Solihull facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Solihull |
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.jpg)    Clockwise from top: St Alphege Church, Touchwood Shopping Centre, Malvern Park and Solihull town square |
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 Solihull
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| Population | 123,187 (2011 Census) |
| Demonym | Silhillian |
| OS grid reference | SP1579 |
| • London | 110 mi (180 km) |
| Metropolitan borough |
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| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Solihull |
| Postcode district | B36, B37, B90–B94 |
| Dialling code | 0121 |
| Police | West Midlands |
| Fire | West Midlands |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| EU Parliament | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament |
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Solihull is a large market town that is the administrative centre and seat of the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull in the south of the West Midlands County, England. The town had a population of 123,187 at the 2011 Census. Historically in Warwickshire, Solihull is situated on the River Blythe in the Forest of Arden area. It is the largest town in the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull which has a population of 214,909.
Solihull is the most affluent town in the West Midlands region of England, and one of the most affluent areas in the UK outside London. The original town is largely urban, while the rest of the modern borough is largely rural with the exception of a few other urban market towns and villages, with three quarters of the borough designated green belt. The town has roots dating back to the 1st century BC, and was further formally established during the medieval era of British history. Today the town is famed as, amongst other things, the birthplace of the Land Rover car marque, and home of the British equestrian eventing team.
Contents
History
Toponymy
Solihull's name is commonly thought to have derived from the position of its parish church, St Alphege, on a 'soily' hill. The church was built on a hill of stiff red marl, which turned to sticky mud in wet weather.
Early history
The town is noted for its historic architecture, which includes surviving examples of timber framed Tudor style houses and shops. The historic Solihull School dates from 1560 (although not on its present site). The red sandstone parish church of St. Alphege dates from a similar period and is a large and handsome example of English Gothic church architecture, with a traditional spire 168 feet (51 metres) high, making it visible from a great distance. It is located at the head of High Street and is a Grade I listed building. It was founded in about 1220 by Hugh de Oddingsell. A chantry chapel was also founded there by Sir William de Oddingsell in 1277 and the upper chapel in St Alphege was built for a chantry.
20th century
Unlike nearby Birmingham, the Industrial Revolution largely passed Solihull by and until the 20th century Solihull remained a small market town. World War II also nearly passed Solihull by. Neighbouring Coventry and Birmingham were severely damaged by repeated German bombing raids but apart from some attacks on what is now the Land Rover plant, the airport and the local railway lines, Solihull escaped largely intact.
In 1901, the population of the town was just 7,500. This growth was due to a number of factors including a large slum clearance programme in Birmingham, the development of the Rover car plant, the expansion of what was then Elmdon Airport into Birmingham International Airport and, perhaps most significantly, the release of large tracts of land for housing development attracting inward migration of new residents from across the UK.
Until the early 1960s, the main high street remained much as it would have been in the late 19th century with several streets of Victorian terraced houses linking High Street with Warwick Road. The construction of the central shopping area known as Mell Square (named after W. Maurice Mell, the town clerk who planned the work) involved the demolition of properties in Mill Lane and Drury Lane, some of which were several hundred years old, together with that of the large Victorian Congregational Church that had stood on the corner of Union Street and Warwick Road. On the right along High Street from St Alphege's Church porch is one of the town's oldest landmarks, the George, which dates from the 16th century. It is now called the Ramada Jarvis Hotel.
Arden Golf Club, Solihull, (now defunct) was founded in 1891. The course was still appearing on maps into the 1930s.
Transport
Road
A number of main roads pass through Solihull including the A41 Birmingham to Warwick road and the A34 Birmingham to Stratford road: the A34 becomes the commercial centre of Shirley, making for a busy town-centre feel along the main road.
The M42 and the M40 both pass through the outskirts of the borough of Solihull, providing very rapid links to Oxford and London in the South East, and to the rest of the motorway network surrounding the West Midlands region. The M42 opens up to the M5, providing links to Cheltenham, the West Country and South West England.
Rail
Solihull railway station is on the former Great Western Railway line to London Paddington although trains now run along the Chiltern Main Line terminating at London Marylebone.
Other railway links are provided on the West Coast Main Line, as Birmingham International railway station lies within the borough's boundaries and offers frequent express connections to London. Express train services through Solihull are now run by Chiltern Railways and local services by West Midlands Railway. Cross Country trains pass through the station but no longer stop here.
