Traditionally Meriden, around five miles away, was seen as England’s 'central point' - but modern surveys show the actual centre lies in the parish of Curdworth.
And in a second unusual claim to fame, Curdworth is said to be the starting point of the English Civil War.
Battle commenced when Parliamentary troops unsuccessfully tried to head off a Royalist brigade as they marched from Kenilworth Castle to Tamworth Castle. The incident in August 1642 became known as the Battle of Curdworth Bridge.
Curdworth is now a pleasant blend of ancient and modern, and is dominated by its magnificent 800 year old church. Close by are the homes which have been sympathetically developed over the years in keeping with the surroundings.
The 200 year old Birmingham Fazeley Canal runs through the parish and a short walk along the tow path from the village centre leads to a nature reserve.
Residents' pride is evident in the floral displays which have seen Curdworth regularly win accolades in the Warwickshire section of the Britain in Bloom competition; it also became Warwickshire's first official Fairtrade Village earlier in 2008.
In keeping with its rural status, shopping in Curdworth is limited with just a post office and general store. Many activities revolve around the church hall, village hall and two pubs.
Curdworth has its own primary school with a before- and after-school club. The school has room for around 120 pupils and has occupied its current site in Farthing Lane for around 30 years.
There are several major employment sites nearby including the Hams Hall road freight terminal and employment park which is also home to an Environmental Centre with educational facilities.
Despite its rural nature, Curdworth is just nine miles from the centre of Birmingham and five miles from Sutton Coldfield; for commuters, it's close to the M6 toll road and the M42.
Curdworth is a parish of around 1,350 people in the local government borough of North Warwickshire.
The population is stable in numbers and there has been no new development in the village for some time.
This means that property which comes onto the market is highly sought-after; most homes in the village are relatively large and ideal for families to live in.
Transport:
Train: Curdwoth does not have its own train station but nearby towns such as Atherstone offer links to Birmingham New Street. From here, there are connections to all Inter City routes and the Midlands Metro tram network.
Road: Curdworth has excellent road links. The A4097 runs through the village and the M42 motorway and M6 toll road are on the doorstep.
Curdworth’s central position gives easy access to many larger towns and cities including Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield, Tamworth and Lichfield.
Bus: Curdworth has good bus links for a rural parish. Service 115 calls in at the village on a route between Birmingham and Tamworth, and service 757 runs from Sutton Coldfield to Birmingham International Airport.
There are occasional Flexibus routes taking in destinations including Coleshill, Atherstone, Kingsbury and Soilhull.
Air: Both Birmingham and East Midlands Airport are a short drive away.
Eating and Drinking:
Curdworth’s two pubs both have restaurants. The Old School House Hotel in Kingsbury Road offers a conference room and a large garden with space for a marquee to host weddings and other functions.
The well known Belfry Hotel with its extensive hospitality facilities is close by. There are many traditional countryside pubs in both the Warwickshire and Staffordshire countryside.
Curdworth is within a short drive of the towns of Sutton Coldfield, Tamworth and Lichfield and is also close enough to enjoy a night out in Birmingham.
Sports:
The King George VI playing fields at Curdworth have two football pitches which are well used by local teams and two tennis courts used by the village tennis club.
The village's Dunton Stables are popular with people wishing to go pony trekking.
North Warwickshire Borough Council run leisure centres at Atherstone, Arley, Coleshill and Polesworth.
Nearby Sutton Coldfield has several sports clubs including a popular rugby club fielding four men’s teams, a ladies' team and teams for youngsters.
Sutton Coldfield Town FC has a proud record going as far back as 1879. Wyndley Leisure Centre, Sutton Coldfield, has a swimming pool and a 400 metres athletics track.
Tamworth’s Snow Dome, offering indoor skiing on real snow, is close by, and Tamworth Sailing Club is based at Kingsbury Water Park where there is also a Jet Bike Centre.
The surrounding area has several golf clubs including three courses at the four-star Belfry hotel complex.
Curdworth is in easy reach of several Premiership and Football League clubs including Aston Villa, Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion.
Tamworth FC play in the Blue Square North league and Atherstone Town won the Midland Football Alliance league in 2008.
Leisure and Entertainment:
Curdworth is a tight knit community hosting many local events in the church hall, community centre and local pubs.
Some of the nearby towns have good local entertainment facilities such as the Garrick Theatre in Lichfield.
Birmingham city centre has excellent theatres and concert venues, and the National Exhibition Centre, with year round events, is virtually on Curdworth's doorstep.
Thrill seekers can easily visit well known Drayton Manor Park and Zoo, near Tamworth. The park has a good selection of white knuckle rides, and for younger visitors, an area based on Thomas the Tank Engine opened in 2008.
Other attractions close by include Cadbury World at Bournville, and the West Midlands Safari Park at Bewdley.
Parks and Open Spaces:
Apart from the King George VI Playing Fields, Curdworth has no formal parks. However, the village’s position in the beautiful north Warwickshire countryside offers excellent opportunity for countryside walks and bike rides – visitors find it hard to believe that England’s second city is less than 10 miles away.
Kingsbury Water Park, set in 620 acres of countryside, is popular with ramblers, sailors and fishermen. The park is also home to a children’s farm, a play area and a miniature railway.
Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield is the largest urban park in the UK, outside of London.
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