River Cole, West Midlands

River Cole
Coleshill, near the confluence with the Blythe
Location
CountryEngland
CountiesWorcestershire, West Midlands, Warwickshire
Towns and CitiesWythall, Birmingham, Shirley, Chelmsley Wood, Coleshill
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationKings Norton, West Midlands, and Wythall, Worcestershire
  coordinates52°21′40″N 1°53′14″W / 52.36111°N 1.88722°W / 52.36111; -1.88722 (River Cole, source)
Mouth 
  location
Confluence with the River Blythe at Ladywalk reserve
  coordinates
52°31′5″N 1°41′20″W / 52.51806°N 1.68889°W / 52.51806; -1.68889 (River Cole, mouth)
Length40 km (25 mi)

The River Cole is a 25-mile-long (40-kilometre) river in the English Midlands. It rises on the lower slopes of Forhill, one of the south-western ramparts of the Birmingham Plateau, at Red Hill and flows south before flowing largely north-east across the plateau to enter the River Blythe below Coleshill, near Ladywalk, shortly before the Blythe meets the Tame. This then joins the Trent, whose waters reach the North Sea via the Humber Estuary. Its source is very near the main watershed of Midland England: tributaries are few and very short except in the lower reaches, so the Cole is only a small stream. The stretch between Shard End and Tyseley formed part of the historic border between Warwickshire and Worcestershire.