West Heath, West Midlands

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West Heath, West Midlands - a short, easy guide

Where it is
West Heath is a mainly residential area in the south of Birmingham, England. It sits near Kings Norton, Northfield, Longbridge and Cofton Hackett and borders Worcestershire. It’s close to the River Rea, and not far from the Lickey Hills.

A bit of history
Long ago, this area was open heathland on the edge of Worcestershire. It’s linked to early medieval land and was part of the Kings Norton lands. Evidence of Roman activity has been found nearby. In the Middle Ages it appeared in old manorial records, and Turves Green was once a peat-cutting area.

West Heath grew from a small village formed around Lilley Lane in the early 1900s. After World War II, many pre-fabricated (prefab) houses were built to house returning soldiers and others, and later these were replaced by more permanent housing. The area has several old buildings and remnants of its farming and craft past, including nail-making in the 19th century.

Key places and landmarks
- The Man on the Moon pub on Redditch Road (opened as The Man in the Moon in 1937; renamed in 1969).
- The Bath Tub open-air swimming lido on Alvechurch Road, opened in 1937 but demolished after a few years.
- Groveley Hall and Groveley Farm (linked to local families and the National Trust) and nearby Dingle Farm.
- Turves Green features several tall blocks once part of the Austin Village estate.
- The Cofton Oak, a large old oak tree at the edge of Longbridge Lane and Groveley Lane, covered by preservation campaigns at times.
- West Heath Park, Hampstead House community centre, and other local green spaces with public footpaths to surrounding fields.

Housing and growth
West Heath shifted from open countryside to a suburb after the Second World War. The new housing included many high-density estates and tower blocks in the Turves Green and Fairfax Road areas. The area also includes the Austin Village, a notable early 20th-century workers’ housing site, now part of a conservation-type discussion. Over the years, some large houses and farms were replaced by flats, terraced houses, and family homes. The area has a mix of private and council housing.

Facilities and services
- Post office: located on Alvechurch Road in the West Villas area (with limited services today).
- Health: West Heath Hospital on Rednal Road (historic infectious disease hospital, later tuberculosis and then geriatric care). A modern GP centre opened on West Heath Road in 2011. There are other doctors’ surgeries in the area and a rehabilitation hospital on Ivyhouse Road.
- Shopping: a small local shopping area on Alvechurch Road, plus a Tesco Express in the area that used to house a pub.
- Libraries: West Heath Library closed in 2014 after local campaigning; the area is now served by a weekly mobile library service, with discussions about relocating some services to Hampstead House Community Centre.
- Education: several primary schools, including St John Fisher RC School on Alvechurch Road and West Heath Primary; secondary/tertiary options in nearby Longbridge and Birmingham.
- Community life: two community centres (Hampstead House and Oddingley Hall in Kings Norton) host events such as flower shows, art exhibitions, summer fetes, and local fairs. Longbridge Pride is a notable annual event held in the area.

Transport and travel
- Roads: lies near main routes like the A441 Redditch Road and the A38 Bristol Road South.
- Rail: Northfield railway station sits at the north end of West Heath, with services to Redditch, Bromsgrove, Birmingham and Lichfield. Longbridge railway station is also nearby.
- Buses: National Express West Midlands routes 45, 48 and 49 connect Birmingham with Solihull and West Bromwich.

Nature and geography
West Heath sits on well-drained gravel and sand soils, with access to open fields and paths toward Hopwood, Cofton Hackett, and the Lickey Hills. The River Rea passes through the area and has historically powered mills and provided water for local facilities, including the old lido and skating rink.

Governance
West Heath is part of Birmingham, in the Longbridge and West Heath ward within the Birmingham Northfield parliamentary constituency. Local councillors represent the area on Birmingham City Council, and the ward includes West Heath village, Longbridge town centre, and several local schools and facilities.

Summary
West Heath is a south Birmingham suburb with deep historical roots, moving from ancient heathland to a busy modern residential area after World War II. It combines old landmarks with new housing, local shops, health services, schools, and community life, all connected by green spaces and good transport links to Birmingham and beyond.