Dudley 266706 225662566 2008-07-14T20:05:20Z Rjwilmsi 203434 gen fixes + link/fix date fields in cite templates (explanation [[User:Rjwilmsi#My_correction_of_dates_in_templates|here]]) using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] {{other|Dudley (disambiguation)}} {{for|the larger local government district|Metropolitan Borough of Dudley}} {{infobox UK place| |country = England |latitude= 52.5119 |longitude= -2.0957 |official_name= Dudley |map_type= West Midlands |population = 194,919 ([[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]]) |metropolitan_borough= [[Dudley Metropolitan Borough|Dudley]] | metropolitan_county = [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]] |region= West Midlands |constituency_westminster= [[Dudley North (UK Parliament constituency)|Dudley North]] |constituency_westminster1= [[Dudley South (UK Parliament constituency)|Dudley South]] |post_town= DUDLEY |postcode_district = DY1, DY2 |postcode_area= DY |dial_code= 01384 |os_grid_reference= SO9390 |london_distance=130.5 m }} '''Dudley''' ({{Audio|en-uk-Dudley.ogg|pronunciation}}) is a large town in the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]], [[England]], with a population of [[List of English cities by population|194,919]]. Since 1974 it has been the administrative centre of the wider [[Metropolitan Borough of Dudley]]; the original [[County Borough]] had undergone a lesser expansion in 1966. It is the [[List of English cities by population|19th largest settlement]] in England, measured by Urban Sub-Area, the second largest [[town]] in the [[United Kingdom]], behind [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]]<ref>[http://www.lovemytown.co.uk/Populations/TownsTable1.htm Love My Town: UK Towns with Populations over 100,000 (2001 Census)]</ref> and the largest settlement in the UK without its own university. Dudley, part of the [[West Midlands conurbation]], is located south of [[Wolverhampton]] and is the largest town in the [[Black Country]]. The town centre, for many years, formed part of an [[exclave]] of [[Worcestershire]] entirely surrounded by [[Staffordshire]] - which has determined the fact that, in ecclesiastical terms, it has remained part of the [[Anglican Diocese of Worcester]]. ==History== Dudley has a history dating back to [[medieval]] times. [[Dudley Castle]] has stood in the town since the 11th century,<ref>[http://www.dudley.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/tourism-travel/dudleys-history/dudley-castle Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council - Dudley Castle], accessed [[4 March]] [[2007]]</ref> and is mentioned in the [[Domesday Book]].<ref>[http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/DRO_ECG/DUDLEY.html Encyclopaedia Britannica 1911], accessed [[4 March]] [[2007]]</ref> The present [[castle]] dates from the 13th century, and provided the centre around which the town grew. The oldest condoms found (rather than just pictures or descriptions) were discovered in Dudley Castle and date from 1640.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/3228255.stm|title=Antique condoms' Dutch journey|work=BBC News Website > England > West Midlands|date=[[30 October]] [[2003]]|accessdate=2006-12-27}}</ref> Dating from the 12th century are the ruins of St James Priory, set within the Priory Park.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.dudley.gov.uk/index.asp?pgid=14069 |title=Priory Ruins |publisher=Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council |date= 2007-09-10 |accessdate=2007-11-30}}</ref> [[Image:Dudley Castle.jpg|thumb|left|Dudley Castle]] The town [[industry|industrialised]] rapidly in the 18th and 19th centuries, and its population grew dramatically. Due to its heavy and highly polluting industries it became a central part of the Black Country. The main industries in Dudley included [[coal]] and [[limestone]] mining.<ref>[http://1911encyclopedia.org/Dudley 1911 article about Dudley] - From the [[1911 Encyclopedia Britannica]]</ref> Other industries included iron, steel, engineering, metallurgy, glass cutting, textiles and leatherworking. Most of these industries have declined in recent decades. Of historical significance, the first [[Newcomen steam engine]] was installed at the Conygree coalworks a mile east of Dudley Castle in 1712.