Thomas Hall became curate and Headmaster of Kings Norton in 1640,

Was a writer not afraid to express his views on a range of subjects, amongst them women. Thomas Hall was a parliamentarian during the civil war and suffered abuse because of his opinions.
Hall was a ‘plain but fervent’ preacher, and ‘a lover of books and learning’. When the first Birmingham library was established in connection with the Birmingham grammar school he contributed many books, and collected others from his friends. Subsequently he founded a similar library at Kings Norton; the parish at his instance erected a building, and Hall transferred to it all his books for public use. After his ejection by the Uniformity Act (1662) he was reduced to great poverty, but his friends did not allow him to want. He died on 13 April 1665, and was buried at Kings Norton.

Queen Henrietta Maria. Lodged on Kings Norton 10th July 1643

At the time of the Civil War, King’s Norton was a thriving agricultural community. However, it stood in an uneasy position – between Parliamentary Birmingham and Royalist Worcestershire. On the l7th October l642, a Royalist troop under Prince Rupert encountered a Parliamentary troop under Lord Willoughby of Parham at King’s Norton, and a skirmish followed. This is King’s Norton’s only recorded battle.

On the l0th July 1643, Queen Henrietta Maria lodged overnight in the house of her bailiff, It was probably here at Saint Nicolas place that the wife of Charles I, Queen Henrietta Maria, stayed on her way back from Yorkshire where she had gathered troops for the Royalist faction in the English Civil War. The devoutly Catholic Queen arrived at Kings Norton in July 1643 with around 5,500 men and probably spent the night in what is now called the Queen’s Room, while her troops camped on land behind the church. The lane here is still called Camp Lane. Along with her troops was a train of artillery and a long line of baggage wagons. The army encamped round the village, and, whatever their sympathies, the people of King’s Norton must have been glad to see the back of such a multitude – all in need of food and drink.

Queen Henrietta Maria was however, unpopular with many English people and members of Parliament because she assisted English Catholics like the Calverts. The Calverts chose to name their new province in North America, Mary-land, (“Terra Mariae”) in the queen’s honor.

In 1940 Wilbert Awdry took a curacy in St. Nicolas’ Church, Kings Norton, Birmingham where he lived until 1946.

The characters that would make Wilbert Awdry famous, and the first stories featuring them, were invented in 1943 to amuse his son Christopher during a bout of measles. After Wilbert Awdry wrote The Three Railway Engines, he built Christopher a model of Edward, and some wagons and coaches, out of a broomstick and scraps of wood. Christopher also wanted a model of Gordon; however, as that was too difficult Wilbert Awdry made a model of a little 0-6-0 tank engine. Wilbert Awdry said: “The natural name was Thomas – Thomas the Tank Engine”. Then Christopher requested stories about Thomas and these duly followed and were published in the famous book Thomas the Tank Engine, released in 1946.

Alan William Napier-Clavering (January 7, 1903 – August 8, 1988)

Born in Kings Norton. Cousin of Neville Chamberlain (British Prime Minister, 1937-1940).
He was initially reluctant to sign on to play Batman’s butler, Alfred Pennyworth, on “Batman” (1966) until a friend pointed out to him that the show would make him the most famous butler in the world.

Major Ronald Cartland MP In office 14 November 1935 – 30 May 1940

Member of Parliament for Birmingham King’s Norton, Ronald Cartland was the son of Major Bertram Cartland and Mary Hamilton Scobell, and the younger brother of novelist Barbara Cartland.

Harold Roxbee Cox, Baron Kings Norton, Kt, FEng, FIMechE (6 June 1902 – 21 December 1997)

He left Kings Norton Grammar School at the age of 16 and joined the Aircraft Design Department of the Austin Motor Company at Longbridge, which was, at that time, designing and building light aircraft such as the Whippet and Kestrel.

Brian Aherne (May 2, 1902 – February 10, 1986) He was born William Brian de Lacy Aherne in King’s Norton

Mr. Aherne played opposite some of the world`s most glamorous actresses, including Bette Davis, Marlene Dietrich, Helen Hayes and Katharine Hepburn, often playing their impeccably mannered and groomed consort.
He was nominated for an Academy Award for best actor in supporting role for the film Juarez Maxamillian 1st of Mexico.

Allan Nunn May was born on May 2 1911 at Kings Norton

The youngest of the four children of a brass founder. He won scholarships first to King Edward School, Birmingham, and then to Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Allan Nunn May was the British atomic scientist uncovered in 1946 as a Soviet spy, one of the first of the Cold War era.