Sutton Coldfield: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively ← Previous edit Next edit →Content deleted Content addedVisual WikitextInline

Revision as of 09:59, 22 May 2007 editPigsonthewing (talk \| contribs)Autopatrolled, Event coordinators, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, File movers, IP block exemptions, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers, Template editors266,118 edits rv PoV vandalism← Previous edit		Revision as of 09:59, 22 May 2007 edit undoTj 146 (talk \| contribs)10 editsNo edit summaryNext edit →
Line 17:		Line 17:
	}}		}}
	]		]
	'''Sutton Coldfield''' is a town ~~within~~ the ], in the ] of ]. Sutton (as it is often called) is located about 13 km (8 miles) from central Birmingham, in the northeast of the city, and has a population of about ].		'''Sutton Coldfield''' is a town near the ], in the ] of ]. Sutton (as it is often called) is located about 13 km (8 miles) from central Birmingham, in the northeast of the city, and has a population of about ].

	Until the ] came into force in 1974 Sutton Coldfield was a ] in its own right and part of ], enjoying the title of "Royal Town".		Until the ] came into force in 1974 Sutton Coldfield was a ] in its own right and part of ], enjoying the title of "Royal Town".
Line 47:		Line 47:

	===Civic history===		===Civic history===
	In 1528, a charter of ] gave the town the right to be known for ever as "The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield" and to be governed by a warden and society. The charter was secured by ]. This ] survived until 1885, when it was replaced by a ]. Although the title "Royal Town" ~~was~~ still used, the municipality created in 1885 was not itself a ]. The town and borough were ceremonially part of ] until 1974. ~~The formal ]al chains of office are now on display in ].~~		In 1528, a charter of ] gave the town the right to be known for ever as "The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield" and to be governed by a warden and society. The charter was secured by ]. This ] survived until 1885, when it was replaced by a ]. Although the title "Royal Town" is still used, the municipality created in 1885 was not itself a ]. The town and borough were ceremonially part of ] until 1974.

	Sutton's designation as part of the City of Birmingham (since 1974) has been a point of contention amongst many of its residents. Some residents wish to revert back to the pre-1974 situation when Sutton was a separate town as opposed to a suburb of Birmingham{{Fact\|date=April 2007}}.

	===Local and national governance===		===Local and national governance===
	]		]
	Sutton Coldfield forms the ], whose ] since 2001 has been ] (]). Within the ~~City of Birmingham~~ metropolitan borough, it comprises the wards of ], ], ] and ]. Sutton Trinity ward was created in June 2004, at which time the other three wards' boundaries were changed. From ] ], it has been a ], with many local services managed by a ] made up of all Sutton's councillors.		Sutton Coldfield forms the ], whose ] since 2001 has been ] (]). Within the metropolitan borough, it comprises the wards of ], ], ] and ]. Sutton Trinity ward was created in June 2004, at which time the other three wards' boundaries were changed. From ] ], it has been a ], with many local services managed by a ] made up of all Sutton's councillors.

	==Communal facilities==		==Communal facilities==

Revision as of 09:59, 22 May 2007

Human settlement in England

Sutton Coldfield
Population	Expression error: "105,452 (2001 Census)" must be numeric
OS grid reference	SP1395
Metropolitan borough	City of Birmingham
Metropolitan county	West Midlands
Region	West Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	SUTTON COLDFIELD
Postcode district	B72 - B76
Dialling code	0121

Police	West Midlands
Fire	West Midlands
Ambulance	West Midlands

UK Parliament	Sutton Coldfield
List of places UK England West Midlands

Sutton Coldfield is a town near the City of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Sutton (as it is often called) is located about 13 km (8 miles) from central Birmingham, in the northeast of the city, and has a population of about 105,452.

Until the Local Government Act 1972 came into force in 1974 Sutton Coldfield was a municipal borough in its own right and part of Warwickshire, enjoying the title of "Royal Town".

Geography and administration

Areas of Sutton Coldfield include:

The town borders Erdington and Kingstanding in Birmingham, Streetly in Walsall, the district of North Warwickshire and Lichfield and Tamworth in Staffordshire.

The area in general is regarded as one of the most prestigious locations in the West Midlands and Central England.

