Edgbaston
Encyclopedia
Edgbaston is an area in the city of Birmingham
in England
. It is also a formal district, managed by its own district committee. The constituency includes the smaller Edgbaston ward and the wards of Bartley Green
, Harborne
and Quinton
.
Edgbaston traditionally has a reputation for being one of the most upmarket and affluent parts of Birmingham or "where the trees begin". In the 19th century, the area was under the control of the Gough-Calthorpe family
who refused to allow factories
or warehouse
s to be built in Edgbaston, thus making it attractive for the middle class
. However, while the central and southern parts of the suburb remain ostensibly affluent, there are some areas that are less so, with a high proportion of multi-occupancy rented private housing, as well as council-owned accommodation. Edgbaston is also home to the University of Birmingham
, established as Birmingham Medical School
in 1825.
of a man called Ecgbald", from the Old English
personal name + tun "farm". The personal name Ecgbald means "bold sword" (literally "bold edge"). The name was recorded as Celboldistane in 1139, wrongly suggesting that Old English
stān "stone, rock" is the final element of the name.
The United Kingdom Census 2001
found that 20,749 people were living in the Birmingham City Council ward of Edgbaston, in 8,666 households. This produced an average of 2 people per household, below the city-wide average of 2.5. The ward, which has an area of 871.6ha
, had a population density of 23.8 people per hectare. Like the city of Birmingham, Edgbaston had a slightly higher proportion of females, at 50.1%, to males. 27.1% of the population was in the 25-44 age bracket and 15.1% were aged between 45-59. At 14.8%, Edgbaston had a lower proportion of people of a pensionable age than the rest of Birmingham (16.7%). It also had a lower proportion of people of working age at 73.8%, although it was above the national percentage of 61.5%.
Edgbaston has an above average percentage for ethnic minorities with ethnic minorities representing 31.8% of the population as opposed to 29.6% for Birmingham. The largest ethnic group was the British Asian
group at 16.1%. 25.6% of people were born outside of the United Kingdom, above the Birmingham figure of 16.5%. Christianity
was the most predominant religion, with 52.5% of the population stating that they were Christians, compared with 59.1% for Birmingham. 8.0% stated that they were Muslims
, below the Birmingham figure of 14.3%. Edgbaston was home to a significant Orthodox Jewish
community. 19.1% of the Edgbaston population stated that they had no religion.
46.4% of households were owner-occupied, below the Birmingham figure of 60.4%. 19.3% were rented privately, 15.2% were rented from a housing association
and 11.6% were rented from Birmingham City Council. There was a total number of 9,191 houses in Edgbaston, 525 of which were vacant. At 45.6%, the vast majority of houses in Edgbaston were purpose-built blocks of flats. This is much higher than the city average of 17.9%. Detached houses were the second most common housing type in the ward at 19.7%.
Edgbaston had an unemployment rate of 8.1%, below the city average of 9.5% although above the national average of 5%. 13.4% of the population stated themselves as students. Of the unemployed, 42% were in long term unemployment and 15.6% had never worked. At 24.6%, the majority of the population worked in finance, real estate, and business activities. The largest employer in the area was the Heart of Birmingham Primary Care Trust, employing 10,000 people.
The Edgbaston Parliamentary Constituency has a much higher population.
is based in Edgbaston (Edgbaston historically being part of Warwickshire
), at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground
. As well as hosting regular county matches, the ground often plays host to the England cricket team during one day internationals and test matches. In 2006, there were rumours that the team would move to the proposed City of Birmingham Stadium
which would be shared with Birmingham City F.C.
. However, there are now plans for the expansion of the ground, and no share with the football club.
The area also boasts a world class tennis
venue; The Edgbaston Priory Club. The DFS Classic
for female players has been held there every year since 1982 and some of the world's top players make appearances. The tournament is part of the WTA Tour and wins count towards world rankings.
Furthermore, Edgbaston boasts the oldest lawn tennis club in the world, the Edgbaston Archery and Lawn Tennis Society
, founded in 1860.
