Shirley, West Midlands
Encyclopedia
Shirley is a district of the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull
, in the county of West Midlands
, England
. It is a residential and shopping neighbourhood, and a suburb of Solihull
.
in Solihull Lodge, part of West Shirley, which was the site of an Iron Age Hill Fort, a fortified village protected by earth banks, dating back to the first century BC and which covered approximately 11 acres (44,515.5 m²). The earth works can still be seen from the North Worcestershire Path
which commences in Aqueduct Road, Majors Green.
Shirley was part of the Manor of Ulverlei (now Olton
) until the establishment of Solihull
in the 12th or 13th centuries after which it became part of the parish of Solihull. Shirley developed slowly as a small village on the Stratford Road, called Shirley Street through the settlement. Between 1725 and 1872 Stratford Road was a turnpike road, and the ease of travel along this from Birmingham
, and Shirley's remoteness attracted sporting activity in the form of bull baiting cock fighting (reputedly at the Plume of Feathers pub) and pugilism. These activities encouraged the church authorities to start building St James Church from 1832, and Shirley attained its own parish in 1843. Shirley School which was in School Road until 1970s was built in 1833.
Shirley grew rapidly in the late 19th century and early 20th century, as people moved out of Birmingham, helped by the opening of the railway in 1908 as a Great Western route from Snow Hill station
to Stratford upon Avon and on to Cheltenham
. For a hundred years from the mid-nineteenth century, Shirley had a racecourse, and this was supplemented by a public lido in Sansome Road, the Odeon Cinema on Stratford Road, and the public library in Church Road, all in the 1930s.
The expansion of Shirley resumed after the second world war and has continued apace in the recent time
Shirley also had its own council and council house. However, with the rise of Solihull, it became managed underneath the Solihull Council, becoming two district wards: Shirley, and Shirley South; the council house has since been demolished.
Along the Stratford Road there are many restaurants and other eateries, including Cafe Shirley (German and English food) and Nandos. Pedestrianisation of the high street encouraged the local eateries to have outside dining.
There are also many well-known supermarkets that are accessible down the Stratford Road which include Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Iceland and a large Tesco superstore.
Currently, the 'New Heart for Shirley' plan to develop 1.43 acres (4%) of Shirley Park, to build a new shopping complex, with twenty new shops including an Asda
supermarket as its flagship store, residential apartments, cafes, restaurants and new public areas. This plan came under much local criticism, but has now been given the go ahead by the local authority.
To the south of the high street (Stratford Road, A34) there are two retail parks; one of which is listed as 'Solihull Gate Retail Park', which has shops including retail outlets Argos
, Boots and Toys R Us; DIY stores B & Q and Homebase
; and electrical store Currys
. Cranmore Retail/Business Park is mainly DIY (Such as ScrewFix
) and tool hire.
Along the A34 there are many car dealerships such as Jaguar, BMW
, Audi
and Land Rover
as well as a combined Ferrari
and Maserati
dealership. A new Peugeot
car dealership is currently being considered on the same stretch of road.
There are also plans to develop a large industrial estate on the Blackford Road side of Dog Kennel Lane, occupying the TRW site.
. However Tudor Grange School, Alderbrook School, St Peters School in Solihull and Langley School
in Olton have catchment areas that cover parts of Shirley. Tudor Grange became an academy in 2011 and now has a VIth Form, joining St Peter's VIth Form. Additionally, The Sixth Form College, Solihull and Solihull College
are also major local centres for further education as well as Stratford-upon-Avon College
via rail links.
Shirley Heath, Hasluck's Green, Peterbrook, Sharman's Cross, Woodlands, Streetsbrook, Blossomfield, Burman, St James C.E and Our Lady of the Wayside R.C are all local primary and infant schools that serve pupils in the Shirley area.
and Palmers Rough
. There is also the canal which provides a wallking route into the Warwickshire countryside.
