Digbeth, historically the first settled area of Birmingham in the 7th century, is believed to derive its name from "Dyke Path," referring to a ditch or embankment path near the River Rea. It is also suggested to stem from "Duck's Bath" or "Dyke's Bath," reflecting the area's early waterlogged nature, watercourses, and industrial watermills.
The name Digbeth is derived from "dig path". However, Digbeth is also believed to have originally been called 'Duck's bath' in reflection of the water supply in the area. It has also been suggested that it comes from "dragon's breath", referring to air pollution during the industrial revolution.
Digbeth was the first area of Birmingham to be settled in the 7th century. It was a prime location because of the fertility of the land and its proximity to the River Rea ensured a source for drinking water, watering crops and developing industry.
The name probably refers to the rock from which the mineral salt called alum (potassium aluminium sulphate) is extracted and used in the tanning of leather as well as other processes. The area was being referred to as Alom Rock in 1718. This suggests a large quantity of this rock somewhere there.
The "raging bull" was officially given the name of Ozzy, after none other than the former lead singer of Black Sabbath, who grew up in Birmingham. Unveiled by Ozzy Osbourne's wife Sharon and sister Jean, Ozzy the Bull stands towering above passengers at Birmingham New Street Station, a new beloved icon of the city.
The oldest city in the UK is widely considered to be Colchester, in Essex, recognized as Britain's oldest recorded town and former Roman capital, officially gaining city status in 2022, though with continuous occupation and Roman origins dating back centuries before that. Its claim stems from being the first Roman colony, Camulodunum, mentioned in ancient texts (around 43 AD) and as a significant Iron Age center.
Birmingham isn't called "the black," but the nearby Black Country (an industrial area to its north) earned its name from the pervasive black soot from heavy industry and coal mining during the Industrial Revolution, making the landscape appear black by day and red by night from glowing furnaces. The area's rich, shallow coal seams, which came to the surface, also contributed to the dark soil, cementing the name, popularized by American Consul Elihu Burritt in the 1860s, notes The House of Commons Library and this BBC article.
Digbeth has always been recognised as one of the most exciting places to live in Birmingham – a reputation built on a thriving nightlife, vibrant art galleries, quirky independent shops and creative businesses that always push the boundary.
Why is there so much graffiti in Digbeth, Birmingham?
He says the innately urban nature of Digbeth has helped make it such a hub for artists. "Because it is quite a gritty sort of place, it fits really well, it really frames the artwork," he says. "There are businesses around here that love it, [some] businesses hate it, which is fair enough.
ETHNICITY: The Birmingham population is split 51.4% (588,314) 89Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (overall)= and 48.6% (556,608) <White (overall)= in 2021, compared to 42.1% (451,409) 89Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (overall)= and 57.9% (621,636) <White (overall)= in 2011.
Harborne has appeared with several variations throughout the centuries and the origin of its name has often been disputed. Probable suggestions include "boundary brook", "high brow" and "dirty brook". Prior to the Victorian period Harborne was a small country village in a remote part of Staffordshire.
Annual total crime rate in your local area is 1765 crimes per thousand resident population. This can be rated as 10 out of 10 or high crime level compared to other local areas in England and Wales.
With just 400 residents, Fordwich, near Canterbury, is smaller than most villages. But as Sara Thornton discovers in the latest of BBC South East's On The Map series - it's a town. It's actually Britain's smallest town, but it's history is no less rich because of that.
Colchester is Britain's first Roman city, with a 2000 year heritage. Pliny the Elder immortalised Camulodunum, Roman Colchester, as Britain's first recorded settlement and later Britain's first city and capital.
Considered by many archaeologists to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, Jericho boasts settlements dating back 11,000 years. Located in the Jordan Valley, it is a place of extraordinary historical and religious importance.
The name allegedly came from a chant of "Zulu, Zulu" which Manchester City fans aimed at Birmingham in 1982, due to their multicultural following. However, both the "Zulu" chant and the term "Zulu Warriors", in the context of a fan following rather than as an organised gang, were in use from at least the mid 1970s.
Which city of England is known as the Black Country?
Today the term commonly refers to the majority of the four metropolitan boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton although it is said that "no two Black Country men or women will agree on where it starts or ends".
Birmingham's oldest pub is The Old Crown, located in Digbeth, with origins dating back to 1368 as a guildhall before becoming an inn, making it the city's oldest surviving secular building, famous for its timber-framed structure and rich history, including a rumored visit from Queen Elizabeth I.
A typical court of back-to-back houses in Ladywood, which Canon Norman Power said was left standing for years after the heart of the district was cleared. In just 25 years, 50,000 homes were demolished and 150,000 people were displaced.