There is also a members-only golf
course which offers good views over the southern part of the suburb. Edgbaston Croquet Club has been located in the area since 1915.
parish churches are St Augustine's Church
, St Germain's Church, St. George's Church
and St. Bartholomew's Church, also known as Edgbaston Old Church. Birmingham Central Synagogue
built in 1961 is also in Edgbaston. The Roman Catholic church of the Birmingham Oratory
, on Hagley Road, was built in 1907 in the Baroque
style as a memorial to John Henry Newman, who founded the English Oratory
here. Its dome is a prominent landmark.
J. R. R. Tolkien
lived in Edgbaston during his teenage years, and the two towers of Edgbaston, Perrott's Folly
and the Waterworks Tower
, both close to the Oratory, are said to have provided inspiration for part of his The Lord of the Rings
novel. The Barber Institute of Fine Arts
, which is located on the University of Birmingham
campus, is a purpose built gallery which contains a wide range of art from the masters to Picasso.
Edgbaston Reservoir
, formerly known as Rotton Park Reservoir, provides a header supply for the Birmingham Canal Navigations
and is an important inner city leisure amenity. There are two public gardens located within Edgbaston; the Birmingham Botanical Gardens
and the lesser known University of Birmingham Winterbourne Botanic Garden
. Adjoining the university gardens is Edgbaston Pool
(not to be confused with the reservoir
) which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest
). Edgbaston contains the only Grade I listed domestic building in Birmingham, notably one of the Arts & Crafts houses number 21 Yateley Road, designed by Herbert Tudor Buckland
, and built for his own use. Edgbaston Hall
, a Grade II listed country hall, is located within the ward. It is currently the clubhouse for Edgbaston Golf Club.
The BBC
opened television studios
at Pebble Mill in 1971, which were in use for 33 years until closing in October 2004 and being demolished the following year. The site remains vacant, despite plans upon its closure for a science and technology park to be developed there.
, and its Member of Parliament
(MP) is Labour
's Gisela Stuart
.
The Edgbaston ward of Birmingham City Council
elected three Conservative
councillors in 2004 and re-elected one of the three, Fergus Robinson, in 2006. Another Edgbaston councillor, Deirdre Alden, unsuccessfully challenged Gisela Stuart, MP for the Edgbaston constituency, in the 2005 general election
and 2010 election. Of the other wards of the Edgbaston constituency, Bartley Green
is represented by three Conservative councillors, Harborne
by two Conservatives and one Labour while Quinton
is represented by one Conservative and two Labour councillors.
The constituency has sent a female candidate to Parliament for the past 54 years. In the next election both the Labour Party and the Conservative Party candidates will be female, making it almost certain that this trend will continue. The most notable MP from the ward was Neville Chamberlain
.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, Edgbaston has been home to the main campus of the University of Birmingham
and to Edgbaston High School for Girls
, St Paul's School for Girls
, St. Georges School
, King Edward's School
King Edward VI High School for Girls
and Priory School. Because of this, there are numerous university halls of residence in the area. At the centre of the university can be found the Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower, one of Birmingham's tallest buildings.
Edgbaston is also the home of Queen's College, an ecumenical theological college
. West House School, The Birmingham Blue Coat School and Hallfield School are also located in the area - and are renowned primary schools with excellent reputations. The Elmhurst School for Dance
, the oldest vocational dance school in the United Kingdom, relocated to a new building in Edgbaston in 2004. St. Philip's School
used to be located adjacent to the Oratory, however it merged with South Birmingham College
in 1995.
, is found in south Edgbaston, west of Birmingham University. The second is Five Ways railway station
in the north of the ward on the city's Middle Ring Road
. Both stations are on the Cross-City Line. Between these two stations used to be another; Somerset Road station
. However, this was closed and demolished some years ago.
