King's Norton : Phillimore & Co Ltd : 9781860775628 : 30 Oct 2009 : Standing in front of the former Saracen's Head Inn, with the tower and spire of St Nicolas church ahead, the visitor to King's Norton is presented with a classic image of the English village - a fine medieval church and a spectacular timber-framed house fronting a village green. Until 1911 King's Norton was part of Worcestershire and throughout the 19th century was recognised as one of the most picturesque villages in the county. When Worcestershire historian John Noake visited in 1854 he was enchanted by the ancient 'cross-timbered' houses around the Green, 'where pigs and geese, and donkeys, and boys with their hoops, and little girls with babies nearly as heavy as themselves have rejoiced in rustic felicity from time immemorial.' Yet even as Noake was describing this bucolic scene the signs of change and the growing influence of Birmingham were apparent; the population of the parish was increasing rapidly and fac