There are several pubs in the area, the most prominent being the Saracens Head, in the centre of Shirley. Others close by include the Colebrook, the Red Lion and the Woodmans Rest.
Solihull town centre is a 15 minute bus ride away.
's Risen Christ sculptures as well as art by Walter Ritchie
.
St James Church is the CE parish church and it is from here that church bells can be heard on Sundays.
Also on the Stratford Road are the Baptist and Methodist Churches.
and on to Stourbridge Junction in one direction and to Henley in Arden and Stratford Upon Avon in the other direction from Shirley railway station
which is located in Haslucks Green Road.
The Stratford-upon-Avon Canal
skirts the western edge of Shirley, and it is possible to walk along this to Kings Norton 4 miles (6.4 km) away, or Stratford upon Avon, further in the other direction.
Shirley is also served by several bus routes, including the 5, 6, 31, 49, and 76, all operated by National Express West Midlands
which all stop on the Stratford Road in the town centre. Other services that operate in Shirley include the 3, 3A, S4, S7, S8 and X20.
Metropolitan Borough of Solihull
The Metropolitan Borough of Solihull is a metropolitan borough of the West Midlands, in west-central England. It is named after its largest town, Solihull, from which Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council is based. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary...
, in the county of West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
, 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 a residential and shopping neighbourhood, and a suburb of Solihull
Solihull
Solihull is a town in the West Midlands of England with a population of 94,753. It is a part of the West Midlands conurbation and is located 9 miles southeast of Birmingham city centre...
.
History
The earliest known settlement in the area was at Berry MoundBerry Mound
Berry Mound is an Iron Age hill fort located in the Bromsgrove district of Worcestershire, near Shirley, West Midlands, on the outskirts of Birmingham. It has been dated to the 1st or 2nd century BC....
in Solihull Lodge, part of West Shirley, which was the site of an Iron Age Hill Fort, a fortified village protected by earth banks, dating back to the first century BC and which covered approximately 11 acres (44,515.5 m²). The earth works can still be seen from the North Worcestershire Path
North Worcestershire Path
The North Worcestershire Path is a waymarked long-distance trail located within the historic Worcestershire in England. It runs from Bewdley to Major's Green, Birmingham-The route:...
which commences in Aqueduct Road, Majors Green.
Shirley was part of the Manor of Ulverlei (now Olton
Olton
Olton is an area of the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull in the West Midlands, England. In the 13th century the Lords of the Manor moved their seat and formed a new settlement, in the junction of two major roads, that village has now grown into a big town called Solihull...
) until the establishment of Solihull
Solihull
Solihull is a town in the West Midlands of England with a population of 94,753. It is a part of the West Midlands conurbation and is located 9 miles southeast of Birmingham city centre...
in the 12th or 13th centuries after which it became part of the parish of Solihull. Shirley developed slowly as a small village on the Stratford Road, called Shirley Street through the settlement. Between 1725 and 1872 Stratford Road was a turnpike road, and the ease of travel along this from Birmingham
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...
, and Shirley's remoteness attracted sporting activity in the form of bull baiting cock fighting (reputedly at the Plume of Feathers pub) and pugilism. These activities encouraged the church authorities to start building St James Church from 1832, and Shirley attained its own parish in 1843. Shirley School which was in School Road until 1970s was built in 1833.
Shirley grew rapidly in the late 19th century and early 20th century, as people moved out of Birmingham, helped by the opening of the railway in 1908 as a Great Western route from Snow Hill station
Birmingham Snow Hill station
Birmingham Snow Hill is a railway station and tram stop in the centre of Birmingham, England, on the site of an earlier, much larger station built by the former Great Western Railway . It is the second most important railway station in the city, after Birmingham New Street station...
to Stratford upon Avon and on to Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
. For a hundred years from the mid-nineteenth century, Shirley had a racecourse, and this was supplemented by a public lido in Sansome Road, the Odeon Cinema on Stratford Road, and the public library in Church Road, all in the 1930s.
