Description:Numbers 34 to 42 Villa Road in 1981. This 'stepped' terrace was built in the late 1840s on land leased from Matthew Piers Watt Boulton, the grandson of the industrialist Matthew Boulton. This land did not form part of the original Soho estate which MPW Boulton was breaking up and developing having moved away from Birmingham. He bought this land from Joseph Baker in 1844 or 45 and sold it on a building lease. He had also bought other land in the Villa Road area.
Early occupants of the houses were mainly skilled craftsmen from the gun and jewellery quarters, retired salesmen, attorneys or clerks.
The houses were refurbished by a housing association in the 1990s and further housing was built in the gardens.
(Based on research undertaken by Toni Demidowicz, Conservation Group, Planning and Architecture May 1993)