Map sources for Berkswell at grid reference SP246790

Berkswell is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, county of West Midlands, England. It is in the east of the borough, and borders Coventry, and is about 7 miles west of Coventry city centre. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 2,843. Image File history File links Dot4gb. ... Image File history File links Gb4dot. ... The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... A civil parish (usually just parish) in England is a subnational entity forming the lowest unit of local government, lower than districts or counties. ... The Metropolitan Borough of Solihull is a metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. ... The County of West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England, the United Kingdom, formed in 1974. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2005 est. ... The Precinct in Coventry city centre. ...

Church of St. John Baptist, with its unusual wooden porch.

The civil parish includes a number of hamlets apart from Berkswell village itself. Berkswell railway station serves the village, but is actually closer to Balsall Common than to Berkswell village. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 717 KB) Church of St. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 717 KB) Church of St. ... Berkswell Station is a local railway stop in the United Kingdom. ... Balsall Common is a moderately-sized village in the borough of Solihull, nestling between the cities of Coventry and Birmingham in the West Midlands. ...

Berkswell took its name from a 16-feet deep, stone-walled well just outside the churchyard of the 12th century Church of St John the Baptist. It is said to have been used for baptisms by immersion and can still be seen today. The village has a green and the stocks (now fenced off) were used for punishing offenders. It is claimed that these were especially built for a one legged ex soldier and his two drinking companions as there are only five leg holes. The Bear Inn dates from the 16th century. The local history society run a small museum in a 17th century cottage near the church. On Windmill Lane is the protected and restored Berkswell Windmill, a fine example of a tower mill with its original machinery. There are several 16th and 17th century houses.

Local Features include Marsh Lane Nature Reserve.

There is also a small Church of England primary school located close to the Church on Church Lane.

Famous People from Berkswell include the Actor Jeremy Brett, famous for his role as Sherlock Holmes, Tennis Player Maud Watson - the first Ladies Singles Champion at Wimbledon and Bob Wyatt(R.E.S.), England Cricket Captain for a number of years from 1934. Jeremy Brett in the role of Sherlock Holmes. ... Maud Watson (born 1865, date of death unknown) was an English tennis player. ... Robert Bob Elliott Storey Wyatt (2 May 1901, Milford Heath House, Surrey, England _ 20 April 1995, Truro, Cornwall) was an English cricket player. ...

External links

• The website of the Church, which also includes information of the village itself
• The website of the local history group
• Marsh Lane Nature Reseerve