<ref>[http://www.history.uk.com/timeline/index.php?date=1712 History.uk.com: Thomas Newcomen's steam engine]</ref> Dudley was mostly made up of farms and factories surrounded by the occasional cottage until the 19th century, when many rows of terraced houses with terrible sanitation were built. These in turn were cleared between the 1920s and 1960s to make way for council owned houses and flats. The Dudley area also consists of many privately owned houses including some late 19th/early 20th century homes which are still standing but have been modernised to keep up with modern sanitation standards. The first major council housing development was the [[Priory Estate]], near the border of Sedgley, where more than 2,000 houses were built between 1929 and 1939.<ref>[http://www.localhistories.org/dudley.html A Brief History of Dudley] - Under 'Dudley in the 20th century'</ref> The [[Wren's Nest|Wrens Nest Estate]] followed soon afterwards. It stands in the shadow of [[Wren's Nest|Wrens Nest Hill]], where many Silurian fossils can be found including crinoids, corals and trilobites. The village of [[Lower Gornal]], just outside Dudley, was the [[epicenter|epicentre]] for the [[2002 Dudley earthquake|Dudley earthquake]] of 2002, the largest earthquake to hit the United Kingdom in nearly 10 years.<ref>''[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2275158.stm Earthquake hits UK]'' - BBC News, 23 September, 2002 (Accessed March 4 2007)</ref> === Civic history === <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Arms-dudley-cbc.jpg|thumb|left|Arms of the former Dudley County Borough Council.]] --> Dudley became a [[municipal borough]] in 1865. In 1889, it became a [[County Borough]]. The [[County Borough of Dudley]] included the town of Dudley and the villages of [[Woodside]] and [[Netherton, West Midlands|Netherton]]. In the 1961 census, the County Borough had a population of 62,965.<ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10026568&c_id=10001043&add=N Vision of Britain: Dudley CB]</ref> In 1966, the county borough was expanded to include the majority of the [[urban district]] councils of [[Brierley Hill]] and [[Sedgley]], about half of [[Coseley]] along with small areas of [[Amblecote]] and [[Rowley Regis]], as well as a fragment of rural [[Seisdon]].<ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10026568&c_id=10001043 Vision of Britain - Dudley CB Boundary Changes]</ref>. As the majority of these areas were part of [[Staffordshire]], Dudley was transferred from [[Worcestershire]] to the county of Staffordshire. The part of [[Tividale]] which existed within Dudley was at this time transferred into [[Warley County Borough]]. These changes meant that the population of Dudley County Borough at the time of the 1971 census increased to 185,592;<ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10026568&c_id=10001043&add=N Vision of Britain: Dudley CB]</ref> an increase of almost 300% from the 1961 figure. Dudley's borough boundaries were further expanded in 1974 to become a [[Metropolitan Borough]], having taken in the boroughs of [[Halesowen]] and [[Stourbridge]] (both formerly in Worcestershire). This meant a further increase in population, which by the time of the 1981 census was 298,511<ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10084842&c_id=10001043&add=N Vision of Britain: Dudley MBC]</ref> - an increase of five times the population of only twenty years before. Since 1974, Dudley has been part of the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands county]]. ==Places of interest== [[Image:Dudley Priory.JPG|right|thumb|The ruins of [[Dudley Priory]].]] The town is home to [[Dudley Zoo]], and the [[Black Country Living Museum]]. Visitors to the museum may also take a [[narrowboat]] trip from the adjacent canal, through the [[Dudley Tunnel]]. The ruined [[Dudley Castle]] is within the grounds of the zoo, and there is an extensive [[woodland|wooded]] ridge that runs north from the castle. Dudley Zoo is to be regenerated under proposals by Dudley Zoo in partnership with Dudley Council, St Modwen and Advantage West Midlands, which will see a former freightliner site redeveloped with a tropical dome, Asiatic forest, two aquatic facilities and walkthrough aviaries. It is expected to cost £38.7 million.