The A38 road
(Bristol Road) runs through the ward and is one of the main traffic arteries of the city reaching out to the south west of the city and beyond from the city centre and New Street
. Along this route bus
es frequently stop. There are several other bus routes throughout. The Worcester and Birmingham Canal
passes through the area, connecting the city centre with the River Severn
at Worcester
. This was constructed and opened in the 1790s and is used mainly for leisure and recreational purposes as opposed to its originally intended industrial usage.
The A456 road
(Hagley Road) runs through the north of Edgbaston and gives a relatively swift link with the city centre as well as faraway places including Halesowen
, Kidderminster
and Hereford
.
The nearest public libraries to the area are in Harborne, Selly Oak and Balsall Heath, whilst the University of Birmingham
main library (which members of the public can join for a fee) is in the area. There are a number medical facilities in the area, with two of the most well known being the University Medical Centre and the Calthorpe clinic
. Two hospitals are nearby, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital
and Selly Oak Hospital.
drummer Nick Mason
was born in Edgbaston. Science fiction author John Wyndham
was born there in 1903 and lived there until 1911 when his parents divorced. J.R.R. Tolkien also lived there for a period during his younger life, with Perrot's Folly and the waterworks supposedly providing him with the inspiration behind The Two Towers
. Former British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain
(1869–1940) was born in a house called Southborne, in Edgbaston. Dame Barbara Cartland
was born in Edgbaston, at 31 Augustus Road. World War I flying ace
Major Arthur Keen
MC
(1895–1918) lived in Edgbaston until his military service.
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is also a formal district, managed by its own district committee. The constituency includes the smaller Edgbaston ward and the wards of Bartley Green
Bartley Green
Bartley Green is a residential suburban area and electoral ward to the south west of Birmingham city centre, England. The ward is part of the Edgbaston constituency which has been under Labour rule for almost ten years. It is located in the metropolitan county of the West Midlands and was in the...
, Harborne
Harborne
Harborne is an area three miles southwest from Birmingham city centre, England. It is a Birmingham City Council ward in the formal district and in the parliamentary constituency of Birmingham Edgbaston.- Geography :...
and Quinton
Quinton, Birmingham
Quinton is a suburb on the western edge of Birmingham, England. It is a Birmingham City Council ward within the Edgbaston formal district, and forms a part of the Birmingham Edgbaston parliamentary constituency.The area is served by .-Geography:...
.
Edgbaston traditionally has a reputation for being one of the most upmarket and affluent parts of Birmingham or "where the trees begin". In the 19th century, the area was under the control of the Gough-Calthorpe family
Gough-Calthorpe family
The Gough-Calthorpe family is descended from ancient and notable families who both held lands in the area around Birmingham, England.Sir Henry Gough, 1st Baronet, Member of Parliament, was made a Baronet in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom in 1728...
who refused to allow factories
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
or warehouse
Warehouse
A warehouse is a commercial building for storage of goods. Warehouses are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc. They are usually large plain buildings in industrial areas of cities and towns. They usually have loading docks to load and unload...
s to be built in Edgbaston, thus making it attractive for the middle class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
. However, while the central and southern parts of the suburb remain ostensibly affluent, there are some areas that are less so, with a high proportion of multi-occupancy rented private housing, as well as council-owned accommodation. Edgbaston is also home to the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
, established as Birmingham Medical School
University of Birmingham Medical School
The University of Birmingham Medical School is one of Britain's largest and oldest medical schools with over 400 Medics graduating each year. It is based at the University of Birmingham in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England...
in 1825.
Etymology
Edgbaston means "villageVillage
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
of a man called Ecgbald", from the Old English
Old English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
personal name + tun "farm". The personal name Ecgbald means "bold sword" (literally "bold edge"). The name was recorded as Celboldistane in 1139, wrongly suggesting that Old English
Old English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
stān "stone, rock" is the final element of the name.
