Balsall Common: Difference between revisions
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{{More citations needed|date=April 2010}} |
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{{Infobox UK place |
{{Infobox UK place |
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|country = England |
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| country = England |
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| official_name = Balsall Common |
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| coordinates = {{coord|52.39144|-1.65169|display=inline,title}} |
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| population = |
| population = 7,458 |
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| population_ref = ''( |
| population_ref = ''(2021)'' |
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|civil_parish |
| civil_parish = Balsall, [[Berkswell]] |
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| metropolitan_borough = [[Metropolitan Borough of Solihull|Solihull]] |
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|region |
| region = West Midlands |
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|metropolitan_county |
| metropolitan_county = [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]] |
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|constituency_westminster |
| constituency_westminster = |
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|post_town |
| post_town = COVENTRY |
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|postcode_district |
| postcode_district = CV7 |
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|postcode_area |
| postcode_area = CV |
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|dial_code |
| dial_code = |
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|os_grid_reference |
| os_grid_reference = SP238771 |
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| static_image_name = Balsall Common.jpg |
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|static_image_caption |
| static_image_caption = Station Road, the main shopping street |
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'''Balsall Common''' is a large village in the [[Metropolitan Borough of Solihull]], West Midlands, England. It is situated 5 miles (7.5 km) northwest of [[Kenilworth]], {{convert|8|mi|km}} west of [[Coventry]], {{convert|8|mi|km}} east of [[Solihull]] and {{convert|15|mi|km}} to the southeast of [[Birmingham]]. The name “Balsall” comes from the Anglo Saxon word “Baelle” meaning corner (or angle) of land, and “Heale” meaning a sheltered place <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.solihull.gov.uk/localhistory/16314.htm |title=Solihull Council - Balsall Common history |accessdate=2014-02-01 |url-status = dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202130310/http://www.solihull.gov.uk/localhistory/16314.htm |archivedate=2014-02-02 }}</ref> |
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==Overview== |
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'''Balsall Common''' is a large [[village]] and one of the larger rural settlements in the [[Metropolitan Borough of Solihull]], situated {{convert|7|mi|km}} west of [[Coventry]] and {{convert|13|mi|km}} to the east of [[Birmingham]], to which it serves as a [[commuter village]] in the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]]. It is currently undergoing gradual [[suburbanisation]] and is increasingly considered as a small [[town]] in terms of its [[population]]. Balsall Common is also considered to be one of the most prosperous communities in the West Midlands region.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} |
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The village is split between the [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]]es of [[Berkswell]] (to the east) and Balsall, which also includes Balsall Street, [[Temple Balsall]], and Fen End, and had a population of 7,458 according to the 2021 census. It also lies on the [[Heart of England Way]]. |
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The village is of recent origin; most of the houses and shops were built in the 20th century. Previously, the village consisted of a couple of [[Hamlet (place)|hamlets]] of about six to twelve houses each and a few scattered cottages - as {{GBvosi|e=423800|n=277100|cty=36|txt=this map of 1889}} shows. In the 1930s, there began the development which linked these isolated buildings, but it was not until after [[World War II]] that the village began to grow. |
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The village is split between the [[civil parish]]es of Balsall, which also includes [[Balsall Street]], [[Temple Balsall]], [[Fen End]], and [[Chadwick End]], and has a population of 6,234 according to the 2001 census;<ref>[http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/viewFullDataset.do?instanceSelection=03070&productId=779&$ph=60_61&datasetInstanceId=3070&startColumn=1&numberOfColumns=8&containerAreaId=790266 Office for National Statistics : ''Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : Solihull''] Retrieved 2009-11-22</ref> and [[Berkswell]]. As of 2006, the population was approaching 7,000 residents.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} It also lies on the [[Heart of England Way]]. |
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With its proximity to the village of [[Meriden, West Midlands|Meriden]] {{convert|4|mi|km}} away, which until recently was long-believed to be the geographic centre of England, Balsall Common is perceived to be one of the furthest places from the [[Coastline of the United Kingdom|UK coastline]]. In fact,{{cn|date=February 2023}} [[Coton-in-the-Elms]] in south [[Derbyshire]] holds this designation, situated {{convert|23.5|mi}} to the north. Nevertheless, Balsall Common's [[secondary school]] is named the [[Heart of England School]]. The local primary school is Balsall Common Primary School. |
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It is served by [[Berkswell railway station]] on the [[London and Birmingham Railway|Coventry-Birmingham]] line |
It is served by [[Berkswell railway station]] (actually in Balsall Common - the station was formerly called Berkswell & Balsall Common) on the [[London and Birmingham Railway|Coventry-Birmingham]] line, and by bus to Solihull (services 87/87A & 88/88A). |
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The [[High Speed 2]] railway line is currently under construction on the edge of the village, and will include the {{convert|425|m|ft|adj=mid|-long}} [[Balsall Common Viaduct]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Balsall Common Viaduct |url=https://www.hs2.org.uk/building-hs2/viaducts-and-bridges/balsall-common-viaduct/ |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=HS2 |language=en-GB}}</ref> |
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Balsall Common has two schools, [http://www.bcpsonline.org.uk/index.html one primary] and [[Heart of England Business and Enterprise School|one secondary]]. Nearby towns and villages include [[Solihull]], [[Kenilworth]], [[Warwick]], [[Meriden, West Midlands|Meriden]], [[Hampton-in-Arden]] and [[Hatton]]. |
