Saracen's Head, Kings Norton
(1492-present)

King's Norton Green The green has been a public centre of King's Norton for at least 500 years. During most of that time the Manor of King's Norton, extending from Rednal to Balsall Heath, was the property of the King. The 15th century "Saracen's Head" (next to the churchyard) was once the house of the bailiff, who was responsible for administrating justice in the Manor. During the Civil War Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I, spent a night at the house on her journey from Yorkshire to gather troops and rejoin the King at Oxford. The Green has been used for centuries for meetings, fairs and markets, and although the area of King's Norton Parish is much smaller than in the Middle Ages the number of people coming through to The Green is vastly greater so please treat it with care.

King's Norton Green, Birmingham, United Kingdom where it sited

The Saracen's Head This Tudor building was erected in 1492 by a wool merchant, Humphrey Rotsey. Later in 1775 an inn known as The Saracen's Head was opened on the site. This closed in 1930 and the buildings were given to the church for use as a community facility. In 2004 The Saracen's Head and the nearby Old Grammar School won the BBC TV Restoration programme competition. After further fund-raising both buildings were restored in 2008 and the whole historic site was given the name St Nicolas Place.

St Nicolas Place - 81 The Green, Kings Norton, Birmingham, United Kingdom where it sited (1492)