Demography
In 1801, Edgbaston had a population of around 1,000 people. By 1841, this had increased to 16,500 as a result of wealthy manufacturers moving to the area. By 1850, 29 roads had been laid out and uninterrupted growth continued.The United Kingdom Census 2001
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
found that 20,749 people were living in the Birmingham City Council ward of Edgbaston, in 8,666 households. This produced an average of 2 people per household, below the city-wide average of 2.5. The ward, which has an area of 871.6ha
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
, had a population density of 23.8 people per hectare. Like the city of Birmingham, Edgbaston had a slightly higher proportion of females, at 50.1%, to males. 27.1% of the population was in the 25-44 age bracket and 15.1% were aged between 45-59. At 14.8%, Edgbaston had a lower proportion of people of a pensionable age than the rest of Birmingham (16.7%). It also had a lower proportion of people of working age at 73.8%, although it was above the national percentage of 61.5%.
Edgbaston has an above average percentage for ethnic minorities with ethnic minorities representing 31.8% of the population as opposed to 29.6% for Birmingham. The largest ethnic group was the British Asian
British Asian
British Asian is a term used to describe British citizens who descended from mainly South Asia, also known as South Asians in the United Kingdom...
group at 16.1%. 25.6% of people were born outside of the United Kingdom, above the Birmingham figure of 16.5%. Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
was the most predominant religion, with 52.5% of the population stating that they were Christians, compared with 59.1% for Birmingham. 8.0% stated that they were Muslims
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, below the Birmingham figure of 14.3%. Edgbaston was home to a significant Orthodox Jewish
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
community. 19.1% of the Edgbaston population stated that they had no religion.
46.4% of households were owner-occupied, below the Birmingham figure of 60.4%. 19.3% were rented privately, 15.2% were rented from a housing association
Housing association
Housing associations in the United Kingdom are independent not-for-profit bodies that provide low-cost "social housing" for people in housing need. Any trading surplus is used to maintain existing homes and to help finance new ones...
and 11.6% were rented from Birmingham City Council. There was a total number of 9,191 houses in Edgbaston, 525 of which were vacant. At 45.6%, the vast majority of houses in Edgbaston were purpose-built blocks of flats. This is much higher than the city average of 17.9%. Detached houses were the second most common housing type in the ward at 19.7%.
Edgbaston had an unemployment rate of 8.1%, below the city average of 9.5% although above the national average of 5%. 13.4% of the population stated themselves as students. Of the unemployed, 42% were in long term unemployment and 15.6% had never worked. At 24.6%, the majority of the population worked in finance, real estate, and business activities. The largest employer in the area was the Heart of Birmingham Primary Care Trust, employing 10,000 people.
The Edgbaston Parliamentary Constituency has a much higher population.
Sport
Warwickshire County Cricket ClubWarwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
is based in Edgbaston (Edgbaston historically being part of Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
), at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground
Edgbaston Cricket Ground
Edgbaston Cricket Ground, also known as the County Ground or Edgbaston Stadium, is a cricket ground in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, England...
. As well as hosting regular county matches, the ground often plays host to the England cricket team during one day internationals and test matches. In 2006, there were rumours that the team would move to the proposed City of Birmingham Stadium
City of Birmingham Stadium
The City of Birmingham Stadium is a proposed multi-purpose stadium in the Saltley area of Birmingham, West Midlands, England, originally for Warwickshire County Cricket Club and Birmingham City F.C., to replace the current St Andrews Stadium however the cricket club cancelled these plans and only...
which would be shared with Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
. However, there are now plans for the expansion of the ground, and no share with the football club.
The area also boasts a world class tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
venue; The Edgbaston Priory Club. The DFS Classic
DFS Classic
The AEGON Classic, formerly known as the DFS Classic, is an International series tennis tournament on the WTA Tour held at the Edgbaston Priory Club in Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom. Held at this location since 1982, the tournament is played on outdoor grass courts...
for female players has been held there every year since 1982 and some of the world's top players make appearances. The tournament is part of the WTA Tour and wins count towards world rankings.
Furthermore, Edgbaston boasts the oldest lawn tennis club in the world, the Edgbaston Archery and Lawn Tennis Society
Edgbaston Archery and Lawn Tennis Society
Edgbaston Archery and Lawn Tennis Society, informally known as The Archery and based in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, England, is the oldest lawn tennis club in the world....