Solihull will be served by a HS2 interchange station if the project is approved, putting London just 38 minutes away by train.
Bus
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Local bus services are provided largely by National Express West Midlands from their Yardley Wood and Acocks Green depots in south and southeast Birmingham respectively. Other services are provided by Johnsons, including service X20 between Coventry and Stratford-upon-Avon, Landflight and Diamond Bus. Until 2019 Diamond buses operated the Signature brand of buses in Solihull. The Diamond buses operating in Solihull were fitted with leather seats and wireless internet, and used the cleanest bus engines in Europe. The Diamond buses have since moved elsewhere.
In preparation for the 2022 Commonwealth Games which will be held across the West Midlands and Warwickshire, Transport for West Midlands is constructing a new Bus Rapid Transit network of tram style buses that will form critical infrastructure ahead of the games. The new network, known as Sprint, will utilise dedicated lanes and zero-emission tram style buses which will provide off-board ticketing, multiple-door boarding, wheelchair and pushchair access, free Wi-Fi, and air conditioning as well as on-board audio visual announcements and travel information. The network will connect Solihull town centre, Birmingham Airport, the National Exhibition Centre and future HS2 Interchange (all in Solihull) with Birmingham City Centre, and other parts of the region, such as the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield. Any green space lost as part of Sprint's proposals will be replaced according to the local highway authority tree replacement policy. Work commenced on the network in March 2021.
Canal
The Grand Union Canal passes across Solihull, coming within 1 mi (1.6 km) of the town centre and linking the town to the River Thames in London. There are a flight of five locks at Knowle added in the 1930s which are wide enough to allow narrowboats to navigate together, side by side.
The Stratford-upon-Avon Canal passes through Hockley Heath in the Borough of Solihull. Hockley Wharf (now a public house) served the rest of the surrounding Solihull area and beyond. Non-perishable goods were unloaded there, including timber, lime, coke, coal, cement, bricks and salt. The last commercial load was brought into the wharf on Christmas Eve, 1929.
Bicycle
Bicycling in Solihull is popular, and as of March 2021 it was announced that Solihull would benefit from a cycle hire scheme, where residents and visitors would be able to hire bikes from an app on their phone. Three free to use cycle repair stations are being installed across the borough, and new cycle lanes added.
Trams
In 2024 work will commence on an extension to the Transport for West Midlands West Midlands Metro tram network down to Solihull. The extension will link up to Birmingham Airport, the National Exhibition Centre and future HS2 Interchange with the wider network, before continuing on through the region, going as far south as the University of Warwick.
Air
Birmingham Airport is located in the Elmdon part of Solihull and was known as Elmdon Airport until control passed from the government to Birmingham City Council in the 1960s, as Birmingham itself was without an airport. Elmdon Airport was 8 miles from Birmingham, but still closer than any other contender. The airport is connected to the NEC and Birmingham International Station via the Air-Rail Link APM.
Communal facilities
Parks and local nature reserves
Solihull has a number of parks and local nature reserves, including for:
- Alcott Wood in Moorend Avenue, Chelmsley Wood; 5.7 hectares (14 acres) of semi natural ancient woodland, designated in 2002.
- Babbs Mill in Fordbridge Road, Kingshurst; 24 hectares (59 acres) of mixed grassland, lake and woodland habitats, designated in 2000.
- Bills Wood, in Bill's Lane, Shirley; 7 hectares (17 acres) of semi natural ancient woodland, designated in 1991.
- Dorridge Wood, in Arden Road, Dorridge; 7.5 hectares (19 acres) of semi natural woodland, designated in 2000.
- Elmdon Park, at Elmdon Manor, Solihull; 4.6 hectares (11 acres) of former walled garden, managed by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, designated in 1995.
- Jobs Close in Longdon Road, Knowle; 3.5 hectares (8.6 acres) of grassland and woodland with pond, designated in 2004.
- Palmers Rough, in Jacey Road, Shirley; 6.5 hectares (16 acres) of semi natural woodland, designated in 2000.
- Malvern & Brueton Park in Old Warwick Road, Solihull; 30 hectares (74 acres) of mixed grassland, woodland and marsh, designated in 2002.
- Millisons Wood, in Albert Road, Meriden; 11 hectares (27 acres) of semi natural ancient woodland, designated in 1993.
