Stirchley, West Midlands
844992
218824063
2008-06-12T09:44:35Z
Oosoom
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'''Stirchley''' is a southern area of [[Birmingham]], [[England]]. Close to the districts of [[Kings Heath]], [[Bournville]], [[Selly Oak]], [[Cotteridge]] and [[King's Norton]]. Stirchley is a popular residential area for young professionals and families.
The area is served by [http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/stirchleylibrary Stirchley Library].
==History==
===Bournville Lane Baths===
On [[June 25]], [[1911]], Bournville Lane Baths were opened to the public by King's Norton and Northfield District Council. These were the second baths constructed by the council with the other being located on Tiverton Road, [[Bournbrook]]. Later that year, the baths were taken over by the [[Birmingham Baths Committee]].
The baths contained one swimming pool with a spectators' gallery, private baths for men and women and a small [[steam room]]. In the winter months, the swimming pool was floored over and the room was used as a hall. The private baths service was discontinued after the baths were taken by the City of Birmingham Baths Department shortly after opening.
An unusual feature of the baths was a system of [[aeration]] and [[filtration]] of the water, which was obtained from the council's mains supply and continuously filtered. This was one of the first uses of such a system in swimming baths in the country and it was later introduced and installed in all baths in all local authorities. Swimming baths usually obtained the water from deep [[water well|wells]] constructed beneath the premises.
===Church of Ascension===
The Church of Ascension, the first church in Stirchley, began construction [[1898]] on Hazelwell Street. Construction was completed in [[1901]] and it was consecrated by the [[Bishop of Coventry]] on [[October 30]], 1901. It was designed by W. Hale as a chapel-of-ease to St. Mary's Church in [[Moseley]]. A parish was assigned to it in [[1912]] out of the parishes of St. Mary's, Moseley and St. Nicholas, [[Kings Norton]]. On [[December 1]], [[1927]], a church dedicated to St. Hugh of Lincoln serving the Dads Lane Estate, was opened in Pineapple Grove.
On [[October 29]], [[1965]], the Church of Ascension was destroyed by fire and was demolished. A new church, designed by Romilly Craze, was constructed next to St. Hugh's and was consecrated by the [[Bishop of Birmingham]] on [[July 14]], [[1973]]. Surviving features from the original church, such as some of the [[stained glass]], the [[Stations of the Cross]], the [[altar]] silver, the [[processional cross]]es and the [[vestment]]s, were used in the new church. St. Hugh's closed as a church once the Church of Ascension was completed as the two became one single church. The church building became the church hall for the Church of Ascension. A new vicarage was built on land behind the church in [[1992]].
The Church of Accension is now a large building with an [[octagon]]al main church, and a church hall. There is also a [[chapel]], and a large [[Organ (music)|organ]] on an upper [[balcony]] in the main building.
==References==
*''The City of Birmingham Baths Department 1851 - 1951'', J. Moth, 1951
==External links==
*[http://www.stirchley.co.uk/ Stirchley online]
*[http://www.stirchley.banf.org.uk Stirchley Neighbourhood Forum]
*[http://www.churchoftheascensionstirchley.com/ Church of Ascension in Stirchley]
{{Areas of Birmingham}}
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[[Category:Areas of Birmingham, England]]