, founded in 1860.
There is also a members-only golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
course which offers good views over the southern part of the suburb. Edgbaston Croquet Club has been located in the area since 1915.
Places of interest
The Church of EnglandChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
parish churches are St Augustine's Church
St Augustine's Church, Edgbaston
The Church of St Augustine of Hippo in Lyttelton Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, England is a parish church in the Church of England.-Background:...
, St Germain's Church, St. George's Church
St. George's Church, Edgbaston
St. George's Church, Edgbaston is a parish church in the Church of England in Edgbaston, Birmingham.-History:It was built in 1836-8 as a chapel-of-ease to St. Bartholomew's Church, Edgbaston....
and St. Bartholomew's Church, also known as Edgbaston Old Church. Birmingham Central Synagogue
Birmingham Central Synagogue
Birmingham Central Synagogue is an Orthodox synagogue situated in Edgbaston, Birmingham. The Ashkenazi Orthodox community was established in a private house in Belgrave Road in 1883 before moving to Wrottesley Street in 1900 and then to Bristol Street in 1928, taking over a former Methodist Hall...
built in 1961 is also in Edgbaston. The Roman Catholic church of the Birmingham Oratory
Birmingham Oratory
The Birmingham Oratory is a Catholic oratory and church, on the Hagley Road, in the Birmingham suburb of Edgbaston in England.-History:The church was constructed between 1907 and 1910 in the Baroque style as a memorial to Cardinal Newman, founder of the English Oratory...
, on Hagley Road, was built in 1907 in the Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
style as a memorial to John Henry Newman, who founded the English Oratory
Oratory (worship)
An oratory is a Christian room for prayer, from the Latin orare, to pray.-Catholic church:In the Roman Catholic Church, an oratory is a structure other than a parish church, set aside by ecclesiastical authority for prayer and the celebration of Mass...
here. Its dome is a prominent landmark.
J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
lived in Edgbaston during his teenage years, and the two towers of Edgbaston, Perrott's Folly
Perrott's Folly
Perrott's Folly, , also known as The Monument, or The Observatory, is a 29-metre tall tower, built in 1758. It is a Grade II* listed building in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, England.-History:...
and the Waterworks Tower
Edgbaston Waterworks
Edgbaston Waterworks lies to the east of Edgbaston Reservoir, two miles west of the centre of Birmingham, England....
, both close to the Oratory, are said to have provided inspiration for part of his The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
novel. The Barber Institute of Fine Arts
Barber Institute of Fine Arts
The Barber Institute of Fine Arts is an art gallery and concert hall in Birmingham, England. It is situated in purpose-built premises on the campus of the University of Birmingham....
, which is located on the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
campus, is a purpose built gallery which contains a wide range of art from the masters to Picasso.
Edgbaston Reservoir
Edgbaston Reservoir
Edgbaston Reservoir, originally known as Rotton Park Reservoir and referred to in some early maps as Rock Pool Reservoir, is a canal feeder reservoir in the Ladywood district of Birmingham, England...
, formerly known as Rotton Park Reservoir, provides a header supply for the Birmingham Canal Navigations
Birmingham Canal Navigations
Birmingham Canal Navigations is a network of navigable canals connecting Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and the eastern part of the Black Country...
and is an important inner city leisure amenity. There are two public gardens located within Edgbaston; the Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
The Birmingham Botanical Gardens are botanical gardens situated in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England. The gardens are close to the centre of Birmingham and open every day of the year, from sunrise to sunset. They are located at ....
and the lesser known University of Birmingham Winterbourne Botanic Garden
Winterbourne Botanic Garden
Winterbourne Botanic Garden is the botanic garden of the University of Birmingham, located in Edgbaston, Birmingham. It is adjacent to Edgbaston Pool, a Site of Special Scientific Interest....
. Adjoining the university gardens is Edgbaston Pool
Edgbaston Pool
Edgbaston Pool is a Site of Special Scientific Interest located in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England. It is one of 23 SSSI's in the West Midlands. The site has two distinct units within it. The first is water-related and contains the lake and the input channel of the Chad Brook as well as some land...
