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Revision as of 21:10, 15 November 2006
Template:Infobox England place with map
Sutton Coldfield is a town within the City of Birmingham metropolitan borough, West Midlands, England. Sutton (as it is often called) is located about 13 km (8 miles) from central Birmingham, in the north east 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".
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" was still used, the municipality created in 1885 was not itself a Royal Borough. The town and borough were ceremonially part of Warwickshire until 1974. The formal Mayoral chains of office are now on display in Birmingham Council House.
Parliamentary and local government representation
Sutton Coldfield forms the Sutton Coldfield parliamentary constituency, whose Member of Parliament since 2001 has been Andrew Mitchell (Conservative). Within the City of Birmingham 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.
Geography
Areas of Sutton Coldfield include Boldmere, Falcon Lodge, Four Oaks, Maney, Mere Green, Minworth, New Oscott, Roughley, Walmley, Whitehouse Common, and Wylde Green. The town borders Erdington and Kingstanding in Birmingham and Streetly in Walsall, and the districts of North Warwickshire, Lichfield and Tamworth.
The town features two of the foremost Residential Estates in the Midlands, Little Aston Park and the Four Oaks Estate, both home to the area's many multi-million pound houses. 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.
Facilities
The main shopping centre is the Gracechurch Centre. 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 Libraryis located in the town centre.
Sports facilities, including swimming pool and 400m athletics track, are located at Wyndley Leisure Centre, on the edge of Sutton Park. Good Hope Hospital provides main hospital services to the town, including accident and emergency facilities. Sutton Coldfield College is the main college of further education.
Places of interest
The area is home to Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield Town F.C., The Great Midlands Fun Run and Sutton Coldfield television transmitter, 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.
Transport
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 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.
Local economy
There is a Sainsbury's on Mere Green Road (B4151) in the north of the town. Close by on Belwell Lane (B4151) is a Waitrose. There are Co-ops on Walmley Close (B4148) in Walmley, Boldmere Road (B4142) in Boldmere and on Hollyfield Road (B4148) in Reddicap Heath.
Education
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls is on Jockey Road (A453). It achieves excellent results and is a state school. 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. The schools achieve good results compared to the rest of Birmingham, with Bishop Walsh producing phenomenal results for a comprehensive school. Plantsbrook has the lowest results, but much better than lower-performing West Midlands schools.
Famous residents
Sutton Coldfield has produced several celebrities including :-
- George Bodington GP and well known pulmonary specialist
- Colin Charvis - Welsh international rugby player
- Cat Deeley - TV presenter
- Rory Delap - footballer
- Kate Gerbeau (née Sanderson) - TV presenter
- Rob Halford - lead singer of Judas Priest
- Alan Jerrard - Holder of the Victoria Cross
- Paul Merson - former footballer and Walsall manager.
- Alfred Owen of Rubery Owen
- James and Oliver Phelps - actors, play the Weasley twins in the Harry Potter series of films.
- Tom Ross - Capital Gold Radio Presenter
- Jane Sixsmith - sportswoman
- John Benjamin Stone - four times Mayor
- Darius Vassell - footballer
- Many Aston Villa and Birmingham City professional footballers live within the town whilst playing for the club.
- Dennis Waterman - actor, Minder used to live in Sutton
- Arnold Horace Santo Waters Holder of the Victoria Cross
- William F Woodington ARA, Painter and sculptor
- John Wyatt Inventor and engineer
- Dorian Yates - six times Mr Olympia Bodybuilding World Champion
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
- Sutton Coldfield Community Network
- Birmingham City Council's Sutton Coldfield pages
- History of Sutton Coldfield - selective A to Z
- Road map of Sutton Coldfield
- 1889 Ordnance Survey map of Sutton Coldfield town centre
 Government of Birmingham | ||
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham UK parliamentary constituencies (left) and city council wards | ||
| Edgbaston |  | |
| Erdington | ||
| Hall Green | ||
| Hodge Hill | ||
| Ladywood | ||
| Northfield | ||
| Perry Barr | ||
| Selly Oak | ||
| Sutton Coldfield | ||
| Yardley | ||