Balsall Common
| Balsall Common | |
| Warwickshire | |
|---|---|
 Station Road, the main shopping street | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SP238771 |
| Location: | 52°23’29"N, 1°39’6"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 7,039 (2011) |
| Post town: | Coventry |
| Postcode: | CV7 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Solihull |
Balsall Common is a large village in Warwickshire, situated seven miles west of Coventry, nine miles east of Solihull and 14 miles to the south-east of Birmingham, to which it serves as a prosperous commuter village. It is currently undergoing gradual suburbanisation and is increasingly considered as a small town in terms of its population. The name “Balsall” comes from the Anglo Saxon word Baelle meaning corner (or angle) of land, and Heale meaning a sheltered place [1]
The village is split between the civil parishes of Balsall, which also includes Balsall Street, Temple Balsall, Fen End, and Chadwick End, and had a population of 7,039 according at the 2011 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. In the 1930s there began the development which linked these isolated buildings, but it was not until after World War II that the village really began to grow.
With its close proximity to the village of Meriden three miles 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 Coton in the Elms in south Derbyshire holds this designation, situated 23½ miles to the north. Nevetheless, Balsall Common's secondary school is named the Heart of England School.
It is served by Berkswell railway station on the Coventry-Birmingham line, and by bus to Solihull.
Other nearby towns and villages include Knowle, Kenilworth, Warwick, Hampton-in-Arden and Hatton.
Famous residents
Several professional footballers live (and have lived) in Balsall Common, especially those playing with Birmingham City, Aston Villa and Coventry City. These include John Sillett, Trond Egil Soltvedt, Trevor Francis in the late 1970s, 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 from late-1995 to early-1996. Another notable resident is Paddy Doyle, who holds numerous endurance world records.
References
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Balsall Common) |
- BalsallCom.Com - community website with forums run by local people.
- A brief history of Balsall Common