Kings Norton is an area in the south of Birmingham, originally in Worcestershire.
There has been human settlements in the area since at least Roman times. Kings Norton itself has Saxon origins and was the northern most manor of Bromsgrove. The name comes from the Old English Nor Tun or northern settlement. The manor was held by Earl Edwin at the time of the Norman Conquest. After Edwin revolted against William his lands, including Kings Norton, were taken from him and held by the King.
King James granted Kings Norton a market charter in 1616. A mop fair for people looking for work was also held every year in October. Kings Norton expanded in the 18th and 19th centuries thanks to new transport links including the Worcester & Birmingham and Stratford Canals. Kings Norton also gained a railway station in 1849.
Kings Norton became part of Birmingham in 1911 and has continued to develop and urbanise. Kings Norton continues to have a number of buildings which survive from it's time as a separate market town. The oldest is the church of St Nicolas which dates from the 13th century.