<ref>''[http://www.advantagewm.co.uk/news/agency-s-multi-million-pound-funding-boost-for-dudley-.html Agency’s multi-million pound funding boost for Dudley]'' - Advantage West Midlands, 10th January 2007 (Accessed March 4 2007)</ref> Dudley is home to a former [[Odeon Cinemas|Odeon Cinema]] and a former music hall, the Dudley Hippodrome, both from the Art Deco period in the 1930s. The Dudley Hippodrome was built on to the side of the now-demolished Opera House (built in 1900 and burnt down in 1936) and is now a bingo hall. There is a [[Showcase Cinema]] in a [[retail park]] between the zoo and museum. The Odeon Cinema became a [[Kingdom Hall]] for [[Jehovah's Witness]]es in 1976. The Plaza Cinema was built on Castle Hill in 1938 next to the Hippodrome, and remained open until October 1990. The building was then taken over by [[Laser Quest]], who used it until it was demolished in 1997. The site of the cinema remains undeveloped. Since the 1970s, there has been a nightclub on Castle Hill situated on the corner of Station Drive; this has changed ownership several times since first opening. [[Image:Art Deco Cinema Dudley.jpg|right|thumb|Dudley Art Deco Cinema]] There are many canals in and around Dudley, the main one being the [[Dudley Canal]]. These are popular with walkers, cyclists, fishermen, and [[narrowboat]] users.<ref>[http://www.dudley.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/tourism-travel/out-and-about/dudley-canals Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council: Dudley Canals introduction]</ref> Many of the canalside towpaths have been upgraded for cycling, and some sections are part of the [[National Cycle Network]]. The [[Wren's Nest|Wren's Nest National Nature Reserve]] is a site of special scientific interest ([[SSSI]]) considered to be one of the most notable geological locations in the British Isles. [[Dudley Museum and Art Gallery]] has a large collection of its well-preserved [[Silurian]] [[coral reef]] [[fossil]]s, plus numerous displays relating to the history of the town.<ref>[http://www.himleyhousehotel.com/area.html Dudley area attractions] - himleyhousehotel.com</ref> Established in 1260, Dudley Market in Dudley town centre is a major shopping area for the town. It has undergone numerous developments in its history. One major development was in the 1980s when the area was pedestrianised and the 12th century cobblestones were removed. Other developments have included the addition of a new roof and new toilet facilities.<ref>[http://www.nmtf.co.uk/Dudley/ Dudley Market]</ref> Dudley is also the location of several churches. These include the [[Church of St. Edmund]], [[Church of St. James the Great]], and [[Church of St. Thomas]]. The old St Edmund's Church School, a 19th century building near the town centre, was closed in 1970 on a merger with St John's Church School on [[Kates Hill]], and later converted into a [[mosque]] for the town's [[Islam]]ic community, which is mostly concentrated around Kates Hill, Queen's Cross, Eve Hill and The Buffery. During the mid 2000s, plans were unveiled for the construction of a new mosque on the site of a derelict factory near the Dudley Southern By-Pass. These were shelved in early 2007, but were revived a year later. St James's Church at Eve Hill also had a church school from the mid 19th century, but this was closed during the 1970s and was used as a community centre for several years before being transferred to the [[Black Country Museum]] in 1989. [http://www.dudleynews.co.uk/mostpopular.var.2040634.mostviewed.mosque_back_on_agenda.php] == Politics == === National government === Dudley is covered by two [[Constituency|parliamentary constituencies]], [[Dudley South (UK Parliament constituency)|Dudley South]] and [[Dudley North (UK Parliament constituency)|Dudley North]], which also represent some other towns within the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley. The current [[Member of Parliament#British