Barr Beacon
| Barr Beacon | |
| Staffordshire | |
|---|---|
 Barr Beacon War Memorial in February 2009 | |
| Summit: | 774 feet SP060973 52°34’25"N, 1°54’39"W |
Barr Beacon is a hill on the edge of Walsall in Staffordshire, in amongst the Black Country conurbation. It gives its name to a nearby suburb, Great Barr.
Historically this hill was the site of a beacon where fires were lit in times of impending attack or on celebratory occasions,[1] hence its name.
The site is on green belt land and is denoted as being of local importance for nature conservation, and indeed 60 acres are reserved as a Local Nature Reserve.
The Beacon Way long-distance footpath runs over the hill, and is takes its name from Barr Beacon.
Ownership and management
Barr Beacon was formerly owned by the Scott family of Great Barr Hall, nearby.[2] Following the death of Lady Mildred Scott in 1909, the estate was auctioned off in 1918. Birmingham's Lord Mayor made a plea for the site to be secured as a public park.[2] Colonel J. H. Wilkinson of the Staffordshire Volunteer Infantry Brigade responded by purchasing it, then transferring it to a trust.[2] It opened to the public on Easter Monday, 21 April 1919.[2] In 1972, the trusteeship of Barr Beacon passed to Walsall Council.[2] The council now manages Barr Beacon on behalf of the Barr Beacon Trust.,[3][4] with a management committee comprising local councillors and representatives of interest groups.[2]
Views
As one of the highest points in the Black Country, Barr Beacon has panoramic views: visible landmarks include The Wrekin, Cannock Chase, the Lickey Hills, Lichfield Cathedral, Aldridge Airport, and Birmingham city centre, and at least eleven counties are said to be visible.[5]
Memorial
On one summit lies Barr Beacon Reservoir, a covered drinking water reservoir, with radio masts on top. On the other stands a war memorial consisting of a raised dais, covered by a copper-clad wooden[6] dome supported by eight columns.[1] On the night of 5 March 2010, thieves stole some of the copper roofing, damaging much more in the process;[6] this happened again twice in 2011. In early 2013, the copper sheeting was replaced using green zinc-coated panels, and CCTV was installed.[7]
See also
- The Beacon Way
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Barr Beacon) |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Raven, Michael (1992). "Barr Beacon". Midlands Digest 4. Midlands Digest (4 ed.). Michael Raven. pp. 34. ISBN 0-906114-19-5.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Barr Beacon Local Nature Reserve". Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council. http://www.walsall.gov.uk/index/leisure_sports_community/countryside/barr_beacon_local_nature_reserve.htm. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
- ↑ Barr Beacon Trust - Registered Charity no. 522665 at the Charity Commission
- ↑ 'Vision for future of Barr Beacon revealed on film for first time': Helen Draycott in Great Barr Observer 24 June 2011, page 16}}
- ↑ "Barr Beacon Local Nature Reserve". Walsall Council. http://cms.walsall.gov.uk/index/barr_beacon_local_nature_reserve.htm. Retrieved 2013-01-19.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Copper roof on Barr Beacon war memorial stolen more than once". BBC. 2010-03-06. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/8553284.stm. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
- ↑ Draycott, Helen (2013-04-26). "Restored war memorial set to be unveiled by end of May". Great Barr Observer (1868
|).