Handsworth Wood

Infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Handsworth Wood
latitude= 52.512
longitude= -1.918
map_type= West Midlands
population = 25,719 (2001 Population Census)
population_density = 37.4 per ha
metropolitan_borough= Birmingham
metropolitan_county= West Midlands
region= West Midlands
constituency_westminster= Birmingham Perry Barr
post_town= BIRMINGHAM
postcode_district = B20
postcode_area= B
dial_code= 0121
os_grid_reference= SP055905
Ambulance= West Midlands Ambulance Service

Handsworth Wood is a loosely defined area in the north west of Birmingham, England. It is also a ward within the formal district of Perry Barr. Located within the metropolitan county of the West Midlands since April 1, 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, it was previously a part of the county of Staffordshire. Handsworth Wood is regarded by estate agents as "upmarket" in comparison to the neighbouring district of Handsworth.

The BBC's obesity reduction challenge, "fat nation", was filmed in Handsworth Wood.

Places of interest

Local amenities include: King Edward VI Handsworth Girl's Grammar School and Handsworth Grammar School, Soho Road, St. Mary's Church, Handsworth and Handsworth Park. The local library for the area is in Hawthorn House. [ [http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/hawthornhouselibrary Hawthorn House Library] ]

It is home to Birmingham City University's 'Hamstead campus'.

Handsworth Golf Club is also located here.

History

Birmingham historian Dr. Carl Chinn noted that during WW2 the boundary between Handsworth and Handsworth Wood marked the line between being safe and unsafe from bombing, with Handsworth Wood being an official evacuation zone. [Carl Chinn (1996) "Brum Undaunted: Birmingham During the Blitz", Birmingham Library Services]

Local politics

There is a Birmingham City electoral ward called Handsworth Wood [ [http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=1279&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=5466 Handsworth Wood ward profile] ] comprising part of Handsworth and nearly all of Handsworth Wood made up of distinct cultures and built environments - the once salubrious Victorian suburb, now "inner-city" Handsworth, consisting of some of the finest Victorian houses in the city, increasingly being refurbished to complement the £9 million restoration of Handsworth Park, and Handsworth Wood dominated by characteristically suburban pre-war semi-detached and detached properties. The ward was formerly known as Sandwell Ward.

The ward is presently represented by three Labour councillors in the Birmingham City Council; Gurdial Singh Atwall, Paulette Hamilton and Narinder Kooner. [ [http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=6171&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=11760&EXPAND=5466 Councillors' Advice Bureaux - Handsworth Wood Ward] ]

Handsworth Wood has adopted a Ward Support Officer with the current holder of the title being Joy Hazel.

Population

The 2001 Population Census recorded that 25,276 people were living in the ward. It has a high percentage of ethnic minorities in the area with the figure being 67.1% (16,975) of the population being of an ethnic minority (mainly Indians), as opposed to 29.6% for Birmingham in general.

;Ethnic Groups:
*White British - 7,427
*South Asian - 12,052
*Black British - 4,100
*Mixed Race - 877

ee also

*Browns Green
*Handsworth, West Midlands
*Great Barr
*Perry Barr
*Winson Green

References

External links

* [http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/handsworthwood Birmingham City Council: Handsworth Wood Ward]