MPs|MP]]s elected from these seats and to the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] are [[Ian Pearson]] and [[Ian Austin (politician)|Ian Austin]] respectively. Both represent the [[British Labour Party|Labour party]]. === Other === Law enforcement in Dudley is carried out by the [[West Midlands Police]] and fire and rescue by the [[West Midlands Fire Service]]. ==Transport== ===Rail=== The nearest railway stations are all a mile or more from Dudley town centre; [[Tipton railway station]] and [[Dudley Port railway station]] are served by local services operated by London Midland, and [[Sandwell and Dudley railway station]] which is served by both local London Midland services and [[Virgin Trains]] West Coast services from [[London Euston]] to [[Wolverhampton railway station|Wolverhampton]]. [[Dudley railway station]], in the town of Dudley itself, opened in 1850, and closed under the [[Beeching Axe]] in 1964. In its heyday it was a hub of services east to [[Birmingham]] (via a junction at Great Bridge), [[Walsall]] and [[Lichfield]]; north to [[Wolverhampton]], [[Tipton]] and [[Coseley]]; and south-west to [[Stourbridge]], as well as a line that served the small communities on the way to [[Old Hill]] and [[Halesowen]]. This site was then used as a Freightliner terminal by [[Freightliner UK]] until an unpopular closure on the [[26 September]] [[1989]].<ref>[http://railaroundbirmingham.co.uk/Stations/dudley.php Rail Around Birmingham: Dudley Station]</ref> Dudley is currently England's largest town that is not served by passenger trains. Both of the town's railway stations (Dudley and [[Blowers Green railway station|Blowers Green]]) were closed in 1962 under the [[Beeching Axe]], although the line through Dudley remained open to goods trains until 1993. In the early 2010s the town is set to regain a rail link for the first time in almost half a century when an extension to the [[Midland Metro]] opens between [[Brierley Hill]] and [[Wednesbury]], although the Midland Metro is a Light Rail system, and does not feature through ticketing to the national rail network.<ref>''[http://centro.journalistpresslounge.com/centro/news/index.cfm/fuseaction/details/id/BE043D85-13D3-97AA-2D4BEE37003FF84F/cnt/1/ref/main/type/News%20releases/ses/1.cfm Midland Metro expansion plans to be submitted to Government]'' - Centro News Online, 22-Apr-06 (Accessed March 4, 2007)</ref> ===Road=== There is a large bus station on the outskirts of the town centre which has a plethora of connections to surrounding towns and communities, including: * [[Bilston]] * [[Birmingham]] * [[Brierley Hill]] * [[Coseley]] * [[Cradley Heath]] * [[Halesowen]] * [[Kingswinford]] * [[Merry Hill Shopping Centre]] * [[Oldbury]] * [[Pensnett]] * [[Rowley Regis]] * [[Sedgley]] * [[Smethwick]] * [[Stourbridge]] * [[Tipton]] * [[Wall Heath]] * [[Walsall]] * [[West Bromwich]] * [[Wolverhampton]] * [[Wombourne]] * [[Wordsley]] From the end of April 2008, the new Dudley Bus Network is coming into effect. This is seeing the withdrawal of several bus routes as well the introduction of several others. Those which are not changing are seeing several timetable changes. The bus station also sees limited service from [[National Express]], whose services call at the bus station mostly for [[London]] or [[Wolverhampton]]. Other places served include holiday destination [[Blackpool]] and [[London Heathrow]] and [[London Gatwick]] Airports. There is also a bus station at [[Russells Hall Hospital]]. Dudley itself is well-served by main roads which give a direct route to neighbouring towns. The longest of these roads are the B4176 (which runs to Wombourne, [[Bridgnorth]] and [[Telford]]) and the A461 (which passes through Wednesbury and Walsall, finally reaching [[Lichfield]]). ===Air=== The nearest international airport is [[Birmingham International Airport]], around 25 miles to the east. The nearest local airport is [[Wolverhampton Airport]], which is about 10 miles to the west of the town. == Education == ===Primary schools=== Dudley is served by a range of [[primary school]]s. Several of these are [[Church of England]] primary schools. For example, [[Jessons Church of England