It has a diverse cultural mix of people and is the location of the Balti Triangle. The name is first found as Bordeshale in , which is derived from the Old English words Bord's healh meaning 'Bord's heath' or 'Bord's nook' implying a corner or small area of land, perhaps a sheltered hollow in the landscape, protected by trees, possibly within a river-bend. Balsall Heath was largely agricultural and park land between Moseley village and the city of Birmingham until the s when expansion along Moseley Road joined the two.
The area was originally part of the Worcestershire parish of King's Norton , and was added to the county borough of Birmingham in Warwickshire on 1 October During negotiations in the previous year it had been promised a public baths and a free library. In , the library was opened on Moseley Road and, in , Balsall Heath Baths were opened in an adjoining building. In , the city's College of Art was also opened on Moseley Road. By this time the small lake "Lady Pool" on old maps at the end of Ladypool Road had been filled in to create a park.
Balsall Heath initially had a reasonably affluent population, which can still be seen in the dilapidated grandeur of some of the larger houses. A railway station on Brighton Road on the Birmingham to Bristol line led to further expansion, and the end of the 19th century saw a proliferation of high-density small terraced houses. A Muslim community was started in June when two Yemenis purchased an artisan cottage on Mary Street.
With the mosque being located in the area, more Muslim immigrants began to move into private lodgings in Balsall Heath. It is also home to diverse communities from across the Commonwealth. By the s, many of Balsall Heath's houses were in a dilapidated condition; some still lacked bathrooms or indoor toilets.
The local council considered demolishing these properties but chose to refurbish them as part of an urban renewal scheme. Most of these Victorian terraces still exist and, along with more modern social housing , characterise the area today. The area's traditional 'brick' pavements were replaced at this time by the more modern and conventional paving slabs. Balsall Heath's low rents also attracted a bohemian student population. Its proximity to the University of Birmingham , the city centre and the "trendy" area of Moseley were all contributing factors.
