Moseley

Moseley is a suburb of Birmingham, located to the south of the city centre. This is a lively and cosmopolitan area; for many local residents it remains the most interesting suburb in the city.

Moseley has developed around a fine Victorian shopping area known as Moseley Village. The area has a fascinating history. Over the last couple of years Moseley has received a great deal of national, and international, interest as J. R. R. Tolkien spent much of his early years in here, living close to Sarehole Mill[?] which many people feel was the inspiration for The Shire in The Lord of the Rings.

While the area suffered a serious decline in the last part of the 20th century it is now an area of renewed confidence. Moseley Village is now home to a range of interesting shops (see Moseley Traders Association[?]) and a monthly farmers' market which is organised by the Moseley Neighbourhood Forum.

Moseley has a very well-defined and established community spirit and ethos. You can get a feel for the Moseley community by having a look at the Moseley-Free discussion group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/moseley_free/

The Moseley Society[?] exists to protect the heritage of the area; meetings of the society discuss and debate an amazingly wide range of issue which relate to the area and the interests of its citizens.

The Moseley Community Development Trust[?] (CDT) is a new venture which is looking to invest in the social and physical capital of the area. Established with funding from charitable trust funds and with the support of the Moseley Ward Committee, the CDT is now managing a series of initiatives which are having a positive effect on the environment of Moseley.

Moseley is rapidly becoming a leisure-focussed suburb, home to a number of good pubs, restaurants and cafés. A visit to Moseley would not be complete without a visit to one of following local businesses.

The Lime and Chili House[?], probably Moseley's leading independent restaurant - very informal and a very popular place for good quality and reasonably priced food.

The Prince of Wales[?], something of a legend in the Midlands of the UK. The Prince of Wales is one traditional English pub which has steadfastly resisted the new fashions of pubs in the UK. This pub has survived wikthout modernisation simply because its normal customer base is so lively and so loyal.

The Cross[?] wine bar and café is a lively meeting place for Moseley's cosmopolitan community. Set on a wide pavement, The Cross is the Moseley's pavement café.

MAC or the Midlands Arts Centre[?], one of the most interesting, lively and diverse Art Centres in the UK. Set in the superb setting of Cannon Hill Park, on perched on the side of the Park's main lake, MAC features theatre, cinema, arts education workshops and classes, gallery space and much more. It also features a great bar and a café.