Burntwood


Burntwood is a former mining town and civil parish, it is now a suburban town of the Lichfield District in Staffordshire, England, approximately west of Lichfield and north east of Brownhills. The town had a population of 43,623 at the time of the 2020 census and forms part of Lichfield district. The town forms one of the largest urbanised parishes in England. Samuel Johnson opened an academy in nearby Edial in 1736. The town is home to the smallest park in the UK, Prince's Park, which is located next to Christ Church on the junction of Farewell Lane and Church Road. The town expanded in the nineteenth century around the coal mining industry.
Areas of Burntwood are Boney Hay, Chase Terrace, Chasetown, Gorstey Lea and Burntwood Green. Nearby places are Brownhills, Cannock, Cannock Wood, Norton Canes, Gentleshaw, Pipehill, Muckley Corner, Hammerwich and Lichfield.
In July 2009 a Burntwood man, Terry Herbert, discovered a hoard of Saxon treasure with a metal detector in a field in the adjoining village of Hammerwich. Known as the Staffordshire Hoard, it is the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold yet found.

Transport

Burntwood along with Chasetown has good bus connections to Cannock, Rugeley and Lichfield operated by Arriva Midlands and Travel West Midlands. There are also regular connections to the West Midlands areas of Walsall and Brownhills operated by National Express West Midlands bus route 10A. A morning peak service to Birmingham also runs for commuters.
Today, the nearest railway stations are Lichfield, Hednesford and Cannock. Of which, Lichfield is the closest.
Burntwood was served by the South Staffordshire Line which had a station in Hammerwich. There was many mineral lines in Burntwood which connected to Chasewater collieries. As well as Angelsea Sidings. There is a heritage railway called the Chasewater Railway which is nearby with stops at Chasetown and Chasewater Heaths. In 2015, Lichfield District Council released a transport plan for Burntwood mentioning that if the line reopens to passenger services. There could be a chance of a new station to serve the town.

Education

Nursery schools

Both high schools fell victim to arson attacks in 2002. Most of Chase Terrace Technology College was destroyed in August 2002. While Chasetown Specialist Sports College lost its gym facility in December 2002. Both buildings have been rebuilt and refurbished.

Special education