VISITORS are in for a treat as Knowle gears up to celebrate 750 years of the villages history.
On Sunday, (June 21) the High Street closes to traffic from 11am until 5pm as the village comes alive to attend the free celebration event.
The day gets under way with a special family service at Knowle Parish Church at 10.30am, while the High Street event opens at 11am.
Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands Christopher Loughran will open the ceremony at 11.25am, alongside High Sheriff of the West Midlands Carmen Watson, and Mayor of Solihull Sardul Marwa MBE.
At 12.15pm, the dignitaries will officially reopen Knowle Library following its major roof refurbishment.
Performing on the main stage uptown by the Red Lion is Allure School of Dance, Knowle Musical Society, The Knowle Revels Drama Group, George Wilson, Shed Men Walking and The Definitive.
Downtown, Chipsum Gravy and Alcohol Licks perform outside Solihull Music School opposite the precinct, with Solihull Music School themselves performing at Monica’s Bakes during the afternoon.
Amy Price performs at The Vaults, and the day closes with a grand finale on the uptown stage.
The community zone brings together some of Knowle’s best-loved local organisations – from Knowle and Dorriage Lions and their ever-popular Ball in a Bog game, to the Royal Air Force Association.
The Knowle Society’s special 750 exhibition runs all day in the Heritage Centre at Knowle Library, with 4,000 digitised photographs to explore and knowledgeable volunteers on hand.
Families can take part in a 750 eye-spy quest along the High Street, and heritage trail leaflets – A Walk Through Time – are free to pick up on the day.
There will also be a grand unveiling of a new heritage board and new seating in the library courtyard, both donated by the Knowle Society.
As well as the official re-opening of the library at, there will also be the announcement of the name for the owl and the handing over the prize to the winner, children’s activities including design a Knowle coat of arms and making a jester crown; a mini picture hunt in the children’s library and help in researching your family tree from 1pm until 5pm.
The artisan market brings independent makers and producers from across the region to the High Street – fine jewellery, original artwork, handcrafted goods, artisan products and more.
Street food traders will offer savoury and sweet food whilst Eric Lyons will serving outside their shop and both Bistro Viola and Loki Wine Bar have barbecues.
Dozens of local businesses are opening especially for the day – including Caroline Creba Fine Jewellery, Cristal Boutique, Decadence, Knowle Traditional Sweet Shop, Slow Century Records, Temptations, Perspectives, Pets World and Marie Curie among others.
The pubs are going back in time with a ‘Knowle Through the Decades’ theme – 1920s Peaky Blinders at The Ale Rooms, 1940’s wartime at The Vaults, and the 1970s at the Red Lion.
Why 750 Years
Knowle’s story stretches back long before 1276 – there is evidence of a settlement here as early as 1068 but it was in 1276 year that the village first became a manor in its own right,
Before 1276, Cnolle (as it was known in Saxon times) was part of the manor of Hampton-in-Arden, owned by the de Arden family.
In 1276 on the death of the grandson of William de Arden Knowle lacked an appropriate heir and the Manor passed to the Crown in April 1276.
But in July 1276 the Manor was assigned to his widow Agnes by dower for life, making Knowle a Manor for the first time.
Knowle became a Royal Manor when Agnes died. Her daughter Amice, wife of Sir John Le Lou sold the manor to King Edward 1 and Queen Eleanor, his consort.
