Bartley
Green is probably best known for its reservoir and close proximity to
Frankley Services on the Western Side of Birmingham City. Close to both
Northfield, Weoley Castle and Quinton it has good access to Birmingham
city centre.
The
first reference to Bartley Green can be found in the 1086 Domesday book
which refers to it as 'Berchelia' meaning a clearing in the Birch
Trees. In 1657 it was first mentioned as Bartley Green.
Bartley
Green is a residential area with access to neaby parks such as the
Woodgate Valley Park. Bartley Green reservoir has its own yachting club
and the area borders on the beautiful open countryside on the outskirts
of the city.
Bartley
Green Reservoir covers 46 hectares and provides drinking water for
Birmingham. Bill Oddie did much of his early birdwatching here and
Bartley Green features in his books.
History
Most of
the land
occupied by Bartley Reservoir was in the parish of Northfield,
originally in Worcestershire. It was transferred to Warwickshire when
Northfield became part of Birmingham in November, 1911.
However,
the
south-west end of the reservoir overlapped into the parish of Frankley,
in Worcestershire (Hereford and Worcester, from 1974). In April 1995
part of Frankley (including the south-west part of Bartley Reservoir)
was transferred to Birmingham and became part of the West Midlands
county.
