Sparkhill

Sparkhill is an inner-city area of Birmingham, England, situated between Springfield, Hall Green and Sparkbrook.

Historically part of Worcestershire, Sparkhill once existed as a rural area with its main industry being agriculture until the 1880s.

The watercourse can be traced almost entirely along its length from source to where it joins the River Tame, although most of its tributaries are now culverted, and is a popular route for leisure walkers and cyclists.

The only part where it cannot easily be followed is a short tunnel where it passes under the Grand Union Canal, very close to the old BSA motorcycle factory near Golden Hillock Road.

Most of the route is accessible through Ackers Trust artificial ski slope and sports centre, which was built on BSA's old test track.

In the 1850s, a small area of land was bought by a building society and sold to separate developers who built houses for the working class.

In the late 1860s, developments appeared all over Sparkhill with the creation of long, straight streets forming a uniform pattern.

The building was converted into a Balti restaurant in the late 20th century; however, it was severely damaged by numerous fires in the 2000s decade.