Burntwood is a former mining area despite its rural setting amid some of Staffordshire's most lovely countryside. It is situated in the Cannock Chase area around four miles west of Lichfield, and has a population of around 26,000.
Burntwood really took off with the growth of the coal mining industry in the 19th century, with further development taking place in the 1950s and '60s when many people moved from Birmingham and the Black Country to settle in South Staffordshire.
It has an unusual claim to fame – it is home to the UK's smallest park, Prince's Park, which was created in 1863 to honour the marriage of Prince Albert, who later became King Edward VII, to Princess Alexandra of Denmark.
The town has a rich historical past - and it's also set to have a bright future, if plans by Lichfield District Council for a new centre come to fruition.
The council’s vision is that "by 2021, Burntwood will be a sustainable town with a high quality, greener environment and improved shopping and leisure facilities".
Work is already underway on environmental improvements to residential enclaves and the shopping area including new paving, street furniture, lighting and traffic management, and the enhancement of local parks, open spaces and amenities.
Burntwood has also benefited from the building of a by-pass costing £6 million which has helped to take through traffic out of the town centre, creating a more pleasant, less polluted environment for local people.
The work had to be carried out sensitively as the by-pass runs very close to Chasewater which, as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, is home to many rare plants, insects and birds.
Burntwood is divided into several distinct areas. These include Chase Terrace, a former mining village with its own high school, library, shopping centre and market.
Nearby Chasetown is best known for Chasewater, and other areas include Burntwood Green, Gorstey Lea and Boney Hay.
With an economy previously based on mining, Burntwood has a high number of older terraced style homes. Many have been updated in recent times and offer ideal accommodation for couples or growing families.
There are also many attractive new developments, such as The Knoll at Chase Road, which is a mix of family houses and smaller mews properties. New homes have also been built at the former Hammerwich Hospital site.
Burntwood benefits from its location close to the popular cathedral town of Lichfield and most of its homes are within very easy reach of the beautiful south Staffordshire countryside.
Transport:
Train: Easy access to Lichfield City and Lichfield Trent Valley stations provides direct links to London and the North West via the West Coast main line.
Trains from Lichfield into the heart of Birmingham take just over 40 minutes making the area ideal for commuters hoping to combine jobs in a big city with life in the countryside.
Road: Burntwood is ideally situated at the heart of England’s motorway network. The M6 and M6 toll are a ten minute drive away.
Bus: There are regular Arriva Midland North services to nearby towns including Lichfield, providing a link to national rail services for non-car users.
Air: Birmingham Airport is close by and can be accessed by train via Lichfield Trent Valley. East Midlands Airport is also easily accessible by car.
Eating and Drinking:
Many of the local pubs serve food including the historic Nags Head, which was reopened in autumn 2007 following a major refit.
The pub dates back to the 16th century and lays claim to being a regular haunt of Dr Samuel Johnson, who created the first English dictionary; part of the famous work is even said to have been written in the pub’s library.
Burntwood is surrounded by beautiful countryside and there are many country pubs and restaurants to enjoy, and nearby Lichfield also offers a good variety of food and drink options.
Sports:
Burntwood Leisure Centre boasts excellent facilities including a swimming pool, fitness suite, outdoor sports courts and a crèche, with football, tennis, squash and badminton being a few of the sports on offer.
Burntwood Rugby Club has a strong playing and social section and is based at Northshore in Chasewater.
There is a thriving local football scene which has teams for all age groups, and Burntwood is an ideal base for supporters of professional football with several Premiership and Championship clubs in easy reach of the town.
Nearby golf courses include Lichfield Golf and Country Club, Beau Desert near Hazel Slade, Cannock Park Golf Club and Whittington Heath Golf Club.
Hammerwich Cricket Club play in the Staffordshire leagues and has teams for juniors and seniors and good coaching facilities.
Nearby Lichfield has a well-known Rugby Club with top class facilities, and Tamworth, also close by, has one of the country’s only indoor ski centres with 'real snow'.
Leisure and Entertainment:
A diverse festival, known as Burntwood Wakes, is held each year at the town’s rugby club.
The wakes celebration dates back to 1865 and the current festival features a range of entertainment to suit the whole family from circus acts, dance troupes, crafts, fairground rides and music for all ages and tastes.
Lichfield has the well regarded Garrick Theatre and hosts a large, well supported, arts festival each summer.
Top class theatres and concert venues such as the National Indoor Arena are not far away in Birmingham, while Wolverhampton has well known concert venues, The Civic and Wulfrun Halls.
The National Exhibition Centre with year round events from the world famous Crufts to top rock and pop acts is virtually on the doorstep.
Parks and Open Spaces:
Chasewater is popular with both watersports enthusiasts and walkers. It is a reservoir formed in 1796 and there is an adjacent smaller pool known as Jeffrey’s Swag.
The Chasewater railway is around two miles in length and rail enthusiasts run diesel and steam trains along it.
Nearby Cannock Chase is a large area of heathland designated as an Area of Outstanding National Beauty, and it is home to around 800 fallow deer.
Shugborough Hall, the ancestral home of the Earls of Lichfield, stands at the northern end of Cannock Chase and is open to the public during selected months.
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