John Sutton Nettlefold moved to Birmingham in 1878 following the death of his father, Edward John Nettlefold and worked for 'messers Nettlefold and co' in Broad Street, Birmingham.

Part of the large Birmingham Unitarian community, Nettlefold and his family attended the Church of Messiah on Broad Street, where he met his future wife, Margaret Chamberlain. He married Margaret on 14-09-1891 at the Church of Messiah on Broad Street, Birmingham. Father of Evelyn, Annie (Nina), John Kenrick, Beatrice, Lois and Valerie Nettlefold. Also father of Lousia and Robert Nettlefold who died in childhood.

Nettlefold became involved in the family business, Nettlefold and Chamberlain, which later merged to become Guest, Keen and Nettlefold (GKN).

John Sutton Nettlefold was a pioneer of town planning, writing many books on the field which were still being used as late as 1945. As well as his work for the family company, Nettlefold was elected onto Birmingham City Council in 1898, where he served on the health committee. Here his interest in social issues and housing came to the forefront and he began to spend more time involved in town planning. His greatest mark of success is the Moor Pool Estate in Harbourne, which was completed in 1912.

Nettlefold built Winterbourne House in 1904 and was heavily involved in the design process. The family lived here until 1919.

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