- Harborne
Infobox UK place
country = England
official_name = Harborne
latitude = 52.45
longitude = -1.97
map_type = West Midlands
population = 21,070 (2001 Population Census)
metropolitan_borough =Birmingham
metropolitan_county = West Midlands
region = West Midlands
constituency_westminster = Birmingham Edgbaston
post_town = BIRMINGHAM
postcode_district = 17
postcode_area = B
dial_code = 0121
os_grid_reference = SP020836
Ambulance =West Midlands Ambulance Service Harborne is an area three miles southwest from
Birmingham city centre,England . It is a Birmingham City Council ward in the formal district and in the parliamentary constituency of Birmingham Edgbaston.Geography
As a
parish , it covered an area of convert|3300|acre|km2, 100 acres of which was ofwoodland and plantations.History
There is evidence of a Roman fort at Metchley Park, [ [http://www.castra.org.uk/Pages/Gazetteer/ENGM.HTM#BRUM Roman Military Sites in Britain] ] [ [http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=14124&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=11475 Birmingham.gov.uk] ] near Harborne.
The earliest written mention of Harborne is an entry in the
Domesday Book of 1086, however the settlement pre-dates this.The spelling of Harborne has appeared with several variations through the centuries, and the derivation of the place name has often been disputed. One of the more probable suggestions is 'boundary brook', although 'high brow' and 'dirty brook' are also possibilities.
Harborne became part of the county borough of Birmingham and thus transferred from
Staffordshire toWarwickshire in 1891 by the Local Govt. Bd.'s Prov. Orders Conf. (No. 13) Act, 54 & 55 Vic. c. 161 (local act). Then became part of the West Midlands in 1974 by theLocal Government Act 1972 .Harborne railway station , at the end of the shortHarborne Branch Line off the LMS Birmingham-Wolverhampton line atLadywood , opened in 1874 and closed in 1963.Many residents of the area are academics from the nearby
University of Birmingham , as well as medical staff from nearby hospitals.Demographics
The 2001
census revealed that 21,070 lived in Harborne and that 16.5% of people were aged under 16, 62.5% were aged between 16 and 59, while 21.0% were aged over 60. The minority ethnic population made up 22.0% (4,701) of the ward’s population, compared with 29.6% for Birmingham. 61.3% of households were owner occupied and 17.6% were rented from either the local authority, housing association or other registered social landlord. The remaining 21.1% of households rented privately or lived rent free. The census found that 66.0% (10,390) of the population aged 16 to 74 were working or seeking work, this compared with 60.4% for Birmingham.Famous residents
Harborne's most notable resident was
W. H. Auden - the present day swimming baths stand on the site of his former house. Other famous residents include landscape painter David Cox, the composerGranville Bantock andThomas Attwood who became the first MP from Birmingham.Edward Augustus Freeman was born in Metchley Abbey in 1823 and was a noted historian appointedRegius Professor of Modern History at Oxford .TheNobel Prize -winning chemist and physicistFrancis William Aston was born in Harborne in 1877. The Arts and Crafts jeweller-silversmith George Edward Hunt resided in Harborne from about 1900 until his death in 1960. The former England cricketerDennis Amiss was born in Harborne. In the mid/late 1990sOcean Colour Scene lived just down the road from the High Street.Places of interest
In 1898, Queens Park was bought by the local populous to commemorate
Queen Victoria 'sDiamond Jubilee . In Metchley Park are the remains ofMetchley Fort , a Roman fort withScheduled Ancient Monument status.St Peter's Church is located on a site that is believed to have had a church on since Saxon times. The tower dates from the 14th century, and the current body of the church is from Victorian era. Inside the church are the remains of the iron work on the grave of A F Hill 1883 who made the gates of the Houses of Parliament.
Harborne Hall was built at the end of the 18th century by Thomas Green for his daughter Elizabeth. He was Lord of the Manor of Harborne and lived in Harborne House (Bishop's Croft). It is now used as a training center for
Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO).Politics
Harborne ward forms part of the Birmingham Edgbaston constituency at Westminster, currently represented by Labour's
Gisela Stuart . However, at local government level, the Harborne ward is represented by three councillors from the Conservative Party including current council leaderMike Whitby . The other two councillors are John Alden and Peter Hollingworth.The ward has adopted a Ward Support Officer with the current holder of the title being Ken Brown.
Public transport
Harborne is well served by the
National Express West Midlands buses including the 11A, 11C, 21, 22, 23, 29, 103, 448 and 636.References
External links
* [http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/harborne Birmingham City Council: Harborne Ward]
* [http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=23601&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=260 Early history]
* [http://www.theharbornesociety.org.uk The Harborne Society]
* [http://www.harborne-cc.co.uk/ Harborne Cricket Club]
* [http://www.harbornegolfclub.org.uk/ Harborne Golf Club]
* [http://www.harborne-hockey.co.uk/ Harborne Hockey Club]
* [http://www.harborne-rugby.com/ Harborne Rugby Club]
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