(not to be confused with the reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
) which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
). Edgbaston contains the only Grade I listed domestic building in Birmingham, notably one of the Arts & Crafts houses number 21 Yateley Road, designed by Herbert Tudor Buckland
Herbert Tudor Buckland
Herbert Tudor Buckland was a British architect, best known for his seminal Arts and Crafts houses , the Elan Valley model village, educational buildings such as the campus of the Royal Hospital School in Suffolk and St Hugh's College in Oxford.-Biography:Buckland was born in...
, and built for his own use. Edgbaston Hall
Edgbaston Hall
Edgbaston Hall is a country house in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, England.Early in the Civil War, Edgbaston Hall, along with Hawkesley House, now the site of a council housing estate in Longbridge, was a stronghold of Colonel John Fox, the so-called "Jovial Tinker"...
, a Grade II listed country hall, is located within the ward. It is currently the clubhouse for Edgbaston Golf Club.
The BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
opened television studios
Pebble Mill Studios
The BBC 's Pebble Mill Studios were located in Edgbaston, a suburb of Birmingham, England. The views from the roof overlooked Cannon Hill Park, a nature centre, as well as Birmingham's city centre...
at Pebble Mill in 1971, which were in use for 33 years until closing in October 2004 and being demolished the following year. The site remains vacant, despite plans upon its closure for a science and technology park to be developed there.
Politics
Birmingham Edgbaston is a constituencyUnited Kingdom constituencies
In the United Kingdom , each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one or more members to a parliament or assembly.Within the United Kingdom there are now five bodies with members elected by constituencies:...
, and its Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) is Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
's Gisela Stuart
Gisela Stuart
Gisela Gschaider Stuart is a German born, British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston since 1997.-Early life:...
.
The Edgbaston ward of Birmingham City Council
Birmingham City Council
The Birmingham City Council is the body responsible for the governance of the City of Birmingham in England, which has been a metropolitan district since 1974. It is the most populated local authority in the United Kingdom with, following a reorganisation of boundaries in June 2004, 120 Birmingham...
elected three Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
councillors in 2004 and re-elected one of the three, Fergus Robinson, in 2006. Another Edgbaston councillor, Deirdre Alden, unsuccessfully challenged Gisela Stuart, MP for the Edgbaston constituency, in the 2005 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
and 2010 election. Of the other wards of the Edgbaston constituency, Bartley Green
Bartley Green
Bartley Green is a residential suburban area and electoral ward to the south west of Birmingham city centre, England. The ward is part of the Edgbaston constituency which has been under Labour rule for almost ten years. It is located in the metropolitan county of the West Midlands and was in the...
is represented by three Conservative councillors, Harborne
Harborne
Harborne is an area three miles southwest from Birmingham city centre, England. It is a Birmingham City Council ward in the formal district and in the parliamentary constituency of Birmingham Edgbaston.- Geography :...
by two Conservatives and one Labour while Quinton
Quinton, Birmingham
Quinton is a suburb on the western edge of Birmingham, England. It is a Birmingham City Council ward within the Edgbaston formal district, and forms a part of the Birmingham Edgbaston parliamentary constituency.The area is served by .-Geography:...
is represented by one Conservative and two Labour councillors.
The constituency has sent a female candidate to Parliament for the past 54 years. In the next election both the Labour Party and the Conservative Party candidates will be female, making it almost certain that this trend will continue. The most notable MP from the ward was Neville Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain
Arthur Neville Chamberlain FRS was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from May 1937 to May 1940. Chamberlain is best known for his appeasement foreign policy, and in particular for his signing of the Munich Agreement in 1938, conceding the...
.
Education
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
and to Edgbaston High School for Girls
Edgbaston High School
Edgbaston High School for Girls is an independent all girls primary and secondary school in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, England. The current headmistress is Dr. Ruth Weeks. It has over 900 girls, in four departments, aged 2-18.-History:...
