Rubery

The word "Rubery" comes from the old English word "rowbery" meaning "a rough hill", which may refer to Rubery Hill, situated on "Cоck-Hill Lane".

Rubery (Worcestershire) is divided into two essential areas, either side of the A38. North of the A38 is primarily residential consisting of a sub-area named Waseley. South of the A38 is the High Street (New Road) where Rubery's retail activity is concentrated, as well as an extensive residential estate. To the east lies the Great Park area of Rubery (within the Longbridge ward of Birmingham).

Rubery is located in the valley of the Waseley and Lickey Hills, and within the basin of the Callowbrook and thus the River Rea. Through the village, the Rea now mostly runs underground.

Rubery is connected in to Birmingham via the Bristol Road (South), running East towards Longbridge Town Centre, where the remains of the Austin motor works, mostly demolished following the MG Rover collapse in April 2005, can be found. To the north, New Frankley estate (Birmingham), is defined by New Inns Lane, and Lickey is to the south. The settlement of Rednal lies to the southeast, with the Rubery-Rednal (and further Rubery-Birmingham) boundary somewhat following the course of Leach Green Lane.

Rubery is connected in to Birmingham via the Bristol Road South, running East towards Longbridge Town Centre.

The author Jonathan Coe (b.1961) was brought up in Rubery, and his novel "The Terrible Privacy of Maxwell Sim" names several local places and landmarks.

The local councillors are, as of March 2014:

Peter McDonald (Labour) and Colin Wilson (Labour) - Waseley (District),

Christine McDonald (Labour) - Beacon (District),

and Peter McDonald (Labour) - Beacon (County)..

Part of Rubery is represented on Birmingham City Council by Adrian Delaney of the (Conservative Party (United Kingdom)) who is councillor for the Rubery and Rednal ward.

Geographically, most of Rubery lies in the Beacon Ward of Worcestershire County Council, and under both the Waseley and Beacon areas for Bromsgrove District Council. Part of Rubery falls under Birmingham Council.

Rubery now has its own market with café and children's soft play area.

Rubery High Street (New Road) boasts a number of shops, notably many charity and barber shops. There is also a number of food outlets including Subway, Greggs, Jack's and various other takeaways and cafés.

In recent years Rubery has benefited from Great Park development, built of the former site of Rubery Asylum, and provides numerous leisure activities, namely an Empire Cinema, Hollywood Bowl, Gala Bingo, Nuffield Health (formerly Greens Health and Fitness), Frankie & Benny's, Chiquitos, Brewers Fayre, The Cake Solution and a Premier Inn. As well as further housing there is also a Morrisons which was formally a Safeway Megastore.

Primary Schools serving the area include (within Rubery) Beaconside Primary and Holywell Nursary and Primary School. Much of the village falls under the catchment area of Waseley Hills High School, which sits at the base of the Waseley Hills.