Small Heath is an inner-city suburb of Birmingham located approximately two miles to the east of the city centre. Situated on top of a small hill in and around Coventry Road (the A45), in the 2011 census it had a population of 20,403.
The History of Small Heath
There was a settlement at its current location in Roman times, though the first mention of Small Heath wasn’t until 1461. The Grand Union Canal from Digbeth to Warwick and later the Birmingham and Oxford Junction Railway, along with the Coventry Road helped the place to develop during the 19th century, with people from the city wanting to move to a more rural place within reach of the city. Initially, a number of large houses were built in Small Heath, followed by areas of terrace housing.
Small Heath was home to the Birmingham Small Arms factory which dominated the local area and manufactured everything from guns to taxis until it was closed in 1973.
Transport Links
Small Heath has its own train station (Small Heath) that sits on the North Warwickshire Line with frequent trains running into Birmingham Moor Street. The Coventry Road (A45) runs through the area, but in the 1980’s a bypass was built, meaning that residents have the convenience without the heavy traffic.
The area is served by the 8A, 8C, 17, 17S, 28, 36, 60, 93, 849, 883 and 891 bus routes.
Schools
There are several schools in the area, including:
Ark Victoria Academy
Marlborough Junior School
Marlborough Infant School
St Benedict’s Primary School
Small Heath Leadership Academy
Somerville Primary School
Wyndcliffe Primary School
Amenities
Small Heath has a lot of amenities including pharmacies, several health centres and banks, a large Morrisons supermarket at the St Andrew’s Shopping Park, an Iceland and Asda, as well as a number of smaller local grocery stores. There are a large number of restaurants and eateries especially those specialising in Middle Eastern and South East Asian food.
Things to do in and around Small Heath
Small Heath Park is the largest of several green spaces in the area and often hosts concerts and festivals during the summer. Ackers Adventure is an outdoor pursuits centre with a nationwide reputation, while a very short drive to the east is the Blakesley Hall Museum and Oaklands Recreation Ground.