Town in West Midlands, England
Solihull
The Land Rover was sketched in beach sand, but it was Solihull's wartime factory that turned the idea into a global icon.
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Key information
- County
- West Midlands
- Nation
- England
- Known for
- Land Rover and Range Rover, a medieval church spire, leafy suburbs, the NEC next door
- What locals are called
- Silhillians
- Famous people
- Jack Grealish (raised in Solihull), Maurice Wilks (Land Rover pioneer)
- Football clubs
- Solihull Moors
About Solihull
The town named after a muddy hill
Solihull's name is traditionally explained as 'soily hill', a reference to the clay hilltop where the town grew up. Locals have long shortened it to Silhill, and that is why people from the town are called Silhillians. The hill's crowning glory is St Alphege's Church, whose spire dominates the town centre. It is named after Alphege, the Archbishop of Canterbury killed by Danes in 1012, a dedication you will rarely find elsewhere in England. The church dates back to around 1200, which makes it older than almost everything else you can see in the town. Solihull was a market town in the Forest of Arden long before it was a commuter favourite. Its market dates from the 13th century, and farmers and tradespeople once gathered on the high ground to do business.
The sketch in the sand that became a legend
The story goes that Maurice Wilks, Rover's chief engineer, drew the first outline of a rugged farm vehicle in the sand on an Anglesey beach. He wanted something like the wartime Jeep, but British and built for fields rather than battlefields. The result was the Land Rover, shown at the Amsterdam Motor Show in April 1948 and built in Solihull. Early models were a single colour, a light green made from leftover military paint. Aluminium body panels were used because steel was scarce in post-war Britain. It was meant to be a stopgap to keep the factory busy until Rover's cars recovered. Instead it became one of the most recognisable vehicles in the world.
From aero engines to the Range Rover
Rover's Lode Lane site began as a wartime 'shadow factory', built to make aero engines away from the bombed cities. After 1945 Rover took it over and turned it to cars and the new Land Rover. In 1970 the Range Rover launched from here, pairing strong off-road ability with a comfortable on-road ride. Its first interior was surprisingly practical, with vinyl seats and washable surfaces, and the luxury image came later as the model moved upmarket. The plant still builds Range Rovers today. The original Defender line, the direct descendant of the 1948 original, kept going in Solihull until January 2016. That gave the town nearly seven decades of production of the original Land Rover and its successors.
Silhillians, schools and a posh reputation
Solihull School was founded in 1560, and its former pupils are known as Old Silhillians. It is one of the oldest institutions in the town. The town has long had a name for leafy roads, good schools and large houses, the kind of place where Birmingham's successful families moved in the 20th century. Villages such as Knowle and Dorridge add to the effect, with timber-framed pubs and a lot of green space. In town, Malvern Park and Brueton Park offer lakes and open lawns, while the Touchwood shopping centre sits right beside St Alphege's. It is a shopping centre built beside a medieval church.
Football, the Moors and a Villa hero
Solihull Moors were formed in 2007 when Solihull Borough merged with Moor Green, two local non-league sides. They play at Damson Park. The area's best-known footballing export is Jack Grealish, who grew up in Solihull and became an England international. He made his name at Aston Villa and later moved to Manchester City for a British record fee in 2021. For many locals, though, the weekend is as likely to involve rugby, hockey or cricket at one of the area's many clubs.
Next door to Crufts and the world's flights
Just up the road are the National Exhibition Centre and Birmingham Airport. The NEC opened in 1976 and has hosted Crufts since 1991, when thousands of dogs and their owners descend on the area. The airport began life as Elmdon, opening in 1939 and later serving as one of Britain's main regional gateways. Together with Land Rover, they make Solihull a place where things get made, shown and shipped around the world.