, St Paul's School for Girls
St Paul's School for Girls
St Paul's School For Girls is a voluntary aided, comprehensive, girls' school in Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK,-Admissions:It is a Roman Catholic school, and became a specialist school in maths and computing in September 2005...
, St. Georges School
St. Georges School, Birmingham
St George’s School in Edgbaston, England, is an independent co-educational school in Birmingham for children from age 3 to 18. It was founded in 1999 from the merger of two schools: Edgbaston Church of England College for Girls, founded in 1886 and Edgbaston College, founded at the end of the...
, King Edward's School
King Edward's School, Birmingham
King Edward's School is an independent secondary school in Birmingham, England, founded by King Edward VI in 1552. It is part of the Foundation of the Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham, and is widely regarded as one of the most academically successful schools in the country, according to...
King Edward VI High School for Girls
King Edward VI High School for Girls
King Edward VI High School for Girls is an independent secondary school in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England. It is part of the Foundation of the Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham and occupies the same site as, and is twinned with, King Edward's School...
and Priory School. Because of this, there are numerous university halls of residence in the area. At the centre of the university can be found the Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower, one of Birmingham's tallest buildings.
Edgbaston is also the home of Queen's College, an ecumenical theological college
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
. West House School, The Birmingham Blue Coat School and Hallfield School are also located in the area - and are renowned primary schools with excellent reputations. The Elmhurst School for Dance
Elmhurst School for Dance
Elmhurst School for Dance is one of the foremost classical ballet schools in the United Kingdom and is the official associate school of the Birmingham Royal Ballet. First established in Camberley, Surrey, the school is the oldest established vocational dance school in the United Kingdom and...
, the oldest vocational dance school in the United Kingdom, relocated to a new building in Edgbaston in 2004. St. Philip's School
St. Philip's School
St. Philip's RC Grammar School was a Roman Catholic grammar school for boys located on Hagley Road in Birmingham, England.-History:St Philip's was founded when two priests of the Birmingham Oratory took over an existing Catholic Grammar School in 1887...
used to be located adjacent to the Oratory, however it merged with South Birmingham College
South Birmingham College
South Birmingham College is an establishment of further education in Birmingham, England providing full-time and part-time courses for young students following their period of compulsory education and for adults...
in 1995.
Transport and amenities
Two railway stations serve the area. The first, University stationUniversity (Birmingham) railway station
University railway station is a railway station serving the University of Birmingham and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in the West Midlands of England. It is situated on the Cross-City Line which runs from Redditch to Lichfield via Birmingham New Street...
, is found in south Edgbaston, west of Birmingham University. The second is Five Ways railway station
Five Ways railway station
Five Ways railway station is a railway station serving Five Ways and Lee Bank in Birmingham. It is situated on the Redditch-Birmingham New Street-Lichfield Cross-City Line.-History:...
in the north of the ward on the city's Middle Ring Road
A4540 road
The A4540 is a Ring Road in Birmingham, England, also known as the Middle Ring Road, or the Middleway. There are proposals to make it a red route. It runs around the centre of the city at a distance of approximately . Birmingham City Centre is the area within this ring road. The ring road was...
. Both stations are on the Cross-City Line. Between these two stations used to be another; Somerset Road station
Somerset Road railway station
Somerset Road railway station was a railway station in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England, on the Midland Railway's Birmingham West Suburban Railway. The station had two platforms and was located in a cutting...
. However, this was closed and demolished some years ago.
The A38 road
A38 road
The A38, part of which is also known as the Devon Expressway, is a major A-class trunk road in England.The road runs from Bodmin in Cornwall to Mansfield in Nottinghamshire. It is long, making it one of the longest A-roads in England. It was formerly known as the Leeds — Exeter Trunk Road,...
(Bristol Road) runs through the ward and is one of the main traffic arteries of the city reaching out to the south west of the city and beyond from the city centre and New Street
New Street, Birmingham
New Street is a street in central Birmingham, England . It is one of the city's principal thoroughfares and shopping streets. Named after it is Birmingham New Street Station, although that does not have an entrance on New Street except through the Pallasades Shopping Centre.-History:New Street is...