- Smiths Wood in Windward Way, Smiths Wood; 4.5 hectares (11 acres) of semi natural ancient woodland, designated in 2004.
- Yorks Wood, in Fordbridge Road, Kingshurst; 10 hectares (25 acres) of semi natural ancient woodland, designated in 1991.
Other parks include Tudor Grange Park, Elmdon Park, Hillfield Park, Cole Bank Park, Knowle Park and Shirley Park. The nearest parks to the town centre are Malvern and Brueton Parks. They are interlinked and cover a total area of about 130 acres (0.53 km2). Brueton Park used to be part of the grounds of Malvern Hall, which dates back to about 1690. It is home now to St Martin's Independent School for Girls.
The River Blythe, a headwater tributary of the River Trent, passes through parts of Solihull including Malvern and Tudor Grange Parks.
Leisure
Solihull has numerous leisure facilities including a public swimming pool on the edge of Tudor Grange Park. This pool replaced the old Tudor Grange Sports Centre, which was demolished in 2007, to make way for the brand new leisure centre (A combination of the old Norman Green Athletics Centre and Tudor Grange Sports Centre). This in turn had replaced the outdoor swimming pool - Malvern Park Lido - that had served Solihull from 1954 till its closure in 1982. At present there are two sports centres, the more modern Tudor Grange Sports Centre, and the older North Solihull Sports Centre. There is also an outdoor wooden skateboarding and in-line skating facility in Tudor Grange Park. Sailing takes place on Olton Reservoir.
The borough is well served by numerous youth groups, both from the statutory and voluntary sector. There are several Scout groups including Knowle Sea Scout Group which is based in the south of Solihull and is sponsored by the Royal Navy providing a wide programme of activities for young people from all over Solihull aged from 6 to 18. The recently refurbished ice rink on Hobs Moat Road is home to Solihull's ice hockey teams, the Solihull Barons, Solihull Vikings, a junior ice hockey team, the Mohawks ice racing club, as well as ice dance and figure skating clubs. Above the ice rink is a Riley's snooker club.
Events
Every year since the early 1930s (apart from gaps during world wars), Solihull Carnival has taken place. This is now fixed to the first weekend after the June half-term and takes place in Tudor Grange Park, organised by Shirley Round Table. The event raises about £10,000 for charitable causes each year.
Tudor Grange Park is also the venue for the annual free firework display held on the Saturday closest to 5 November, organised by Solihull Round Table. The event attracts about 15,000 people to the park.
Suburbs
For a full list see List of areas in Solihull
Solihull town has several suburbs including Solihull Lodge, Blossomfield, Haslucks Green, Sharmans Cross, Cranmore, Shirley (considered a sub-town of Solihull), Shirley Heath, Hillfield, Monkspath, Widney Manor, Olton, Lode Heath and World's End.
Solihull Borough includes several satellite towns and villages including Castle Bromwich, Chelmsley Wood, Cheswick Green, Dorridge, Knowle, Balsall Common, Meriden, Hampton in Arden, Hockley Heath, Eastcote, Barston, Bickenhill, Catherine-de-Barnes and Bentley Heath.
Twin towns
Solihull is twinned with:
Economy
Retail
Solihull offers a variety of shopping facilities. In recent years, the town has undergone much development, and its High Street has been pedestrianised since 1994. On 2 July 2002, a large new shopping centre, Touchwood, was opened by Queen Elizabeth II. The Crown Estate has an equity interest in the shopping centre. In 2014 the town was listed as one of the top five destinations for shopping in the UK. In addition to the Touchwood shopping centre it also has an open-air 1960s-style shopping centre called Mell Square which was constructed following the demolition of several terraces of Victorian houses and the original Solihull Congregational Church. When Mell Square was first opened it was known for its large block of fountains, which were switched off and removed in the late 80s. In recent years some residents have called for the fountains to be returned. Luxury vehicle sales also make up some of the Solihull economy, with a dealership for Rolls-Royce, and other luxury car marques, present in the town.
Industry
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Solihull is the home of the four-wheel-drive car manufacturer Land Rover. Its main production plant is situated east of the Lode Heath district, along with a range of other major companies. Engineering and professional services firm Arup have a large presence in Solihull. Fitness apparel manufacturer Gymshark has been based in Solihull since 2012.
