Acocks Green

Acocks Green
Worcestershire
Broad Road, Acocks Green
Location
Grid reference:	SP118833
Location:	52°26’46"N, 1°49’23"W
Data
Population:	28,378  (2011)
Post town:	Birmingham
Postcode:	B27
Dialling code:	0121
Local Government
Council:	Birmingham
Parliamentary constituency:	Birmingham Yardley

Acocks Green is a town wholly within the Birmingham conurbation, and within the north-easternmost spur of Worcestershire within that area. It is named after the Acock family who built a large house in the area in 1370. The place-name is occasionally spelled "Acock's Green" with an apostrophe, although nowadays "Acocks Green" is more usual.

Stockfield, located in the north of the ward, was once a separate village from Acocks Green but effectively the two have merged as a result of housing developments during the 20th century.

History

Acocks Green first developed north of the current centre at the roundabout where the Warwick Road meets Shirley and Westley Roads. This area was known Tenchlee or Tenelea, meaning 'ten clearings'. The settlement that developed here has completely disappeared. Hyron Hall and Broom Hall were moated manor houses located in the area. The area of Fox Hollies here receives its name from the time when the Fox family bought the farm in the place known as atte Holies in the 15th century.

The earliest known reference to Acocks Green is in the Yardley Parish Register of 1604. In 1626, Acocks Green House and other estates were given by Richard Acock to his son as a wedding gift.

In 1725, the Warwick Road was turnpiked. During the end of the 18th century, the Warwick and Birmingham Canal was cut through Acocks' Green. This resulted in wharves being constructed at Stockfield Road and Yardley Road. The increased prosperity brought by the canal prompted the construction of farms and large residences.

Acocks Green began to expand in the 19th century when it was connected to the Birmingham to Oxford railway in 1852. At this time there were three hamlets along the Warwick Road; Flint Green, Acocks Green, and Westley Brook. Westley Brook was to become the centre of modern Acocks Green. As Acocks Green was closer to the station, it developed faster than the old centre.

In 1911, Yardley, of which Acocks Green was a part of, was absorbed into Birmingham. Birmingham was in need of housing and in the mid-1920s, municipal housing was built on around half of Acocks Green, resulting in a large increase in the population. Many new residents were unwelcome and existing residents moved away leading to the nickname Snob's Green. Acocks Green benefited from an increase in commerce brought about by the newcomers. It developed into a major shopping area and churches and meeting halls were extended to accommodate more people.

Trams first arrived in Acocks Green in 1916. They first stopped at Broad Road, before stopping at the Green from 1922. The centre of Acocks Green was remodelled in 1932, and a large island incorporating the tram terminus was created. After the tram service ended, the island was grassed over to become the Green.

Acocks Green was the location for a custom-built factory which made parts for the Bristol Hercules radial engines. Construction of the factory commenced in late 1936 on the site of Westwood's market gardening business near the canal. The factory was the Rover shadow factory and it was operational by July 1937. Towards the end of the war, the Rover factory began to produce Meteor tank engines, and the Meteorite engine. The factory was visited by King George VI in March 1938. The military connection the factory had made Acocks Green a target for German bombers.

Churches

Acocks Green has seven churches, including St Mary the Virgin, Acocks Green, Holy Souls, a Methodist church on Shirley Road, a Baptist church on Yardley Road.

It also has the Ghamkol Sharif Mosque.

About the village

In Fox Hollies Park, there is a Bronze Age burnt mound, which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Stockfield Estate was one of Birmingham's many interwar housing estates, built by the local council during the 1920s and 1930s to rehouse people from inner-city slums. The houses were popular on their completion thanks to the inclusion of electricity, running water, gardens, indoor toilets and bathrooms. The houses were constructed out of concrete and were designed in the 'Parkinson' style. However, the housing was declared defective by law in 1985 and structural tests carried out in 1986 concluded that damage was so severe that repair would not be possible. This meant that the 477 houses had to be demolished, however, Birmingham City Council did not have the financial services available to carry out the work. Residents of the estate set up an Estate Development Group and architects Webb Seeger Moorhouse were invited to prepare a masterplan for the estate, resulting after all the layers of bureaucracy and circumlocution had been applied, in a redevelopment partnership and finally some actual work. It was met with opposition with some residents refusing to move and the crime on the estate was so bad that the washing machine in the show home provided by Wimpey was stolen. Finally by 1998, all four phases of the estate were completed by Wimpey Homes.

Places of interest

Acocks Green also has numerous parks and green spots, including Fox Hollies Park in the south which is home to a man-made lake called Round Pool.

The roundabout where Warwick Road meets Shirley Road and Westley Road is called The Green by most locals. This is the main shopping area in Acocks Green. Most of the general retail shops are located here and further along Warwick Road. There is also a library and a bowling alley. Outside The Green you will not find many shops except convenience stores and off-licences.

Transport

Acocks Green railway station

Acocks Green has very good transport links to Birmingham city centre and Solihull. Birmingham's Moor Street and Snow Hill stations, and Solihull station can both be reached in under ten minutes by train from Acocks Green railway station while Spring Road railway station is on the Stratford-Upon-Avon line, and also goes to Moor Street and Snow Hill.

Outside links

• Acocks Green History Society
• Birmingham Picture Library photographs of Acocks Green
• Acocks Green Focus Group
• Acocks Green Neighbourhood Forum