Route developed by: John Talbot
Starting from Triplex House, Eckersall Road, Kings Norton, Birmingham, B38 8SR
[1] Leave Triplex House (A) and walk to the end of Eckersall Road. Cross at the bollards with care and turn right along Westhill Road. After you reach the bridge, with green railings, turn left into Kings Norton Park by the sign ‘Rea Valley route Stirchley’.
Kings Norton Park is quite small on the scale of Birmingham Parks. It is well presented and provides an excellent back drop to the church and the village green, adding emphasis to the feeling that Kings Norton resembles a village amidst the city.
[2] Walk past the children’s playground on the right. Leave the avenue by the right-hand path. When the path forks, take the turning to your left slightly downhill. Continuing past the skateboard park, exit onto Pershore Road South and cross via the pedestrian crossing to go into Kings Norton Playing Fields, a habitat for magpies and jays.
[3] On reaching the end of the car park, bear right behind the metal football changing rooms, and follow the possibly slippery path around to the right. Continue over the bridge to Kings Norton Baptist Church (B) at Wharf Road. This chapel was founded in 1847, at a time when baptisms took place in the canal nearby.
[4] Turn left, arriving shortly at the canal bridge, Turn left on a rough path the Worcester and Birmingham Canal (C) at the plaque `Canal Sidewalk Parsons Hill 1993`. Walk straight ahead on the canal path and on reaching Bridge no 72, take the path on the left back into the park at the sign ‘Kings Norton Cycle Route 5’. The path can be a little muddy if it has been raining. Note mallards and distances marked on signposts.
[5] Cross the wooden bridge over the River Rea (D). This river starts in the Waseley Hills and runs through Kings Norton and Canon Hill Park, before joining the River Tame at Spaghetti Junction. Keep heading along the rough path, which has a church steeple in the distance, until you return back onto Pershore Road South.
[6] Using the pedestrian crossing, cross and take the pavement to the left, passing KN Shop fitters on the left hand side. Immediately after St Nicholas Church (E) turn right into Back Road.
This church was built in the 13th Century and is famous for its very tall spire that can be seen for miles.
[7] When you get as far as the lych-gate, turn left into The Green.
You will see on your right the Bull’s Head pub and the Tudor Merchant’s House, previously known as The Saracens Head, which is a wonderful old building with timbers that date back 500 years. Built in 1492 as a wool merchant’s house, it became an inn and now houses the parish offices and a tearoom (open Mon to Sat 10am - 4pm). Upstairs is the 'Queens Room', named in honour of Henrietta Maria who stayed here whilst taking reinforcements to Charles I during the Civil War - the troops camped by the River Rea near Camp Lane. The Queen used a maid as a messenger between herself and the troops but the maid died of influenza. Her ghost has been seen on the first floor. The building is now part of St Nicholas Place which includes the church and Old Grammar School. This was in use as a school by the 1540s. A plaque above the door recalls Thomas Hall, the puritanical schoolmaster who wrote leaflets on 'the loathsomeness of long hair' and 'the exorbitances of women'. Both the Old School and Saracen's Head have been rescued from decay after winning the BBC 'Restoration 2004' competition.
[8] Continue along in the same direction, keeping the Bull’s Head on your right; pass shops, including a post-office. When the road bends right, the pavement rises steeply above road level: continue along it. On reaching Kingsway Drive, cross back again and climb with care the flight of steps to re-enter King’s Norton Park.
[9] Follow the path onto the avenue and then take the path on your left heading towards the children’s playground and the large mound. Continue until you reach Westhill Road, turn right and then cross over at the pedestrian crossing by the Camp Pub. Turn left into Eckersall Road to head back to Triplex House.