This is the earliest area of settlement at Birdwell which now has quite a mixed character of buildings. There is significant legibility of the early properties as several buildings remain from the 19th century. This phase of development consisted of farm buildings and courtyard terraces built up at the edge of the common and on the limits of the parish. Ironstone miners who worked the Tankersley ironstone grounds are known to have lived in Birdwell (Jones 1995, 102-4). This may have been a stimulus for development in the area.