Knowle and Dorridge, West Midlands

06 December 2007

Just a few miles from the hustle and bustle of Solihull’s busy town centre, the distinct and peaceful villages of Knowle and Dorridge can be found - and they are both definitely worth a visit.

Knowle It is known that since the 1200s Knowle was a part of Hampton-in-Arden, due to the community sharing the church situated there. However, many of the villagers found the journey from Knowle to Hampton difficult, especially during the winter months when the Blythe Valley often flooded and conditions were bleak.

This led to Canon Walter Cook ordering for another church to be built in Knowle in 1402, but the area was still classed as being within the Hampton Parish.

Knowle, however, finally broke free from the Hampton Parish in 1850, and became a parish in its own right. Soon after, restoration began to the interior of the ailing church.

Today, many of Knowle Parish Church’s features, including the font, remain original. It is also now home to a number of interesting articles, such as a 15th century wooden screen situated in the east of the nave and an hourglass thought to date from the 17th century, although the pulpit is fairly modern dating back to only 1929.

In 1921, the chapel situated in the north transept of the church became a First World War memorial to soldiers from Knowle who had lost their lives during the conflict. It is now known as the Soldiers’ Chapel.

A circular stone, which is thought to mark the resting place of founder Walter Cook, can be found at the foot of the chance steps.
Situated adjacent to the parish church (and is part of the parish church) stands the Guild of St Anne, also founded by Walter Cook. The Guild, which was built in 1412 for the religious charity of St Anne, now accommodates the Parish office and is also a meeting space set within the heart of the old village community.

Nowadays, the popular village of Knowle has a great deal to offer to its many visitors and close-knit community. It has a surprising number of independent shops, traditional pubs and its abundance of restaurants running along picturesque High Street and Station Street and it quickly becomes clear when visiting Knowle that, despite only being a village, it really does cater for all tastes.

A shopping precinct within St John’s Way includes a home furnishing store, a shoe shop and a number of clothing and charity stores.

Visitors to the village can also enjoy picking up high quality goods from traditional shops such as a green grocers, a butchers and a florist.

Eating out in Knowle is sure to be a memorable experience with its fantastic range of restaurants that offer an array of different cuisines from across the globe including Italian, Chinese and Indian. And of course, not forgetting traditional English pub food - as well as locally produced ciders and ales - served within the number of pubs around the village.

So if you’re looking for somewhere a little different to enjoy an afternoon of shopping, a spot of lunch or an evening meal for a special occasion, then why not take a stroll through the village of Knowle? We think you will be amazed with what you may find!

Dorridge

Smaller than Knowle, the Westminster Abbey Muniments first recorded the village of Dorridge around 1400, when it known as Derrech, meaning ‘clearing in the wood’. But in 1400 it was by no means a village, and it is thought it only became a village a further 450 years later, when in 1852 Knowle station was built.

The trains regularly stopped at the station and it was then, during October 1852, that Dorridge was born. A Mr Muntz of Umberslade Hall then founded the Forest Hotel, opposite the station, so that he could reside there with friends prior to traveling to London and back.

Soon Dorridge village began to develop around the line and 25 years later the population had grown to a sufficient enough size to warrant its own church and St Philip’s was built.

Growth steadily continued and Dorridge united with the edges of both Knowle and Bentley Heath. By 1930, roads and fine houses completed the Dorridge Triangle made up of the three villages.

To find out more information on the area visit www.solihullobserver.co.uk

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