# Barr Beacon > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Barr_Beacon > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Barr_Beacon.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barr_Beacon > Source revision: 1355617687 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Hill in Walsall, West Midlands, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Barr Beacon | image = Barr Beacon Hill Monument.JPG | image_caption = Barr Beacon War Memorial in February 2009 | elevation_m = 236 | elevation_ref = | prominence = | listing = | location = [West Midlands](/source/West_Midlands_(county)), [England](/source/England) | range = | coordinates = {{coord|52.5736|-1.9107|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | grid_ref_UK = SP060973 | topo = [OS](/source/Ordnance_Survey) ''Landranger'' 139 | type = | age = }} '''Barr Beacon''' is a [hill](/source/hill) on the edge of [Walsall](/source/Walsall), [West Midlands](/source/West_Midlands_(county)), [England](/source/England), very near the border with [Birmingham](/source/Birmingham). It gives its name to nearby [Great Barr](/source/Great_Barr) (the Beacon borders the [Pheasey](/source/Pheasey) area of Great Barr) and to the local secondary school [Barr Beacon School](/source/Barr_Beacon_School). It is historically the site of a [beacon](/source/beacon) where fires were lit in times of impending attack or on celebratory occasions. The site is on [green belt](/source/green_belt) land and is of local importance for nature conservation, as defined by [Walsall Borough Council](/source/Metropolitan_Borough_of_Walsall), who have designated some 60 acres (25 ha) of it as a [Local Nature Reserve](/source/Local_Nature_Reserve). ==Ownership and management== thumb|The opening ceremony in April 1919 thumb|Tree planting at The opening ceremony, by the Mayor, A. J. Llewellen [[File:Barr Beacon Beeches blue plaque - 2022-10-19 - Andy Mabbett - 01.jpg|thumb|[Blue plaque](/source/Blue_plaque), erected 1997, marking the planting of [Beech trees](/source/Fagus) by Sir [Joseph Scott](/source/Sir_Joseph_Scott%2C_1st_Baronet) Bart., of [Great Barr Hall](/source/Great_Barr_Hall), circa 1799|alt=Barr Beacon Beeches planted by Sir Joseph Scott BART, of Great Barr Hall circa 1799 - Walsall MBC - 1997]] Barr Beacon was formerly owned by the [Scott family](/source/Scott_Baronets_of_Great_Barr) of [Great Barr Hall](/source/Great_Barr_Hall), nearby.{{cite web|url=http://www.walsall.gov.uk/index/leisure_sports_community/countryside/barr_beacon_local_nature_reserve.htm|title=Barr Beacon Local Nature Reserve|publisher=[Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council](/source/Walsall_Metropolitan_Borough_Council)|accessdate=25 June 2011}} Following the death of Lady Mildred Scott in 1909, the estate was auctioned off in 1918. Birmingham's Lord Mayor made a plea for the site to be secured as a public park. Colonel J. H. Wilkinson of the Staffordshire Volunteer Infantry Brigade responded by purchasing it, then transferring it to a trust. It opened to the public on Easter Monday, 21 April 1919. In 1972, the trusteeship of Barr Beacon passed to [Walsall Council](/source/Walsall_Council). The council now manages Barr Beacon on behalf of the Barr Beacon Trust.,{{cite web|url=http://opencharities.org/charities/522665|title=BARR BEACON TRUST|work=OpenCharities|accessdate=25 June 2011}}{{cite journal|last=Draycott|first=helen|date=2011-06-24|title=Vision for future of Barr Beacon revealed on film for first time|journal=Great Barr Observer|page=16}} with a management committee comprising local councillors and representatives of interest groups. During both 2002 and 2003 the site attracted an estimated 200,000 visitors.{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}} ==Views== As one of the highest points in the West Midlands county, Barr Beacon has panoramic views. According to the Walsall Council website, visible landmarks include [The Wrekin](/source/The_Wrekin), [Cannock Chase](/source/Cannock_Chase), the [Lickey Hills](/source/Lickey_Hills), [Lichfield Cathedral](/source/Lichfield_Cathedral), [Aldridge Airport](/source/Walsall_Aerodrome), and Birmingham city centre, and at least eleven counties are visible, including [Powys](/source/Powys) in Wales.{{cite web |url=http://cms.walsall.gov.uk/index/barr_beacon_local_nature_reserve.htm |title=Barr Beacon Local Nature Reserve |publisher=Walsall Council |accessdate=2013-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016184658/http://cms.walsall.gov.uk/index/barr_beacon_local_nature_reserve.htm |archive-date=16 October 2011 |url-status=dead }} == Memorial == On one summit is [Barr Beacon Reservoir](/source/Barr_Beacon_Reservoir), a [South Staffordshire Waterworks Company](/source/South_Staffordshire_Waterworks_Company) covered [drinking water](/source/drinking_water) reservoir with [radio mast](/source/radio_mast)s and on the other a [war memorial](/source/war_memorial) consisting of a raised dais, covered by a [copper](/source/copper)-clad wooden{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/8553284.stm|title=Copper roof on Barr Beacon war memorial stolen more than once|date=2010-03-06|work=BBC|access-date=6 March 2010}} dome supported by eight columns.{{cite book|last=Raven |first=Michael |title=Midlands Digest 4 |publisher=Michael Raven |year=1992 |edition=4 |series=Midlands Digest |pages=34 |chapter=Barr Beacon |isbn=0-906114-19-5}} On the night of 5 March 2010, thieves stole some of the copper roofing, damaging much more in the process; this happened again twice in 2011. In early 2013, the copper sheeting was replaced using green [zinc](/source/zinc)-coated panels, and [CCTV](/source/CCTV) was installed.{{cite journal|last=Draycott|first=Helen|date=2013-04-26|title=Restored war memorial set to be unveiled by end of May|journal=Great Barr Observer|issue=1868{{para|ge=2}}}} ==See also== * [Beacon Way](/source/Beacon_Way) ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category|Barr Beacon}} * [http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org/panoramas/ENG/Barr.gif Computer generated summit panorama] Category:Hills of the West Midlands (county) Category:Local nature reserves in the West Midlands (county) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Barr Beacon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barr_Beacon) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barr_Beacon?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.