Stirchley, West Midlands

Stirchley is a southern area of Birmingham, England. Close to the districts of Kings Heath, Bournville, Selly Oak, Cotteridge and King's Norton. Stirchley is a popular residential area for young professionals and families.

The area is served by [http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/stirchleylibrary Stirchley Library] .

History

Bournville Lane Baths

On June 25, 1911, Bournville Lane Baths were opened to the public by King's Norton and Northfield District Council. These were the second baths constructed by the council with the other being located on Tiverton Road, Bournbrook. Later that year, the baths were taken over by the Birmingham Baths Committee.

The baths contained one swimming pool with a spectators' gallery, private baths for men and women and a small steam room. In the winter months, the swimming pool was floored over and the room was used as a hall. The private baths service was discontinued after the baths were taken by the City of Birmingham Baths Department shortly after opening.

An unusual feature of the baths was a system of aeration and filtration of the water, which was obtained from the council's mains supply and continuously filtered. This was one of the first uses of such a system in swimming baths in the country and it was later introduced and installed in all baths in all local authorities. Swimming baths usually obtained the water from deep wells constructed beneath the premises.

Church of Ascension

The Church of Ascension, the first church in Stirchley, began construction 1898 on Hazelwell Street. Construction was completed in 1901 and it was consecrated by the Bishop of Coventry on October 30, 1901. It was designed by W. Hale as a chapel-of-ease to St. Mary's Church in Moseley. A parish was assigned to it in 1912 out of the parishes of St. Mary's, Moseley and St. Nicholas, Kings Norton. On December 1, 1927, a church dedicated to St. Hugh of Lincoln serving the Dads Lane Estate, was opened in Pineapple Grove.

On October 29, 1965, the Church of Ascension was destroyed by fire and was demolished. A new church, designed by Romilly Craze, was constructed next to St. Hugh's and was consecrated by the Bishop of Birmingham on July 14, 1973. Surviving features from the original church, such as some of the stained glass, the Stations of the Cross, the altar silver, the processional crosses and the vestments, were used in the new church. St. Hugh's closed as a church once the Church of Ascension was completed as the two became one single church. The church building became the church hall for the Church of Ascension. A new vicarage was built on land behind the church in 1992.

The Church of Ascension is now a large building with an octagonal main church, and a church hall. There is also a chapel, and a large organ on an upper balcony in the main building.

References

*"The City of Birmingham Baths Department 1851 - 1951", J. Moth, 1951

External links

* [http://www.stirchley.co.uk/ Stirchley online]
* [http://www.stirchley.banf.org.uk Stirchley Neighbourhood Forum]
* [http://www.churchoftheascensionstirchley.com/ Church of Ascension in Stirchley]