Dorridge

Dorridge is a sub-town in the West Midlands borough of Solihull.

History

Dorridge did not exist as a community until the mid-nineteenth century. It was just the name given to the ridge of land running westwards from Knowle. In 1852 the railway was built. The station which was originally called Knowle, (and later Knowle and Dorridge), created the focal point for a new community.

The development of Dorridge is strongly linked to the Muntz family, who lived in nearby Umberslade Hall. The family built the Forest Hotel as a stop-over for themselves and guests on the journey to London.

There was a substantial development in the 1960's around the area christened by estate agents as the "Golden Triangle" - alluding to the expensive and desirable housing of the area bounded by Dorridge Road, Avenue Road and Knowle Wood Road. In the late 1990's another substantial development was built in the area known as Four Ashes.

Dorridge Today

The station again fulfills an important role providing easy travel to London and Birmingham, for Dorridge and for numerous local villages such as Knowle, which do not have a train station, with Chiltern Railways having created an inter-city route out of the run-down remnants of what had become primarily a goods line.

Dorridge is neither urban nor a village. However, it sits right next to the Warwickshire countryside, with green fields being a short walk from the town centre.

It has a small shopping centre, a village hall, at least three churches and also an excellent primary school. It has a substantial park boardering the countryside. The property prices around Dorridge are amongst the highest in the West Midlands region, in part driven by the perception of desirability of the local state schools, the easy access to the main motorway system and the Airport, as well as the train links mentioned earlier.

There are a number of notable residents who live here or very nearby, Jasper Carrott, Sir Adrian Cadbury, Karen Brady Managing Director of Birmingham City F.C, Steve Bruce, manager of Birmingham City F.C., along with a number of other Premiership Football notables.

Dorridge is part of the Meridian constituency, MP Caroline Spelman. Dorridge is regarded as a conservative stronghold.

External Links

Dorridge and District Residents Associaiton