The Solihull village of Meriden was the famous home of the Triumph motorbike factory from 1942 to 1983. In January 2021 motorcycle company Norton announced they would be investing in a technologically advanced production site and headquarters in Solihull. The Lucas company, who supplied lighting and electric components to the motorcycle and aerospace industries was also headquartered in Solihull for many years, with a research facility in Shirley.
Food and beverage
Food and drink production and hospitality also make up part of the local Solihull economy. Earlswood in the Solihull borough is home to Fowlers, established since 1670, it is the oldest cheese-making business in England. The company still makes all its cheese by hand. In Catherine de Barnes is the Silhill Brewery. The former home of retail bakers Three Cooks was based in Solihull, and after it was brought out of administration in 2006, the new company Cooks the Bakery retains its HQ in Solihull. The pub company Enterprise Inns is also headquartered in Solihull. The Grenade Protein Bar company, valued at £200m in 2021, is based in Solihull, having been started by a couple from Solihull in 2010.
There are a number of restaurants and eateries in Solihull, including the Michelin starred Peel's Restaurant.
Service sector
Financial services make up some of the Solihull economy. Personal loan provider Paragon, and retail and commercial bank Secure Trust Bank are both based in Solihull.
The National Exhibition Centre is within the borough of Solihull, which hosts a number of national trade shows, such as The Horse of the Year Show and The Crufts International Dog Show. The Blythe Valley Business Park is also both within the borough of Solihull. Both have excellent links to Birmingham Airport and the M42, M40 and M6 motorways.
Third sector and charity
A number of regional and national charities are based in, or have offices in, Solihull. Royal Star and Garter Homes a charity founded in 1916 to provide care for ex-Service people and their partners who live with disability or dementia, operates one of its three state of the art care homes in Solihull.
Sport
- Association football
The largest football club in the town is Solihull Moors, who play at Damson Park, 2 miles (3.2 km) from the town centre. The club was established in 2007 following the merger of Solihull Borough and Moor Green and currently play in the National League after being promoted from the National League North at the end of the 2015–16 season.
After the demolition of the Old Wembley Stadium a bid was made for a new multi-purpose English National Stadium to be built in the north of the borough of Solihull as a new home for English football. The bid was ultimately unsuccessful.
- Rugby football
Birmingham & Solihull R.F.C., known as "the Bees", compete in Midlands 4 West (South) league as of 2020–21. The club had a brief period in the RFU Championship (the second tier of English Rugby) in 2010. The club played at a ground in the Solihull town centre at Sharmans Cross Road until August 2010 when they were relegated from the Championship. Following a brief spell at Solihull Moors' Damson Park ground the club now play at Portway. Other amateur clubs play in the borough at various levels.
Former England Captain and World Cup winner Martin Johnson is from Solihull.
- Cricket
There are several local level cricket clubs across Solihull, including Hampton and Solihull CC and Solihull Municipal CC, both of whom compete in the Warwickshire Cricket League and Arden Sunday Cricket League.
- Equestrian
Solihull Riding Club is the longest established riding club in the UK. It has one of the largest indoor riding arenas in the country and a premier competition centre.
Adjacent to Hogarths Hotel in the Four Ashes area of Solihull is the Stables, home of the British Equestrian Eventing Team.
- Sailing
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Solihull borough is home to two sailing clubs. The Earlswood Lakes Sailing Club founded in 1960 meet at Windmill Lake amongst the Earlswood Lakes. The Olton Mere Sailing Club founded in 1926 meet at Olton Reservoir.
- Racquet sports
Tennis is a popular sport in Solihull with courts available to the public in Malvern Park. The Solihull Arden Racquets Club is a thriving racquets and fitness club in Solihull.
Former UK tennis number one Jeremy Bates grew up in Solihull and attended Tudor Grange school.
- Golf
Solihull has a number of golf clubs and facilities, including Shirley Golf Club, Olton Golf Club, Copt Heath Golf Club, Robin Hood Golf Club, West Midlands Golf Club, Widney Manor Golf Club, Tidbury Green Golf Club, the Arden Course at the Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel & Country Club, an 18-hole pitch and putt at Tudor Grange Park, and a driving range at Four Ashes. Arden Golf Club, Solihull, (now defunct) was founded in 1891. The course was still appearing on maps into the 1930s.