Primary School]], St Chads Roman Catholic School, [[St Edmund's and St John's Church of England Primary School]] and [[Netherton Church of England Primary School]] are all Church of England primary schools. Other primary schools in the town include [[Priory Primary School]], [[Kates Hill Primary School]], [[Sledmere Primary School]], [[Russells Hall Primary School]], [[Milking Bank Primary School]], [[Highgate Primary School]], [[Northfield Road Primary School]], [[Dudley Wood Primary School]], [[Foxyards Primary School]], [[Netherbrook Primary School]] and [[Blowers Green Primary School]]. Many of these schools are named after the housing estates they are located within. Primary schools throughout the Dudley borough currently all provide education for pupils aged 5 to 11 years. Some schools also have nursery units for pupils aged 3 and 4 years. From 1975 to 1990 (1989 in the southern part of the borough), schoolchildren in the borough stayed at primary school until the age of 12. ====Wrens Nest Primary School==== Wrens Nest Primary School is a primary school that was built during the late 1930s to serve the new council housing estate which was being built at the time. The school expanded in September 2006 to accommodate pupils transferred from the nearby [[Sycamore Green Primary School]], which had closed due to falling numbers on the school roll. The school's headteacher is Mrs R. Wylie. ===Secondary schools=== There are four secondary schools in Dudley. [[Castle High School (Dudley)|Castle High School]] is a visual arts college and secondary school. It was formed as a result of a merger between [[The Dudley School]], [[Sir Gilbert Claughton School]] and [[The Blue Coat School]]. It also occupies the buildings which once consisted of [[Dudley Boys Grammar School]] and land that was once used for [[Dudley Girls High School]]. It is one of the newest schools in the town. [[Holly Hall School]] is [[comprehensive school]] in Dudley and has computing and mathematics college status. [[Bishop Milner Roman Catholic School]] is a [[Roman Catholic]] secondary school in Dudley. Constructed in 1958, it became one of the first Roman Catholic secondary schools in the region and is the oldest existing school in Dudley. [[Hillcrest School]] is another secondary school in Dudley. A major shake-up of secondary education took place across the Dudley borough in 1989/1990. Several schools, including two in Dudley town itself, were closed due to falling numbers. The secondary school starting age, which had been 12 since 1975, was lowered to 11 for the 1989-1990 academic year in [[Stourbridge]], [[Halesowen]] and [[Kingswinford]], and for the 1990-1991 academic year in Dudley, [[Sedgley]], [[Coseley]] and [[Brierley Hill]]. Several secondary schools also closed their sixth form centres at this time, as the local authority encouraged pupils to attend further education colleges such as [[Halesowen College]], [[Dudley College]], [[Stourbridge College]] and [[King Edward VI College]]. ===Special schools=== There are three [[special school]]s within Dudley. [[Old Park School]] serves pupils from the age of 3 to 19.<ref>[http://www.old-park.dudley.gov.uk/ Old Park School website]</ref> [[Rosewood School]] also caters for children within the age range. [[The Sutton School]], built 1962, caters only for pupils from 11-16.<ref>[http://www.sutton.dudley.gov.uk/ Sutton School website]</ref> ===Defunct schools=== As well as [[The Dudley School]], [[Sir Gilbert Claughton School]] and [[The Blue Coat School]] which merged to form Castle High School which also occupies the land and buildings of [[Dudley Boys Grammar School]] and [[Dudley Girls High School]], other defunct schools in the town include [[Rosland Secondary School]], which became part of The Blue Coat School in 1970, and [[Park Secondary School]]. [[Mons Hill School]] also shut down as a result of falling pupil numbers. Primary schools that no longer exist include [[St James' School]] (erected in 1842), [[St John's Primary School]] and [[St Edmund's Primary School]] which both merged together to form [[St Edmund's and St John's Church of England Primary School]] in the 1970s. The St Edmund's Primary School