Knowle

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Map sources for Knowle at grid reference SP1876

Knowle (IPA: [nɒʊl], or [nəʊl] in some older or RP speakers) is a small town in the West Midlands borough of Solihull, in England a few miles east of the town of Solihull. Traditionally Knowle was part of Warwickshire, but was transferred to the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull in 1974. It lies a few miles from the border with present day Warwickshire.

Not to be confused with the Knowle just outside Bristol.

The population of Knowle-Bentley Heath is estimated at 18,951 (2006 calculation).

1 History
2 Knowle today
3 Nearby places of interest
4 External links

[edit] History

Knowle dates back to the time of King Edward I of England when it had the status of a Royal manor, over 700 years ago. The Parish Church which is still in use today was dedicated in 1402.

There are many ancient buildings around, notably Grimshaw Hall and the current library which date back to Elizabethan times. The Guild House dates from the 15th century and forms the core of a conservation area of which the restored Chester House is an outstanding feature.

[edit] Knowle today

Church of St. John the Baptist, St. Lawrence and St. Anne

Knowle has some fame as being the birthplace of the author John Wyndham.

Knowle is a busy village which still retains some charm, despite being on the very edge of the West Midlands conurbation. Knowle joins onto the smaller village of Dorridge and the considerably smaller village Bentley Heath, both of which are large residential areas.

Knowle has many shops offering a range of services. Knowle has a supermarket and a full range of shops, including two traditional butcher's shops and two independent greengrocers. For a small town, there are a large number of banks and building societies, something of a reflection of the affluent nature of the area. Similarly there are several estate agents, solicitors, travel agents and there are also several beauticians, hairdressers and florists. Most of these are located on the High Street, though there are a number of side roads and a shopping precinct. Knowle Library is maintained by Solihull Council in a building dating back to Tudor times. At the rear of the building a Knot garden has recently been restored.

There are restaurants of all styles in Knowle, giving a wide choice. Walk through the High Street in the evening and aromas of Indian, Chinese and Italian food hang over it. The village has 5 Indian restaurants, 3 Chinese establishments, 1 Italian restaurant, 3 pubs which serve food, a Loch Fyne fish restaurant, a bar, 1 Thai restaurant, an English food hotel, a chip shop and 2 cafés.

Knowle is near to the Grand Union Canal which links Birmingham to London. Knowle Locks are a flight of five locks (was originally six until around 1930) near the canal bridge on Kenilworth Road. Recreation areas include Jobs Close Park, which has a children's play area, tennis courts, football field and plenty of open space. There is also another football field owned by the National Trust near Knowle Primary School. There is also Knowle Football Club, Knowle Cricket Club and the exclusive Copt Heath Golf Club. The Silhillian Rugby Club is nearby, which also hosts a substantial Croquet Club.

Knowle has two schools, a Church of England Primary School with a nursery and a Secondary School, Arden School, which caters for Dorridge and Bentley Heath as well. In September 2006, a sixth form was started with over 50 students, although the new building is still awaiting completion. They are considered to be well performing schools, even considering the advantaged catchment area.

The main church is a Church of England Parish Church and there is a United Reformed Church on Station Road. The Parish Church offers many services using modern equipment, the old Guild house and much newer St. John's Hall.

There are also many clubs in the village for all ages. There are various Scout and Guide groups, the largest and biggest provider of youth services in the area is 4th Knowle Sea Scout Group. Other clubs include a Karate class and church groups. The Knowle Society exists to help maintain the village and its heritage. Knowle also has drama groups and even an Operatic Society. Knowle and Dorridge Lions organise several events, including the annual 5 mile / 8km Knowle Fun Run. There is a Masonic Hall and Knowle and Dorridge Round Table meet locally.

The housing in Knowle is mainly detached or semi-detached with the occasional terraced street and some apartment blocks. More recently, developers have bought up housing for demolition and are building "windfall developments" of apartments on the outskirts the village. House prices are considerably higher than the national average due to the demand for housing in the beautiful fringes of the West Midlands conurbation and high achieving schools.

The town lies on the A4141 road and is close to the M42 motorway. Knowle does not have its own railway station, but there is one at nearby Dorridge on the Chiltern Main Line, another a few miles north at Hampton-in-Arden on the Coventry-Birmingham (West Coast) line and Birmingham International railway station is nearby for express services to London Euston. It is also close to Birmingham International Airport and is linked to Solihull by a bus service.