. Along this route bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
es frequently stop. There are several other bus routes throughout. The Worcester and Birmingham Canal
Worcester and Birmingham Canal
The Worcester and Birmingham Canal is a canal linking Birmingham and Worcester in England. It starts in Worcester, as an 'offshoot' of the River Severn and ends in Gas Street Basin in Birmingham. It is long....
passes through the area, connecting the city centre with the River Severn
River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
at Worcester
Worcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
. This was constructed and opened in the 1790s and is used mainly for leisure and recreational purposes as opposed to its originally intended industrial usage.
The A456 road
A456 road
The A456 is a main road in England running between Birmingham and Woofferton, Shropshire, south of Ludlow.-History:Much of the road is almost certainly medieval in origin...
(Hagley Road) runs through the north of Edgbaston and gives a relatively swift link with the city centre as well as faraway places including Halesowen
Halesowen
Halesowen is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, in the West Midlands, England.The population, as measured by the United Kingdom Census 2001, was 55,273...
, Kidderminster
Kidderminster
Kidderminster is a town, in the Wyre Forest district of Worcestershire, England. It is located approximately seventeen miles south-west of Birmingham city centre and approximately fifteen miles north of Worcester city centre. The 2001 census recorded a population of 55,182 in the town...
and Hereford
Hereford
Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
.
The nearest public libraries to the area are in Harborne, Selly Oak and Balsall Heath, whilst the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
main library (which members of the public can join for a fee) is in the area. There are a number medical facilities in the area, with two of the most well known being the University Medical Centre and the Calthorpe clinic
Calthorpe clinic
The Calthorpe Clinic is an abortion clinic in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England that first opened in 1969. It was the first clinic in the United Kingdom opened exclusively for abortions. It was erected at Arthur Road in a building that was previously an old people's home and started out with 18 beds...
. Two hospitals are nearby, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham is an NHS hospital in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, situated very close to the University of Birmingham. The hospital, which cost £545 million to construct, opened in June 2010 replacing the previous Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Selly Oak Hospital...
and Selly Oak Hospital.
Famous residents
Pink FloydPink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
drummer Nick Mason
Nick Mason
Nicholas Berkeley "Nick" Mason is an English drummer and songwriter, best known for his work with Pink Floyd. He was the only constant member of the band since its formation in 1965...
was born in Edgbaston. Science fiction author John Wyndham
John Wyndham
John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris was an English science fiction writer who usually used the pen name John Wyndham, although he also used other combinations of his names, such as John Beynon and Lucas Parkes...
was born there in 1903 and lived there until 1911 when his parents divorced. J.R.R. Tolkien also lived there for a period during his younger life, with Perrot's Folly and the waterworks supposedly providing him with the inspiration behind The Two Towers
The Two Towers
The Two Towers is the second volume of J. R. R. Tolkien's high fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings. It is preceded by The Fellowship of the Ring and followed by The Return of the King.-Title:...
. Former British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain
Arthur Neville Chamberlain FRS was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from May 1937 to May 1940. Chamberlain is best known for his appeasement foreign policy, and in particular for his signing of the Munich Agreement in 1938, conceding the...
(1869–1940) was born in a house called Southborne, in Edgbaston. Dame Barbara Cartland
Barbara Cartland
Dame Barbara Hamilton Cartland, DBE, CStJ , was an English author, one of the most prolific authors of the 20th century...
was born in Edgbaston, at 31 Augustus Road. World War I flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
Major Arthur Keen
Arthur Keen (aviator)
Major Arthur William Keen, MC was a World War I flying ace credited with fourteen aerial victories.Keen scored his first aerial victory while piloting a Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter for 70 Squadron. On 28 August 1916, he drove a Fokker D.II down out of control over Bapaume. He was transferred to 40...
MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(1895–1918) lived in Edgbaston until his military service.