Selly Oak is a suburb lying approximately 4 miles to the southwest of Birmingham city centre. Due to its proximity to the University of Birmingham, the area is a popular place for students to live. The population in 2001 was 25,792.
The History of Selly Oak
There is evidence of dwellings in what is today Selly Oak going back to prehistoric times, and later there was a Roman fort based there. It is listed in the Doomsday Book of 1086 as Escelie, the Oak element not added until much later. The oak tree stood at the junction of Oak Tree Lane and Bristol Road but was felled in 1909.
In the final years of the 18th century, Selly Oak became a prominent place for its lime kilns, and the industrialisation of the area continued over the next century and more, the railway and canals further adding to the area’s industrial importance.
Transport Links
Selly Oak has its own train station, (Selly Oak) which is on the Cross-City Line, with trains running direct to Birmingham New Street and Redditch. The A4040 and A38 arterial roads dissect the area leading to Birmingham in the northeast, and Bromsgrove and the M5 and M42 motorways to the southeast.
The area is served by the 10S, 11A, 11C, 20, 38, 46, 48, 61, 63, 76, 144, 882, 883 and X21 bus routes.
Schools
Selly Oak is well represented in terms of schools, and there are several in the area, including:
Cherry Oak School
St Mary’s CofE Primary School
St Mary’s CofE Junior and Infant School
Selly Oak Trust School
Tiverton Junior and Infant School
Water Mill Primary School
Amenities
Selly Oak has a good selection of amenities, with pharmacies, a large Sainsburys and Aldi, its own shopping centre, retail park and a library. There are also numerous pubs, restaurants and eateries serving cuisine from all over the globe.
Things to do in and around Selly Oak
The area is flanked by Selly Park to the east and Selly Oak Park to the west, both providing tranquil green spaces for residents. Selly Manor Museum and the Bournville Experience are just to the south, while to the north you will find Lapworth Museum of Geology with its fascinating dinosaur skeletons and Winterbourne House and Garden.