Berkswell

Berkswell

Infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Berkswell
latitude= 52.40846
longitude= -1.63980
civil_parish=
population = 2,843 (2001)
metropolitan_borough= Solihull
region= West Midlands
metropolitan_county= West Midlands
constituency_westminster=
post_town=
postcode_district =
postcode_area=
dial_code=
os_grid_reference= SP246790
static_

static_image_caption= The approach to St John the Baptish Church
hide_services = yes

Berkswell is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, county of West Midlands, England.

Geography

It is in the east of the borough, borders Coventry and is about 7 miles west of Coventry city centre.

History and places of interest

According to the United Kingdom Census 2001 the parish had a population of 2,843.

The civil parish includes a number of hamlets apart from Berkswell village itself. Berkswell railway station serves the village, but is actually closer to Balsall Common than to Berkswell village.

Berkswell took its name from a 16-feet deep, stone-walled water well just outside the churchyard of the 12th century parish church of Saint John the Baptist. It is said to have been used for baptisms by immersion and can still be seen today.

The village has a village green and the stocks were used for punishing petty offenders. It is claimed that these were especially built for a one-legged ex-soldier and his two drinking companions as there are only five leg holes.

The "Bear Inn" dates from the 16th century. The local history society run a small museum in a 17th century cottage near the church.

On Windmill Lane is the protected and restored Berkswell Windmill, a fine example of a tower mill with its original machinery. There are several 16th and 17th century houses in the village.

Local features include Marsh Lane Nature Reserve. There is also a small Church of England primary school located close to the church on Church Lane.

Famous residents

Famous people from Berkswell include the actor Jeremy Brett, famous for his TV role as Sherlock Holmes, tennis player Maud Watson - the first Ladies Singles Champion in 1884 at The Championships, Wimbledon and Bob Wyatt (R.E.S.), England Cricket Captain for a number of years from 1934. The Beastie Boys famously stayed in the village for two weeks in 1988, writing the B-side "Jubbsy's Treasure".

Gallery

External links

* [http://www.virtualmidlands.co.uk/demos/berkswell.htm panoramic 360 view of of Berkswell (Virtual Midlands)]
* [http://www.berkswellchurch.org.uk Church of St. John Baptist website - includes information of the village]
* [http://www.berkswell-history.org The website of the local history group]
* [http://www.westmidlandbirdclub.com/westmidlands/marshlane.htm Marsh Lane Nature Reserve]
* [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=42650 British History Online - Berkswell Parish (Includes a more detailed account of Berkswell's history and places of interest)]
* [http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2621458 www.geograph.co.uk photos of Berkswell and surrounding area]


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