Preview to Perry Barr

 Ann Leonard sent us lots of information about our selected place, Perry Barr:

Perry Barr is home to the
Birchfield Harriers - The UK's Premier Athletics Club
www.birchfieldharriers.net

More about Perry Barr here:
Perry - History of Birmingham placenames

Perry Barr was the northern half of the ancient parish of Handsworth lying on rising ground north-east of the River Tame; the other half, confusingly also known as Handsworth, lies south-west of the river. The boundaries at the north of the parish was marked by ancient roads: Queslett Road, the Chester Road, College Road to its junction with Kingstanding Road. From there the boundary followed the line of the Roman Icknield Street down to Hockley Brook.

Perry Bridge, popularly known as the Zig-Zag Bridge used to take the Aldridge Road across the River Tame. Built in 1709 this is a four-arched packhorse bridge in red sandstone which crosses the river with a span of 15m and a 50m long embankment which raises the roadway above the flood plain. The Roman river crossing was by a ford, perhaps paved, some 200m east of this bridge at Holford and may have been used as the main crossing until medieval times.

 Thanks Ann!

We will be posting a report of our trip to Perry Barr soon!