- Archery
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Archery has always been a prominent sport in Solihull. The Meriden Archery Club, founded in 1936, meet within the grounds of the Packington Estate and practice target archery. The Forest of Arden Bowmen practice field archery in grounds nearby.
Meriden is also home to the Woodmen of the Forest of Arden founded 1785, an illustrious society of archers who shoot a unique and historic type of clout archery with longbows.
- Cycling
Solihull is also home to Solihull Cycling Club which was founded in 1929. The club has produced National Champions, Olympic Medallists and Tour de France riders
Meriden is home to the National Cyclists Memorial, dedicated to the cyclists who died in the First World War. National cycling organisations commemorate these deaths with an annual mid-May service on the green.
- Swimming
Solihull Swimming Club is based at Tudor Grange Leisure Centre. First established in 1963, the club now boasts over 600 members and also runs water polo teams.
- Hockey
Solihull Barons are the local ice hockey team and play their home games at the Solihull Ice Rink.
Solihull also has a number of field hockey clubs, namely Old Silhillians Hockey Club, Olton & West Warwickshire Hockey Club and Solihull Blossomfield Hockey Club.
- Other
Gaelic games are played by Warwickshire GAA who play their home matches in Páirc na hÉireann in Solihull.
The town has an indoor bowling area and club.
Education
Higher education
Solihull has no university, but there are seven universities within 16 mi (26 km) of the town in the surrounding cities. However, Solihull College, formerly known as the Solihull College of Technology, incorporates a University Centre which offers several foundation degree and full degree courses, particularly in technical subject areas such as computer sciences and engineering. These courses are offered through the college's partner, the University of Warwick. As yet the college has not applied to attain university college status.
Further education
There is also a sixth form college located on the outskirts of the town centre. This is known as Solihull Sixth Form College.
Independent schools
Solihull School is an independent school and is located on Warwick Road near the centre of the town. It was founded in 1560 and celebrated its 450th anniversary in 2010.
Ruckleigh School is an independent preparatory school founded in 1909 by Cathleen Cartland and is notable for being a nondenominational co-educational school many decades before any others followed. Another preparatory school called Eversfield is also located in the town centre.
State-funded schools
The town centre is also well served by some high performing state schools. Tudor Grange house, a now grade II listed property, was completed in Solihull in 1887 for Alfred Lovekin, a silversmith, who later sold the estate to Sir Alfred Bird, the owner of Bird's Custard then produced at the Birmingham Custard Factory. The Bird family bequeathed the house and estate to the people of Solihull for the construction of a 'Tudor Grange' grammar school around the turn of the century. After Tudor Grange grammar school had been established on this site, other parcels of the estate were passed on by the school for other neighbouring schools, colleges and parkland. Tudor Grange School and Solihull School continue to enjoy a friendly sporting rivalry centred around rugby union. Solihull's state schools, Tudor Grange School and Arden Academy, regularly feature in good school guides, such as "the Tatler guide to the best state secondary schools".
Solihull had a 'Wave 1' proposal of the Building Schools for the Future investment programme approved. They were awarded over £80 million to transform six schools in the north of the borough in December 2004. As a result of the funding, there will be six new schools constructed within seven years. The school curriculum will be redesigned as well as a further £6 million investment in managed ICT services. The six schools to be rebuilt are Park Hall, Smith's Wood, Archbishop Grimshaw, Lanchester Special School and Forest Oak and Merstone special schools. Forest Oak and Merstone have been already rebuilt on one site. Lanchester, Park Hall and Smith's Wood have been built by BAM PPP, under 'Private Finance Initiative'. Archbishop Grimshaw has been built by BAM PPP under a traditional contract.
Notable people
This list includes notable persons who were born or have lived in Solihull and its borough.
