Nechells facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nechells |
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 The grade II listed public baths, opened 22 June 1910, on Nechells Park Road. |
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 Nechells
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| Population | 33,957 (2011 Population Census) |
| • Density | 32.20 per ha |
| OS grid reference | SP095895 |
| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BIRMINGHAM |
| Postcode district | B7 |
| Dialling code | 0121 |
| Police | West Midlands |
| Fire | West Midlands |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| EU Parliament | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament |
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Nechells is a busy area in central Birmingham, England. In 2011, about 34,000 people lived there. It's also a special area called a ward within the larger Ladywood district of Birmingham. Some parts of Birmingham city centre are even included in the Nechells ward today.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name Nechells has a long history! It was first recorded around 1180 as Echeles. Later, in 1290, it was called Le Echeles, and in 1322, Le Necheles.
The name comes from an Old English word, Eccheles. This word meant "land added to a village or estate." It might have been land added by clearing forests or draining wet areas. Over time, the "n" from "atten" (meaning "belonging to") joined with "Eccheles" to become "Nechells."
You might have also heard it pronounced "Netchells" in the past. An old map from 1758 even spelled it Netchells. Some older people in the area still used this pronunciation in the 20th century.
"Nechells Green" was originally a small triangle of land where several roads met. On the 1758 map, it looked like a small village green with a few roads and fields around it. In the 1950s and 60s, this name was used for a new housing area built nearby.
A Look Back in Time
Nechells in the 1800s
In the 1800s, Nechells became a very busy place. Many houses and factories were built, and lots of people moved there, especially from Ireland.
In 1868, Nechells was described as a small village that was part of Aston and Birmingham. It was known for its railway carriage workshops and a hospital. Important buildings from this time include:
- St Clement's Church, which opened in 1859.
- St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, built in 1872.
- A school on Hutton (now Eliot) Street, opened in 1879.
- Almshouses (special homes for older people) next to St. Clement's church for people over 60.
- Bloomsbury Library, built in 1892, which was a strong example of Victorian architecture.
Two railway lines were built across Nechells in the 1800s. The Grand Junction Railway arrived in 1837, and the London and North Western Railway line opened in 1880.
Nechells in the 1900s and Today
After World War II, more people moved to Nechells from countries in the Commonwealth, like the Caribbean and the Indian Subcontinent.
By the 1950s, many homes in Nechells were old and in poor condition. They often didn't have electricity, running water, or indoor toilets. The area was chosen for a big makeover in 1937, but this was delayed by World War II.
In the 1960s, Nechells changed a lot. The old Victorian houses were pulled down, and new homes and tall apartment buildings (tower blocks) were built. Some families stayed in the new homes, but many moved to new housing estates like Castle Vale and Chelmsley Wood. The new homes were much better, but the area still faced challenges like unemployment.
Nechells was actually home to Birmingham's very first tower block, Queens Tower, built in 1954. Many other tower blocks in Nechells were later taken down in the 1990s to make way for newer, lower homes.
Two primary schools in Nechells are now academies: Nechells Primary E-ACT Academy and Nechells Church of England Academy. A secondary school for older students, Nechells Secondary Modern, closed in the 1980s.
The Austin Street Incident
In 1961, Nechells made national news. The local vicar, Rev. Elwyn Evans, helped the police talk to a man who was causing a disturbance from his house on Austin Street. Rev. Evans, who was taking a bath when the police arrived, managed to persuade the man to give up peacefully. Austin Street no longer exists today, as new housing has been built over it.
Businesses and Factories
Early on, Nechells had small workshops. A map from 1758 shows a mill used for making nails.
In the early 1900s, Nechells was home to many industries. There were chemical works, a paper mill, a tube works, and a factory that made tools. Many of these were located near the Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal.
Later in the 20th century, Nechells became known for its two gasworks and two large power stations. These power stations, which burned coal, closed in 1982. One of the steam trains used at the power station, "Nechells No.4," has been saved and can be seen at the Chasewater Railway.
In 1972, one of the gasworks was the site of a famous event called the "Battle of Saltley Gate." This was a big protest by striking miners who tried to stop coal from leaving the gasworks. Even though it happened in Nechells, it's often remembered as "Saltley Gate."
