History
The name Fazeley, in its various spellings, is found in documents dating back to 1135. All suggestions concerning its derivation propose that it comes from early Saxon language, most take its meaning to be pasture land or pleasant pasture, but another authority suggests it is a corruption of the Anglo-Saxon faresleia, which meant bulls' pasture. The various spellings support this latter suggestion, and certainly the land alongside the River Tame, being very flat, may well have been used for this purpose.
The hamlet of Bonehill developed to support the home of Sir Robert Peel MP - Bonehill House. Bonehill originally consisted of farm buildings and horse breeding (stud farm) facilities to support the Peels' interests.
In the centre of the town, Fazeley Town Hall was originally named the Victoria Memorial Hall, commemorating the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria. James Eadie paid for both the cost of its construction, £3,000, and the land on which it stands; it was completed in 1898. [3] Eadie intended that the Hall should benefit the inhabitants of Fazeley and help to promote their welfare. His vision was that the Hall would be used for public meetings, lectures and concerts and contain reading rooms and he speculated that technical classes might some day be held "for the better training of workmen in their several crafts and industries." The vision became a reality; meetings of all descriptions took place, and winter entertainments were regularly well attended. There was a library and a reading room, classes were held in gymnastics and cookery, and an Evening Continuation School in horticulture attracted over 40 youngsters. In later years, silent movies were presented here, too. The First Annual Fazeley Festival and Mile Oak Mile Charity hop took place on 15 September 2007.
Transport
Fazeley sits astride the old Roman road of Watling Street, which is now much quieter following the rerouting of the A5 road to a new course between Fazeley and Tamworth. The road is now designated the B5404. Fazeley Bridge crosses the River Tame and separates Two Gates from Fazeley. The Tame at this point is the boundary between the districts of Lichfield and Tamworth and was formerly the boundary between Staffordshire and Warwickshire. [4] The bridge was built in 1796 to replace an earlier one destroyed by flooding. It is Grade II listed and has three segmental arches constructed of ashlar. [5]
Until 1904, Wilnecote Station in nearby Two Gates was known as Wilnecote and Fazeley.
Fazeley is served by a regular Arriva bus service 110 from Tamworth to Birmingham.
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