The northern stretch of the Birmingham city sandstone ridge culminates at Sutton Coldfield.

Plants Brook rises in the area of Streetly and flows through Sutton Park and directly beneath the town centre before culminating at Plantsbrook Nature Reserve in Walmley Ash.

Civic history

In 1528, a charter of King Henry VIII gave the town the right to be known for ever as "The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield" and to be governed by a warden and society. The charter was secured by Bishop John Vesey. This unreformed corporation survived until 1885, when it was replaced by a municipal borough. Although the title "Royal Town" is still used, the municipality created in 1885 was not itself a Royal Borough. The town and borough were ceremonially part of Warwickshire until 1974.

Local and national governance

Sutton Coldfield constituency shown within Birmingham

Sutton Coldfield forms the Sutton Coldfield parliamentary constituency, whose Member of Parliament since 2001 has been Andrew Mitchell (Conservative). Within the metropolitan borough, it comprises the wards of Sutton Four Oaks, Sutton Trinity, Sutton Vesey and Sutton New Hall. Sutton Trinity ward was created in June 2004, at which time the other three wards' boundaries were changed. From 5 April 2004, it has been a formal district, with many local services managed by a district committee made up of all Sutton's councillors.

Communal facilities

The main shopping centre is the Gracechurch Centre, which was constructed in the 1960s. As a result of investment, the appearance of the shopping centre was improved in 2006 which included the installation of a glass roof above one of the walkways and the removal of a public square to form a cafe. The Town Hall, a relic of Sutton Coldfield's former status as a municipal borough, now serves as a theatre, conference, and function venue. Sutton Coldfield Library, opened in 1974, is located in the town centre above the Red Rose Centre which, in addition to the Gracechurch Centre, offers several shops. Opposite the Red Rose Centre is a single floor, indoor market facility known as the In Shops. The exterior of the building was improved in 2005.

Sports facilities, including swimming pool and 400m athletics track, are located at Wyndley Leisure Centre (which is undergoing a major refurbishment), on the edge of Sutton Park. This was opened in 1971 by Ethel E. Dunnett. The nearby youth centre was opened in September 1968. Good Hope Hospital provides main hospital services to the town, including accident and emergency facilities.

On Lichfield Road, Sutton Coldfield is served by a police station, magistrates court (both opened in 1960) and fire station (opened 1963). On the opposite side of the road is Sutton Coldfield College, which is the main college of further education for the area.

Places of interest

File:Coleshill Street, Sutton Coldfield.jpg

Former terraced houses on Coleshill Street which have been converted into offices.

The area is home to Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield Town F.C., The Great Midlands Fun Run, sponsored by the Sutton Coldfield Observer, and Sutton Coldfield transmitting station, the first television transmitter outside London. Just outside Sutton Coldfield is The Belfry, a hotel with a renowned golf complex whose Brabazon course has hosted the Ryder Cup several times. Other notable hotels include New Hall Hotel, Moor Hall Hotel, Moxhull Hall Hotel, and Ramada Hotel and Resort Penns Hall. These are all in former manor houses. Other manors in Sutton Coldfield include the double moated Peddimore Hall near Walmley. Demolished manor houses include Langley Hall and Four Oaks Hall.

The High Street, western edge of Coleshill Street and the northern stretch of Mill Street are protected by the High Street conservation area. At the centre of the conservation area is Holy Trinity Church, which is fronted by Vesey Memorial Gardens. Beyond the railway bridge on Lichfield Road, in the north, is the Anchorage Road conservation area which protects buildings such as Moat House by William Wilson.

Transport

File:Sutton Coldfield Town railway station.jpg

The former Sutton Town railway station on Midland Drive. The station opened in 1879 and closed in 1924, and is now converted to offices. The adjacent railway line is still in use by freight services only.

Linked by regular and fast services from Sutton Coldfield railway station on the Cross-City Line to the centre of Birmingham, Sutton is mostly a commuter dormitory town for people who work in Birmingham. The 1955 Sutton Coldfield rail crash occurred here. The Sutton Park Line also crosses the town, but lost its passenger services and stations in the 1964. It now remains as a freight only line.