Nechells also played a part in the invention of the petrol-driven car! Frederick William Lanchester worked at a factory near Bloomsbury Street, where he made improvements to engines. He later built the first all-British four-wheel petrol car. A sculpture called the Lanchester Car Monument celebrates his work.
Other businesses in Nechells included David Haydon Ltd, which made parts for fire engines, and Foundry Services Ltd (later FOSECO), which made special chemicals for metal foundries. Verity's Ltd, a large factory, made electrical motors and fans.
Today, Flights Hallmark, a coach company, has its main office in Nechells. The privately owned St Clements Nursing Home is also in the area.
A very important business in Nechells today is the headquarters of Wing Yip, a Chinese food and restaurant company. It opened in 1992 and has grown to include a business centre and a large food superstore.
Also on Thimble Mill Lane, the Aston Manor Brewery started making beer and cider in 1993. It can produce 24,000 bottles every hour!
People and Community
The 2011 Census showed that Nechells has a young population. About 29% of residents are under 18 years old, and the average age is 25. This is younger than Birmingham as a whole.
Nechells is a very diverse area with many different cultures and communities. The population includes people of Asian (38%), White (27%), and Black (24%) backgrounds. The largest groups are White British, Pakistani, African, Caribbean, and Bangladeshi.
While Nechells has faced challenges like unemployment and poverty, Birmingham City Council and other groups have worked hard to improve the area with new developments.
A report from 2010 noted that people in North Nechells, Bloomsbury, and Duddeston tend to have a shorter life expectancy and more health problems compared to the rest of Birmingham.
Getting Around Nechells
Nechells is served by Duddeston railway station and Aston railway station. There was also a station called "Bloomsbury and Nechells" from 1856 to 1869.
Bus services started in Nechells in the 1850s. In 1858, an omnibus (horse-drawn bus) service ran from the Town Hall to Nechells Green. Today, the main bus service is the National Express West Midlands route 66, which goes from Birmingham city centre to Sutton Coldfield. The West Midlands bus route 8, known as the "Inner Circle," also serves the western part of Nechells.
The planned High Speed 2 (HS2) rail line from London to Birmingham will pass along the edge of Nechells. A depot and control centre for the new line will be built on the site of the former Metro-Cammell works.
Fun Places to Visit
Nechells is home to Star City – a huge entertainment complex! It has shops, restaurants, a 22-lane bowling alley, a casino, a hotel, and a Vue Cinema with thirty screens, making it one of the biggest cinemas in Europe. Star City is a great place for families, couples, and parties.
Besides Bloomsbury library, other community places include the Nechells Play Centre and the Nechells Green Community Centre. For sports, there's the Heartlands High Community Leisure Centre and the Nechells Community Sports Centre.
The Villa Tavern pub, built in 1924–25, is a Grade II listed building, meaning it's an important historical building.
Nechells Baths on Nechells Park Road is also a Grade II listed building. Plans for these public baths started in 1900, and they finally opened on June 22, 1910. They had a large swimming pool with spectator seating and private baths. The baths were very popular with local people.
The baths were renovated in 2007, costing £5.5 million, to make them modern and enjoyable for everyone.
Famous People from Nechells
- Vanley Burke: A photographer born in Jamaica, famous for his pictures of African-Caribbean communities in Birmingham.
- Paul Davies, Neil Marsh, and John Rowlands: Residents of Nechells who sadly passed away in the Birmingham pub bombings in November 1974.
- Peter Fell: Born in Nechells in 1951, he became a teacher and social worker. He started the "Revive" project in 2001, which helps refugees and asylum seekers.
- Frederick William Lanchester (1868–1946): The person who built the first British petrol-driven motor car.
- Dame Edith Pitt (1900–66): Born in Nechells, she became a Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Edgbaston in 1953 and held important government roles. She was honored with the OBE and DBE.
- Llion Rees: An inspiring teacher and head teacher of Nechells Junior School in the 1960s.
- Peter Frederick Wagner: An Anglican priest who was the Vicar of St Clement's Nechells from 1964 to 1970. He later became an Archdeacon in Zimbabwe.
Images for kids
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Bloomsbury Library on Nechells Parkway.
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The surviving buildings of the former St Clement's Church on Stuart Street.
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The entrance to the Wing Yip complex on Nechells Green.
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1970s housing on Nechells Park Road.
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The Villa Tavern at the junction of Nechells Park Road and Holborn Hill.
