers engineering group. Their original factory in Adderley Park was greatly expanded during the war but it was completely demolished in the 1970s. Drews Lane was designed for component production, but slowly took over car assembly during the twenties, particularly after Wolseley was taken over by Morris in 1926.
The Drews Lane buildings date from 1915-6 and were partly built in the name of Electrical and Ordnance Accessories, another firm in the Vickers group. They were designed by a local architect and surveyor, J.J. Hackett. There is a very long two storey street front, in red brick with stone bands, divided into bays by simple pilasters, and the central bay is emphasised by a big semicircular pediment: not in Ball's or even Cooke's class as architecture, but it certainly has an impact.
Drews Lane links the A 4040 with the B 4114 near Bromford Bridge Railway Station.
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