Ladywood is an inner-city district next to central Birmingham. Historically in Warwickshire, in June 2004, Birmingham City Council conducted a citywide "Ward Boundary Revision" to round-up the 39 Birmingham wards to 40. As a result of this, Ladywood Ward's boundaries were expanded to include the neighbouring areas of Hockley, Lee Bank and Birmingham city centre.

History

Between the 19th century and the middle of the 20th century, Ladywood was a very impoverished and deprived area. This was at it worst between 1860 and 1900, where disease, early death, and infant mortality were common. In the 1960s and 1970s, flats with better conditions were built by Birmingham City Council, but many were destroyed by the year 2000. During the same time, the government tried to end the "slums" of the area.

Housing and land use

thumb|left|Tower blocks in the working-class area of Ladywood, 2014

The Ladywood ward combines areas of varying land-use, such that no generalisation is possible. There is the city centre (the economically valuable Central business district), the affluent Jewellery Quarter, and Broad Street areas which have become fashionable for "luxury flat" living, the Lee Bank area (now known as Park Central) which has been fully redeveloped, and there is the remainder of the ward, which is Ladywood itself (here referred to as "remainder Ladywood" – i.e., what is Ladywood itself) which is relatively economically impoverished.

Most of "remainder Ladywood" was redeveloped during the 1960s, with decaying terraced slums being cleared to make way for new low-rise housing and high-rise flats. Although the newer homes were an improvement on their predecessors in terms of quality and sanitation, social problems became prevalent in much of the local area including car crime, drug dealing, anti-social behaviour and many of the other problems commonly associated with inner city areas across England.

More than 20 multi-storey blocks of council flats were built around Ladywood during the 1960s and 1970s; however, six of them were demolished in the early 2000s.

More recently there has been investment in physical improvements to the area. Some tower blocks have been either demolished or improved, not least with introduction of concierge or CCTV security systems. These and other such measures may have resulted in a reduction of antisocial behaviour.

The area is served by 5 libraries; Spring Hill Library and Ladywood Library.

Politics

The ward is currently represented by two Labour councillors at the Birmingham City Council: Sir Albert Bore and Kath Hartley.

Ladywood Ward has adopted a "Committee Manager" and an "Interim Neighbourhood Manager". These are Kay Thomas and Sandra Lawrence respectively.

Notable residents

  • Walter Herbert Allcott (1889-1951), painter, born in Ladywood.
  • Washington Irving (1783–1859), American writer. Inspired to write while living with family in Birmingham.
  • Alfred Joseph Knight (1888–1960), World War I Victoria Cross recipient.
  • J.R.R. Tolkien (1892–1973), author and academic lived in an area of Edgbaston now taken over by the extension of the Ladywood Ward boundaries.
  • Dorian Yates (b. 1962), IFBB Professional Bodybuilder and 6 x Mr. Olympia.

See also

  • St John's Church, Ladywood

References

  • Birmingham City Council: Ladywood Constituency
  • Birmingham City Council: Ladywood Ward
  • Ladywood Community Network pages
  • Digital Ladywood – On-line local history project
  • Park Central Development – Ladywood