The history of Batchley Pool and Brockhill Park

A network of farms or granges was established providing income from rents and sheep farming and grew to the eighth wealthiest Abbeys in the country. Sometime in this period it is rumored that Batchley Brook which ran down from Tardebigge, south of the Abbey site to the Arrow picked up a reddish tint from the iron content of the clay soil and so was often called the red  ditch. Soon the name stuck and Redditch at last got a name.

The Bordesley Abbey was a large landowner in times gone by and the area where Batchley and Brockhill are today farmland. It was back when the Abbey was at its peak it is believed that Batchley Brook ran from Tardibigge to the river arrow South of the Abbey.

The Batchley Brook picked up a reddish tint from the high iron content of the local clay and became referred to as the Red Ditch. Hence the name stuck and the town became known as Redditch.

Batchley as an estate started development during the inter war period, 1919-1939. and accelerated in the post-World War 2 period during the 1950’.

Further development of the Batchley ward took place through the New Town development in the 1960’s.

The pond in Batchley appears on maps around the early period of this development