The expansion of Shirley resumed after the second world war and has continued apace in the recent time
Shirley also had its own council and council house. However, with the rise of Solihull, it became managed underneath the Solihull Council, becoming two district wards: Shirley, and Shirley South; the council house has since been demolished.
Retail
There are many shops and businesses in the area, many along the Stratford Road. Shirley has a high proportion of independent retailers and charity stores. "Chinese Wilson", the notable plant collector and writer, was brought up in Shirley where his parents ran a floristry business.Along the Stratford Road there are many restaurants and other eateries, including Cafe Shirley (German and English food) and Nandos. Pedestrianisation of the high street encouraged the local eateries to have outside dining.
There are also many well-known supermarkets that are accessible down the Stratford Road which include Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Iceland and a large Tesco superstore.
Currently, the 'New Heart for Shirley' plan to develop 1.43 acres (4%) of Shirley Park, to build a new shopping complex, with twenty new shops including an Asda
Asda
Asda Stores Ltd is a British supermarket chain which retails food, clothing, general merchandise, toys and financial services. It also has a mobile telephone network, , Asda Mobile...
supermarket as its flagship store, residential apartments, cafes, restaurants and new public areas. This plan came under much local criticism, but has now been given the go ahead by the local authority.
To the south of the high street (Stratford Road, A34) there are two retail parks; one of which is listed as 'Solihull Gate Retail Park', which has shops including retail outlets Argos
Argos (retailer)
Argos is the largest general-goods retailer in the United Kingdom and Ireland with over 800 stores. It is unique amongst major retailers in the UK in that it is a catalogue merchant...
, Boots and Toys R Us; DIY stores B & Q and Homebase
Homebase
Homebase is a British home improvement store and garden centre, with 350 stores across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It is well known by its green and orange colour scheme. Together with its sister company Argos , it forms part of Home Retail Group. Homebase recorded sales figures...
; and electrical store Currys
Currys
Currys is an electrical retailer in the United Kingdom and Ireland and is owned by Dixons Retail plc. It specialises in selling home electronics and household appliances, with 295 superstores and 73 high street stores...
. Cranmore Retail/Business Park is mainly DIY (Such as ScrewFix
Screwfix
Screwfix Direct Limited is a UK direct and online supplier of trade tools, accessories and hardware products. Founded in 1979 the company was acquired in 1999 by the Kingfisher plc group, which also owns B&Q and is listed on the London Stock Exchange....
) and tool hire.
Along the A34 there are many car dealerships such as Jaguar, BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
, Audi
Audi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
and Land Rover
Land Rover
Land Rover is a British car manufacturer with its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom which specialises in four-wheel-drive vehicles. It is owned by the Indian company Tata Motors, forming part of their Jaguar Land Rover group...
as well as a combined Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
and Maserati
Maserati
Maserati is an Italian luxury car manufacturer established on December 1, 1914, in Bologna. The company's headquarters is now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. It has been owned by the Italian car giant Fiat S.p.A. since 1993...
dealership. A new Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
car dealership is currently being considered on the same stretch of road.
There are also plans to develop a large industrial estate on the Blackford Road side of Dog Kennel Lane, occupying the TRW site.
Education
The only secondary school physically in Shirley is Light Hall SchoolLight Hall School
Light Hall School is a specialist college in Computing and Mathematics located in Shirley, West Midlands, England. It exceeds the national average of marks every year in both GCSEs and KS3 the headteacher was Vic Scutt, and the Deputy Headteacher Robert Barr....