- W. H. Auden (b. 1907), Anglo-American poet, lived on Homer Road in Solihull
- Cecil Aldin (b.1870), illustrator and artist, educated in Solihull
- Jeremy Bates (b. 1962), former UK tennis number 1, born in Solihull
- Sir David Baulcombe (b. 1952), Professor of Botany at the University of Cambridge, born in Solihull
- Mark Billingham (b. 1961), novelist, actor and screenwriter, born in Solihull
- David Briggs (b.1962), English organist and composer, educated in Solihull
- Sir Alfred Bird, 1st Baronet of Solihull in the County of Warwick (b. 1849), chairman of Bird's Custard, lived in Solihull
- Elizabeth Bower (b. 1976), actress, Doctors, brought up in Solihull
- Karren Brady (b. 1969), vice-chairman of West Ham United F.C., lived in Copt Heath, Solihull
- Jeremy Brett (b. 1933), British actor, famed for playing Sherlock Holmes and Freddy Eynsford-Hill in My Fair Lady, born in Berkswell, Solihull
- Michael Buerk (b. 1946), BBC News reader, born and brought up in Solihull, attending Solihull School
- Mike Bullen, (b.1960), screenwriter, brought up and educated in Solihull
- Lorely Burt, Baroness Burt of Solihull (b. 1954), British politician, lived in Solihull
- John A. Butt (b. 1960), conductor, scholar, keyboardist and Gardiner Chair at the University of Glasgow, brought up in Solihull
- Daniel Caines (b. 1979), athlete, born in Solihull
- Karen Carney (b. 1987), Birmingham, England and Great Britain women's footballer, born in Solihull
- Stephanie Cole (b. 1941), actress, born in Solihull
- Dominic Coleman (b. 1970), actor, born in Solihull
- Alan Cox (b. 1968), a Linux kernel engineer, born in Solihull
- Matthew Croucher (b. 1983), Royal Marine George Cross holder, born in Solihull
- Jon "Fox" Davies (b. 1998), Professional rugby player for the Scarlets, Wales and the British and Irish Lions, born in Solihull
- Gary Delaney (b. 1973), comedian, born in Solihull
- Nick Drake (b. 1948), musician/poet, brought up in Tanworth-in-Arden, in Solihull
- Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield (b. 1977), French politician, born in Solihull
- Dan Evans (b. 1990), top ranked British tennis player from October 2019 onwards, lived in Solihull
- Susan Fletcher (b. 1979), novelist. Winner of Whitbread Prize (now Costa Book Award) and Betty Trask Award, brought up in Solihull
- Craig Gardner (b. 1986), Birmingham City midfielder, born in Solihull
- Shane Geraghty (b. 1986), England rugby union player, attended St Alphege Junior School, Solihull
- Joseph Gillott (b. 1799), founder of Joseph Gillott Pens, lived in Solihull
- Tommy Godwin (b. 1920), cyclist, twice Olympic medallist in 1948 and President of Solihull Cycling Club
- Don Gould and Gerry Freeman, members of the Applejacks, born in Solihull
- Jack Grealish (b. 1995), professional footballer, plays for Manchester City and the England national team, brought up in Solihull
- Will Grigg (b. 1991), English-born Northern Irish professional footballer, attended Solihull School
- Amii Grove (b. 1985), glamour model, born in Solihull
- Richard Hammond (b. 1969), television presenter (Top Gear, The Grand Tour etc.), born in Solihull and attended Solihull School
- John Hampson (b.1901), novelist, lived in Dorridge, Solihull
- Air Vice Marshal Peter John Harding CB CVO CBE AFC (b. 1940), senior RAF officer and Defence Services Secretary, educated in Solihull
- Richard Harrison, scientist, born in Solihull
- Dave Hill (b. 1946), Slade's guitarist, lived in Solihull
- Rupert Hill (b. 1978), Jamie Baldwin in Coronation Street, born and brought up in Solihull
- Edith Holden (b. 1871), British artist, taught in Solihull
- Tony Iommi (b. 1948), lead guitarist of Black Sabbath, lives in Solihull
- Richard Jago (b. 1715), poet and landscape gardener, educated in Solihull
- David Jennens (b. 1929), Olympic and Cambridge University rower, born in Solihull
- Martin Johnson CBE (b. 1970), England rugby union player and captain, born in Shirley, Solihull
- Felicity Kendal (b. 1946), actress and TV star, born in Olton, Solihull
- Nigel Kennedy (b. 1956), violinist, brought up in Solihull
- Justin King (b. 1961), former CEO of J Sainsbury plc, educated in Solihull
- Zat Knight (b. 1980), professional footballer, mainly with Fulham, Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers, born in Solihull
- Stewart Lee (b. 1968), stand-up comedian, attended Solihull School
- Russell Leetch (b. 1982), bass guitarist for Editors, educated in Solihull
- Lady Leshurr (b.1990), British rapper, singer, songwriter and producer, born in Kingshurst in Solihull
- Don Maclean (b. 1944), 1970s host of Crackerjack, comedian, broadcaster and personality, lived in Solihull
- Clare Maguire (b. 1988), singer-songwriter, born in Solihull
