Barnt Green

History

The early establishment of Barnt Green as a village began with the construction of The Victoria a public house that was originally built as a temperance house at the start of the 20th century. A later map from 1905 already shows several buildings, including the Victoria and many of the terraced houses which skirt today's shops.

Development

The majority of the village is a product of the 20th century. Much of its development occurred between the World Wars, with very many houses built between the 1940s and 1970s, and some newer redbrick development.

Despite the proximity of the Birmingham conurbation, the built up area of the city is concealed by hills to the north and the landscape retains a rural aspect. The area provides an environment for wildlife, including birds, foxes, deer and badgers.

Location

Immediately above (in height) to the northwest are the Lickey Hills Country Park and the Victorian houses of Lickey. Almost immediately to the north is the site of the former Longbridge car factory and beyond that Birmingham.

Northeast are Cofton Hackett and the Bittell Reservoirs, with the Worcester and Birmingham Canal running alongside. To the east, farmland stretches from the edge of the factory right across to Hopwood. This large block of rural land forms a part of the green belt which encircles the settlement.

Southeast is the older village of Alvechurch and beyond that Redditch. South of the village, across the M42 motorway, is the large stretch of farmland of Cobley and Tardebigge which runs to the ancient seat of the Earl of Plymouth, Hewell Grange (now a prison).

To the southwest, the Lickey Incline, a stretch of railway, runs down the Bunter geological formation to Blackwell and Bromsgrove. The M5 motorway lies to the west.

Services

Barnt Green railway station is on the Cross-City Line (Redditch to Lichfield) and the Birmingham to Worcester via Bromsgrove Line. The area is close to junctions on the M5 and M42 motorways, as well as the nearby A38.

In the centre of the village is a linear shopping street and small park. Other facilities include a sports club, a cricket club, and separate Quaker, Baptist and Church of England churches. St Andrew's C of E First School is also based in the village.

Notable people

• Charles Banner, Conservative peer and King's Counsel, was raised in Barnt Green and has the village as the territorial designation on his letters patent
• Granville Bantock, composer, spent the last two years of his life in Barnt Green, and his grandson Gavin Bantock was born there.
• Patrick Beesly, author and naval intelligence officer, identified with the conclusion that the British Admiralty under Winston Churchill was responsible for the deliberate endangering of the RMS Lusitania, sunk in 1915, was born in Barnt Green in 1913
• Susan Jameson, actress and writer, was born in Barnt Green in 1941
• Jamelia, singer and television personality, lives in Barnt Green with her husband and three daughters
• Ian Lavender, comic actor — notably in the BBC TV series Dad's Army — who was born in nearby Birmingham, was wicket keeper for Barnt Green Cricket Club
• Margaret Leighton, award-winning actress, born in Barnt Green in 1922
• Ben Francis, British billionaire businessman
• Jack Grealish, footballer (Aston Villa, Manchester City), resident as of 2024.
• Richard Parker, the Mayor of the West Midlands since May 2024, lives in Barnt Green

References

References

1. "Check Browser Settings".
2. {{gbmapping. SP001736
3. "View map: Worcestershire XVI.NW (Includes: Birmingham; Bromsgrove; Cofton Hackett.) - Ordnance Survey Six-inch England and Wales, 1842-1952".
4. https://www.thevillage.co/2024/03/01/the-baron-of-barnt-green/
5. (28 December 2016). "Bantock Book Bonanza". The Village.
6. Richard Webber ''Endnotes - My family values'' The Guardian newspaper Family section p8 9.8.14
7. (9 January 2024). "Margaret Leighton | English actress".
8. Brock, Alexander. (2022-11-13). "Inside £2m house with 'hidden' garden in celebrity village".
9. (8 May 2024). "England star Jack Grealish fined for speeding". BBC News.
10. "Labour's Richard Parker shakes off 'unknown' tag in bid to be Mayor of West Midlands". Birmingham Mail.