It could be considered a slice of Americana right here in the city of Birmingham. A first world war housing estate with a unique aesthetic not often seen here in Blighty. I went along to find out a bit more about the history of this marvel just south of the city centre.
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00:00 The village was originally built during the First World War for the Munitions Ladies as temporary accommodation for them.
00:08 And now it has been here for 107 years and people are still living here.
00:14 They live here because it's a community and they like it here.
00:18 It's generally quiet. We have trees. It's very green.
00:22 And it's just a friendly place to be in.
00:26 Nestled between Lungbridge and Northfield, just to the south of Birmingham city centre, lies the charming Austin Village.
00:34 A unique model village conceived by automobile magnate Herbert Austin in response to the pressures of the First World War.
00:43 Now 80% of all munitions workers during that time throughout the country were women. 80% of them.
00:52 So they were having to travel from home to work and that.
00:57 He put on extra coaches and trains to bring the people in.
01:01 But unfortunately many of the women were working backwards and forwards from home, 4 or 5 miles every day.
01:08 So he decided that he really ought to build his own little village for accommodation for them.
01:14 Adorning the streets of Austin Village are these red cedarwood pre-fabricated bungalows imported from Vice City in Michigan.
01:22 Offering an aesthetic to the area reminiscent of many American neighbourhoods.
01:27 To this day, great efforts are made to keep this quality preserved as a testament to the role this area played in the history of the city.
01:37 We are now part of Birmingham Heritage Forum and that means that we have open weeks during September.
01:46 And I have been taking people around the village on a tour, talking about a bit more detail than what is here now.
01:55 And showing them the places where the churches were, where the school was and other things that are involved in the Austin Village as it was and as it is now.
02:07 Everybody seems to be very interested and unaware of what Herbert Austin did.
02:14 We sometimes get very overshadowed by Cadburys just up the road.
02:19 But you know, that's life. And in a way we like to remain a little bit quiet on our own down here.
02:27 Aside from its history in the Great War, it is also home to what's rumoured to be Britain's first dual carriageway.
02:34 As well as this stunning tree which was first recorded in the Doomsday Book.
02:39 To this day, it is home to many residents who take pride in its legacy and a sense of community.
02:47 It's a very close-knit area and it is a very nice area to live in.
02:53 There's a lot of upkeep, especially in the bungalows.
02:57 But the majority of people really love them and I really enjoy living here.