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Other nearby towns and villages include [[Knowle, West Midlands|Knowle]], [[Kenilworth]], [[Warwick]], [[Hampton in Arden]], [[Berkswell]], [[Barston]], [[Honiley]] and [[Hatton, Warwickshire|Hatton]]. Its districts include Needler's End, Yew Tree, Catchems Corner, Balsall Street and Hallmeadow (developed in the 1990s). |
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Since the late-1990s, plans for a bypass, a large national supermarket and larger swathes of new housing have so far been circumvented. This is mainly due to Balsall Common being situated at the heart of the West Midlands [[Green belt ( |
Since the late-1990s, plans for a bypass, a large national supermarket and larger swathes of new housing have so far been circumvented. This is mainly due to Balsall Common being situated at the heart of the West Midlands [[Green belt (United Kingdom)|green belt]] area known as the [[Meriden Gap]], between [[Solihull]] and [[Coventry]], and is thus subject to strict planning regulations. Therefore, the village has so far not witnessed rapid growth given its location, as residents had long-feared that the village would act as a population overspill centre for Coventry, Solihull and [[Birmingham]]. |
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==Famous residents== |
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Several Premiership and Championship footballers live (and have lived) in Balsall Common, especially those playing with [[Coventry City]], [[Birmingham City]] and [[Aston Villa]]. Including [[John Sillett]], [[Trond Egil Soltvedt]], [[Lee Carsley]] and [[Robbie Keane]]. Other famous sporting residents include, former England cricket captain [[Bob Wyatt]] and [[Wimbledon]] ladies single champion [[Maud Watson]]. Former England international goalkeeper [[Peter Shilton]] briefly lived in the village during the late 1990s. |
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Summer residence to contemporary artists Andri Ford & Patrick Karl Winrow |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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{{Commons category|Balsall Common}} |
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*[http://www.balsallcom.com: BalsallCom.Com] - community website with forums run by local people. |
*[http://www.balsallcom.com: BalsallCom.Com] - community website with forums run by local people. |
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*[http://www.balsallcom.com/ |
*[http://www.balsallcom.com/features/history/a-brief-history-of-balsall-common/ A brief history of Balsall Common] |
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*{{gbmapping|SP238771}} |
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*[http://www.balsallcommontraffic.net: BalsallTraffic.net] - A website highlighting the traffic congestion in this village. |
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{{authority control}} |
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*[http://www.centrestagedramagroup.co.uk: Centre Stage] - amateur dramatic group |
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[[it:Balsall Common]] |
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[[Category:Geography of the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull]] |
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Latest revision as of 16:33, 17 May 2024
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2010) |
| Balsall Common | |
|---|---|
 Station Road, the main shopping street | |
  Balsall Common Location within the West Midlands | |
| Population | 7,458 (2021) |
| OS grid reference | SP238771 |
| Civil parish |
|
| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | COVENTRY |
| Postcode district | CV7 |
| Police | West Midlands |
| Fire | West Midlands |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
Balsall Common is a large village in the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, West Midlands, England. It is situated 5 miles (7.5 km) northwest of Kenilworth, 8 miles (13 km) west of Coventry, 8 miles (13 km) east of Solihull and 15 miles (24 km) to the southeast of Birmingham. The name “Balsall” comes from the Anglo Saxon word “Baelle” meaning corner (or angle) of land, and “Heale” meaning a sheltered place [1]
Overview[edit]
The village is split between the civil parishes of Berkswell (to the east) and Balsall, which also includes Balsall Street, Temple Balsall, and Fen End, and had a population of 7,458 according to the 2021 census. It also lies on the Heart of England Way.
The village is of recent origin; most of the houses and shops were built in the 20th century. Previously, the village consisted of a couple of hamlets of about six to twelve houses each and a few scattered cottages - as this map of 1889 shows. In the 1930s, there began the development which linked these isolated buildings, but it was not until after World War II that the village began to grow.
With its proximity to the village of Meriden 4 miles (6.4 km) away, which until recently was long-believed to be the geographic centre of England, Balsall Common is perceived to be one of the furthest places from the UK coastline. In fact,[citation needed] Coton-in-the-Elms in south Derbyshire holds this designation, situated 23.5 miles (37.8 km) to the north. Nevertheless, Balsall Common's secondary school is named the Heart of England School. The local primary school is Balsall Common Primary School.
It is served by Berkswell railway station (actually in Balsall Common - the station was formerly called Berkswell & Balsall Common) on the Coventry-Birmingham line, and by bus to Solihull (services 87/87A & 88/88A).
The High Speed 2 railway line is currently under construction on the edge of the village, and will include the 425-metre-long (1,394 ft) Balsall Common Viaduct.[2] Other nearby towns and villages include Knowle, Kenilworth, Warwick, Hampton in Arden, Berkswell, Barston, Honiley and Hatton. Its districts include Needler's End, Yew Tree, Catchems Corner, Balsall Street and Hallmeadow (developed in the 1990s).
Since the late-1990s, plans for a bypass, a large national supermarket and larger swathes of new housing have so far been circumvented. This is mainly due to Balsall Common being situated at the heart of the West Midlands green belt area known as the Meriden Gap, between Solihull and Coventry, and is thus subject to strict planning regulations. Therefore, the village has so far not witnessed rapid growth given its location, as residents had long-feared that the village would act as a population overspill centre for Coventry, Solihull and Birmingham.
References[edit]
- ^ "Solihull Council - Balsall Common history". Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- ^ "Balsall Common Viaduct". HS2. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
External links[edit]
- BalsallCom.Com - community website with forums run by local people.
- A brief history of Balsall Common