Stechford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stechford |
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 The Stone Cross war memorial, near the A4040 |
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| Metropolitan borough | |
| Shire county | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BIRMINGHAM |
| Postcode district | B33 |
| Dialling code | 0121 |
| Police | West Midlands |
| Fire | West Midlands |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| EU Parliament | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament |
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Stechford is an area in eastern Birmingham, England. It is about five miles (or eight kilometers) east of the city center. Stechford shares borders with areas like Ward End, Yardley, Hodge Hill, and Kitts Green. A long time ago, it was part of a different county called Worcestershire.
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Discovering Stechford's Past
Stechford has a history that is not fully known. Some of its oldest parts include Station Road, which was called Stoney Lane back in Norman times. Another old part is Flaxleye Farm, first mentioned in the year 1218. The original farm is gone, but there is a farmhouse at 143 Flaxley Road. The oldest parts of this building are from the 1600s.
The name Stechford might come from a local stream called the Stich or Stitch. This stream is now completely underground. A place where people could cross the River Cole (a "ford") was first mentioned in 1249. The name Stechford itself was not used until Stechford Station was built in 1844. Some people think the name was a mistake made by the railway company. However, the name Stycheforde has been found in records since the year 1400.
How Stechford Grew
In the past, Stechford was mostly a small group of buildings around the railway station. Until about 1900, most of the area was still farmland. Some of the original station houses are still there along the main road. Building in this area was tricky because the land was very sloped. This meant that some buildings on the hill had to have special supports, like stilts, under their ground floor. You can still see these supports on some buildings.
Stechford and Politics
For most of the 1900s, Stechford had its own Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is a person elected to represent an area in the UK Parliament. Roy Jenkins was the MP for Stechford for 27 years, starting in 1950. He was from the Labour Party. In 1977, when Roy Jenkins left to work in Europe, Andrew MacKay won the seat for the Conservative Party. In 1983, the Stechford area was split into two new parliamentary areas: Birmingham Hodge Hill and Birmingham Yardley.
In 1990, the first UK branch of the German discount supermarket Aldi opened in Stechford.
Things to See and Do in Stechford
Stechford has many shops along Station Road, and a smaller group of shops on Albert Road. The main shopping areas are connected by the Outer Ring Road (A4040) and the Outer Circle bus. Other nearby shopping spots include the Fox & Goose in Ward End and The Yew Tree in Yardley. You can get to Birmingham city center by taking bus services 14 or 97.
Stechford Railway Station
The local train station is Stechford railway station. Sadly, on February 28, 1967, there was a train accident at Stechford station. Nine people died and 16 were hurt. Across from the station is The Stechford Club, which was started in 1907. The houses in the area are mainly council houses or old Victorian houses built near the station.
Places of Worship
Stechford has three churches:
- Stechford Baptist on Victoria Road.
- All Saints (Anglican Church) on Albert Road.
- Corpus Christi (Catholic Church) on Albert Road.
These churches hold a special service every year for Remembrance Day. This service takes place at the Five Ways War Memorial in early November. About 200 people usually attend.
Stechford's Natural Surroundings
The area of Stechford is crossed by the River Cole, the railway line that goes from Birmingham to London, and the Birmingham Outer Circle road (A4040).
The River Cole and Green Spaces
All the land around the River Cole is a flood plain. This means Stechford has a large area of green, wild plants and trees. It is still possible to canoe on the river from Stechford all the way to Water Orton. The River Cole and the green area around it are being improved through a plan called the Kingfisher Project.
The Kingfisher Project also includes the Stechford Fairground. Two funfairs are held there each year. The land around the River Cole is now protected as green belt land. This means that new buildings cannot be built there, helping to keep the area green and natural.
Healthcare in Stechford
- Healthcare services are provided by the National Health Service (NHS).
- Heartlands Hospital is a large hospital nearby and a major employer in the area.
