Balsall Heath is an inner-city area of Birmingham, located to the south of the city centre. It is home to much of what is termed the Balti Triangle.
The History of Balsall Heath
Originally part of Worcestershire, Balsall Heath was largely made up of farmland that separated Birmingham and Moseley Village. In the 1850’s increasing amounts of development joined the two together. In 1891 it was transferred from Worcestershire to Birmingham and as part of the negotiations Balsall Heath was promised a library and public baths. The library was opened in 1895, but the residents had to wait until 1907 for Balsall Heath Baths to open.
Balsall Heath was considered affluent, however with the advent of the railway, subsequent building work consisted of tightly-knit terrace housing which changed the character of the area.
Because of its relative low rents and proximity to the university, Balsall Heath became a popular place for students to live, and in the 1980’s and 90’s the area became synonymous with prostitution. Community led action complete with police support put increasing pressure on the trade and now it is relatively non-existent, and the area has enjoyed a revival in fortunes with one of the lowest crime rates of all the inner-city areas.
Transport Links
Balsall heath does not have a railway station, the nearest one being Bordesley Station just to the north. The A435 bisects the area, and it is served by the 2, 3, 34, 35, 50, 150, 150A, 150B and 150C bus routes.
Schools
There are several schools in Balsall Heath including:
Heath Mount Primary School
Park Hill Primary School
Percy Shurmer Primary School
Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College
Amenities
There are several chemists in Balsall Heath, an Aldi and Sainsbury’s Local as well as local grocery stores. The Castle and Falcon is a live music venue, and there is the Creation Climbing Centre.
Things to do in and around Balsall Heath
The Balti Triangle forms part of Balsall Heath with its wealth of critically acclaimed Balti restaurants. Cannon Hill Park has a boating lake and mini golf course. Tally-Ho Grounds and Calthorpe Park provide more tranquil green spaces for residents.