. However Tudor Grange School, Alderbrook School, St Peters School in Solihull and Langley School
Langley School
Langley School may refer to:* Langley School, Loddon, Norfolk, UK* Langley School, Solihull, West Midlands, UK- See also :* Langley Academy, Slough, Berkshire, UK* Langley High School * School District 35 Langley, British Columbia, Canada...
in Olton have catchment areas that cover parts of Shirley. Tudor Grange became an academy in 2011 and now has a VIth Form, joining St Peter's VIth Form. Additionally, The Sixth Form College, Solihull and Solihull College
Solihull College
Solihull College, formerly known as the 'Solihull College of Technology', is a further education college located in the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, which is part of the West Midlands conurbation, in the United Kingdom...
are also major local centres for further education as well as Stratford-upon-Avon College
Stratford-upon-Avon College
Stratford-upon-Avon College is a further education college in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England.It offers a wide variety of courses ranging from Pre-Entry Level to National Diplomas, A Levels and degree level courses.- History :...
via rail links.
Shirley Heath, Hasluck's Green, Peterbrook, Sharman's Cross, Woodlands, Streetsbrook, Blossomfield, Burman, St James C.E and Our Lady of the Wayside R.C are all local primary and infant schools that serve pupils in the Shirley area.
Leisure
Shirley has a public library and park, and some small small patches of woodland at Bills WoodBills Wood
Bills Wood is a Local Nature Reserve and Park located in Shirley, Solihull. It covers an area of approximately and consists of a square parcel of woodland surrounded by residential suburbs. To the east the wood is bounded by the school playing fields of Light Hall School...
and Palmers Rough
Palmers Rough
Palmers Rough is a Local Nature Reserve and Park located in Shirley, Solihull. It covers an area of approximately and consists of two separate woodland blocks; Palmers Coppice to the east, and Squires Coppice to the west. They are separated by open grassland and include for two football pitches...
. There is also the canal which provides a wallking route into the Warwickshire countryside.
There are several pubs in the area, the most prominent being the Saracens Head, in the centre of Shirley. Others close by include the Colebrook, the Red Lion and the Woodmans Rest.
Solihull town centre is a 15 minute bus ride away.
Religion
Our Lady of the Wayside RC church contains one of Elisabeth FrinkElisabeth Frink
Dame Elisabeth Jean Frink, DBE, CH, RA was an English sculptor and printmaker...
's Risen Christ sculptures as well as art by Walter Ritchie
Walter Ritchie
Walter Ritchie was a British sculptor who had been one of the last living apprentices of Eric Gill at Piggotts after the Second World War...
.
St James Church is the CE parish church and it is from here that church bells can be heard on Sundays.
Also on the Stratford Road are the Baptist and Methodist Churches.
Transport
There are train services to Birmingham Moor Street station, Birmingham Snow Hill stationBirmingham Snow Hill station
Birmingham Snow Hill is a railway station and tram stop in the centre of Birmingham, England, on the site of an earlier, much larger station built by the former Great Western Railway . It is the second most important railway station in the city, after Birmingham New Street station...
and on to Stourbridge Junction in one direction and to Henley in Arden and Stratford Upon Avon in the other direction from Shirley railway station
Shirley railway station
Shirley railway station serves Shirley area of Solihull in the West Midlands of England. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by London Midland.-History:The station was built in 1908, complete with small goods yard with goods shed...
which is located in Haslucks Green Road.
The Stratford-upon-Avon Canal
Stratford-upon-Avon Canal
The Stratford-upon-Avon Canal is a canal in the south Midlands of England.The canal, which was built between 1793 and 1816, runs for in total, and consists of two sections. The dividing line is at Kingswood Junction, which gives access to the Grand Union Canal...
skirts the western edge of Shirley, and it is possible to walk along this to Kings Norton 4 miles (6.4 km) away, or Stratford upon Avon, further in the other direction.
Shirley is also served by several bus routes, including the 5, 6, 31, 49, and 76, all operated by National Express West Midlands
National Express West Midlands
National Express West Midlands , formerly known as Travel West Midlands , is the trade name of West Midlands Travel Ltd , a company which operates bus services from depots in the cities of Birmingham, and Wolverhampton, as well as the boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Walsall in the West...
which all stop on the Stratford Road in the town centre. Other services that operate in Shirley include the 3, 3A, S4, S7, S8 and X20.