Nowadays it is an outer suburb of Birmingham but until 1911 Northfield was a separate village and part of Worcestershire. There have been people living in the area since the Stone Age and later during the Roman occupation. Northfield itself was originally a Saxon settlement and was mentioned (as Nordfield) in the Domesday Book. St Laurence's church dates from the 12th century, the oldest surviving parts of the church being from about 1170.
Northfield was on the main road between Birmingham and Worcester which was later turnpiked. Northfield was a stop on the Bristol Road stage coach route. Apart from farming, nail making was a major industry in the village until the 19th century. In 1870 the railway station was opened and the village benefited from local employment opportunities including the Austin works in nearby Longbridge. However, as Birmingham expanded Northfield ceased being a largely rural village in north Worcestershire and became part of the city in the early 20th century.