The Roman road Icknield Street crosses Sutton Park to the west of the town. Nowadays, the town is bypassed to the north by the M6 Toll, the first toll motorway in the UK. The A38 used to run through the centre of the town but now uses the bypass to the east. The former route of the A38 is now the A5127.

The Parade in the town centre is the main destination and terminus for Travel West Midlands buses.

Education

Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls is on Jockey Road (A453). Bishop Vesey's Grammar School, the male equivalent, is on Lichfield Road (A5127/A453) in the centre of the town next door to Sutton Coldfield College. The Arthur Terry School is on Kittoe Road in Four Oaks in the north of the town near Butlers Lane station. The John Willmott School is on Reddicap Heath Road in the east of the town. Opposite the school is Fairfax School. The Plantsbrook School is on Upper Holland Road near the centre of the town in Maney. The Bishop Walsh Catholic School is next to a railway line on Wylde Green Road in Wylde Green in the south of the town. All these schools are for ages 11-18.

There are also a number of primary schools located in the town. Whitehouse Common Primary School in the Whitehouse Common area, The Deanery Primary School, and Walmley Primary School serving the Walmley area. The Shrubbery School, established in 1930, is a private primary school located on the fringes of Walmley.

Highclare School, founded in 1932, is a primary and secondary school located on three sites in the Birmingham area. Two of the sites are located in Sutton Coldfield, with the other being located in the nearby Erdington area. The Sutton Coldfield facilities are on the Lichfield Road in the Four Oaks area and in the Wylde Green area to the south, which houses the nursery.

Notable residents

Sutton Coldfield has produced several celebrities including :-

George Bodington - GP and well known pulmonary specialis
Colin Charvis - Welsh international rugby player
Cat Deeley - TV presenter
Rory Delap - footballer
Kate Gerbeau (née Sanderson) - TV presenter
Emma Griffiths - MTV presenter, former model and girlfriend of Matt Willis from Busted
Rob Halford - lead singer of Judas Priest
Alan Jerrard - Holder of the Victoria Cross
Mike Jordan - racing driver
Paul Merson - former footballer and ex Walsall manager
Ken Miles - racing and sports car driver
Alfred Owen of Rubery Owen
James and Oliver Phelps - actors, play the Weasley twins in the Harry Potter series of films
Natalie Powers - singer, member of Scooch who represent Britain at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 with Flying the Flag (for You)
Tom Ross - Capital Gold Radio Presenter
Jane Sixsmith - international hockey player
John Benjamin Stone - four times Mayor
James Sutton Hollyoaks actor
Darius Vassell - footballer
Many Aston Villa and Birmingham City professional footballers live within the town whilst playing for the club
James Vaughan - Everton footballer
Dennis Waterman - actor, Minder used to live in Sutton
Arnold Horace Santo Waters - Holder of the Victoria Cross
Baruch Harold Wood OBE, (B.H.) - Chess Master, Writer and Organiser
William F Woodington ARA, Painter and sculptor
John Wyatt - Inventor and engineer
Dorian Yates - six times Mr Olympia Bodybuilding World Champion
Arthur Lowe (1915 -1982) - Comic actor. Ashes scattered at Sutton Coldfield Crematorium

Many of them still live within the town.

Adventure Soft Publishing operates from within the town; they have produced the successful Simon the Sorcerer series of games.

External links

v t e Government of Birmingham
Birmingham UK parliamentary constituencies (left) and city council wards
Edgbaston	Bartley Green Edgbaston Harborne Quinton
Erdington	Erdington Kingstanding Stockland Green Tyburn
Hall Green	Hall Green Moseley and Kings Heath Sparkbrook Springfield
Hodge Hill	Bordesley Green Hodge Hill Shard End Washwood Heath
Ladywood	Aston Bordesley and Highgate Ladywood Nechells Soho
Northfield	Kings Norton Longbridge Northfield Weoley
Perry Barr	Handsworth Wood Lozells and East Handsworth Oscott Perry Barr
Selly Oak	Billesley Bournville Brandwood Selly Oak
Sutton Coldfield	Sutton Four Oaks Sutton New Hall Sutton Trinity Sutton Vesey
Yardley	Acocks Green Sheldon South Yardley Stechford and Yardley North

Template:Settlements on the A38 Birmingham to Derby

Categories:

Misplaced Pages