Bartley Green

Bartley Green is best known for its reservoir and its close proximity to Frankley Services on the western side of Birmingham. Located near Northfield, Weoley Castle and Quinton, the area enjoys good access to Birmingham city centre.

The earliest reference to Bartley Green appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as Berchelia, meaning a clearing among birch trees. The name Bartley Green first appears in records from 1657.

Bartley Green is a largely residential area with access to nearby green spaces such as Woodgate Valley Country Park. Bartley Green Reservoir has its own sailing club, and the area borders open countryside on the outskirts of the city.

Bartley Green Reservoir covers approximately 46 hectares and provides drinking water for Birmingham. Naturalist and broadcaster Bill Oddie carried out much of his early birdwatching here, and the reservoir features in his writings.

History

Most of the land occupied by Bartley Green Reservoir originally lay within the parish of Northfield, which was historically part of Worcestershire. When Northfield became part of Birmingham in November 1911, the area was transferred to Warwickshire.

The south-western end of the reservoir extended into the parish of Frankley, which remained in Worcestershire, later Hereford and Worcester. In April 1995, part of Frankley, including the south-western section of Bartley Green Reservoir, was transferred to Birmingham and became part of the West Midlands county.