- Nigel Mansell (b.1953) former British racing driver and Formula 1 Champion, attended Solihull College
- Tony Martin (b. 1957), singer, songwriter, lead singer of Black Sabbath, lived in Solihull
- Simon Mayo (b. 1958), broadcaster, attended Solihull School
- Lizo Mzimba (b.1968), journalist and television presenter, born and educated in Solihull
- James McFadden (b. 1983), Birmingham City F.C. midfielder/striker, lived in Solihull
- Carol McNicoll (b. 1943), designer and potter, brought up in Solihull
- Ritchie Neville (b. 1979), member of the band Five, educated in Solihull
- Callum O'Hare (b. 1998), footballer, born in Solihull
- Sir Frederick Peel, 3rd Baronet Peel of Drayton Manor and Bury (b. 1823), politician and son of former Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel, lived in Hampton Manor, Hampton-in-Arden (now Peel's Restaurant), Solihull
- Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet Peel of Drayton Manor and Bury (b. 1788) former British Prime Minister and founder of the British police force, lived in Hampton-in-Arden in Solihull
- Genesis P-Orridge (Neil Megson) (b.1950), musician, poet, performance artist, and occultist, studied at Solihull School
- Margaret Preece, opera singer, born in Solihull
- Jim Proudfoot (b. 1972), TalkSport football commentator, educated in Solihull
- Caroline Redman Lusher (b. 1974), singer/songwriter, founder and director of Rock Choir, educated in Solihull
- Laurence Rees (b. 1957), historian and documentary filmmaker, attended Solihull School
- Mandy Rice-Davies (b. 1944), famed for her role in the Profumo affair, attended Sharmans Cross Junior School in Solihull
- William Shenstone (b. 1714), poet, educated in Solihull
- Marc Silk (b. 1972), voice actor, born in Solihull
- Nikky Smedley (b. 1963), actress, choreographer, and dancer best known for playing Laa-Laa on the children's television series, Teletubbies from 1997 to 2001, born in Solihull
- Robert Short (b.1783), East India Company officer, lived and educated in Solihull
- Malcolm Stent (b. 1945), playwright and entertainer, lived in Solihull
- Pamela Helen Stephen (b. 1964), British mezzo-soprano, born in Solihull
- Nikki Sudden (b.1956), singer song-writer, educated in Solihull
- Nigel John Taylor (b. 1960), bass guitarist in new wave band Duran Duran, born in Solihull
- David Thomas (b.1959), former Surrey County Cricket Club player, born in Solihull
- Andy Townsend (b. 1963), broadcaster and TV pundit, and former Aston Villa, Chelsea and Ireland footballer, lives in Solihull
- Johnnie Walker (b.1945), broadcaster, radio host and DJ, educated in Solihull
- Stephen Walters (b. 1973), actor, lives in Solihull
- Sally Walton (b. 1981), GB Women's Hockey player and 2012 Summer Olympics bronze medalist, lived in Solihull
- James Fern Webster (b.1821), metallurgist and inventor, discovered the process for refining aluminium in a way that took it from a precious metal to an industrial material while living in Solihull
- Madison Welch (b. 1990), glamour model and actress, born in Solihull
- William Wilberforce (b. 1759), Abolitionist, lived in Elmdon in Solihull
- John Wyndham (b. 1903), science fiction author born in Dorridge in Solihull
Images for kids
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Wooden bridge over the Cole at Shirley, drawn in the 19th century by Samuel Rostill Lines.
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Hobs Moat Castle, Olton, Solihull
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Lime Tree House, also erroneously known as "The Manor House", Solihull
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Historic Solihull town centre
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Hillfield Hall
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John Constable - Malvern Hall, Warwickshire
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Solihull Malvern Hall
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Dog Kennel Lane Post Box
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The Old Council House
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Avro 652A Anson T21, Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the airport at the art deco Elmdon Terminal
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A look up High Street in Solihull
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Statue of a Horse and Tamer in Malvern Park, Solihull, by artist Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm. Donated to the town by Captain Oliver Bird, High Sheriff of Warwickshire.
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Resorts World Arena under old branding
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The Shelley Farmhouse pub and restaurant in Hillfield
See also
- In Spanish: Solihull