building still exists and is currently used as Dudley Central Mosque. [[Sycamore Green Primary School]] shut down in July 2006 following a consultation period which ended in the decision that it was no longer necessary to keep the school open as a result of falling pupil numbers. Staff and pupils were transferred to the Wrens Nest Primary School and the school buildings are currently used as a Pupil Referral Unit for students studying at [[Key Stage 3]]. ===Further education=== [[Image:Dudley College.JPG|right|thumb|Buildings owned by Dudley College]] [[Dudley College]] is a college of [[further education]] and lies mainly to the north of the town centre, with a further campus at Wren's Nest. It is Dudley's only college of further education, having opened in [[1936]]. Until the summer of 2002, there was a campus of the [[University of Wolverhampton]] within the town. The newer part of the campus, built during the 1960s, was retained as part of [[Dudley College]]. The older buildings, which were originally a teacher training college built in 1905, were demolished soon afterwards and the site redeveloped for private housing. Dudley is now the largest town or city in the UK without university facilities. ==Medical== In October 2006, Dudley Beacon and Castle Primary Care Trust and Dudley South Primary Care Trust merged to become [[Dudley Primary Care Trust]].<ref>[http://www.nhs.uk/england/authoritiestrusts/mentalhealth/showTrust.aspx?id=5PE NHS in England: Dudley PCT Organisation Summary]</ref> It is chaired by Mark Cooke. Dudley is served by two major [[National Health Service|NHS]] health facilities. [[Dudley Guest Hospital]] was the first to be constructed however began as a charity to accommodate blinded local miners in 1849. The charity did not become popular and it was taken over by a local chainmaker who turned it into a hospital in 1871. As a result of the loss of the [[Emergency department]], the hospital has become a less important facility compared with the [[Russells Hall Hospital]], also in Dudley. Russells Hall Hospital was constructed in 1976 but immediate problems meant that it could not open until 1983. A major expansion of the hospital was completed in 2004 following the downgrading of [[Wordsley Hospital]], Dudley Guest Hospital and [[Corbett Hospital]]. Another hospital serving Dudley is [[Bushey Fields Hospital]].<ref>[http://www.specialistinfo.com/thget.php?t=t_chst&r=DUBCH1 Specialist Info: Bushey Fields Hospital]</ref> Dudley Health Centre was opened in Cross Street in 1979. There are currently four GPs employed there, as well as numerous administration staff. There are also doctor's surgeries in Bean Road, and the clinic on the Priory Estate was demolished in the mid-2000s after serving the local community for some 70 years. Another surgery was built in the extreme west of the town (on the border with Sedgley) around 1990, to serve the new [[Milking Bank]] housing estate. ==Media== Dudley is served by a number of local [[newspaper]]s. The town has its own version of the [[Express & Star]], published daily Monday to Saturday. There are also [[Dudley News]],<ref>[http://www.dudleynews.co.uk/ Dudley News]</ref> which is published weekly, and the [[Black Country Bugle]], which looks at the history of Dudley and the rest of the Black Country. Dudley was also served by the [[Dudley Evening Mail]] until its absorption into the [[Birmingham Evening Mail]] in late 1986. Televised local news is provided through [[Midlands Today]] and [[Central Tonight]], which also serve the wider area of the [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]]. [[BBC Radio WM]], [[100.7 Heart FM]], [[Kerrang! 105.2 FM]], and [[Saga 105.7 FM]] are some of the local [[radio station]]s that can be received in Dudley, also serving the wider West Midlands. [[MXR West Midlands]] also serves Dudley, as well as the rest of the West Midlands region. ==Business and industry== The town centre is home to numerous high street retailers including [[Woolworths]], [[Beatties]], [[Wilkinsons]], [[Clinton Cards]], [[WH Smith]], [[Argos]] and [[New Look]]. There is also a [[Subway (restaurant)|Subway]] restaurant. [[McDonalds]], [[British Home Stores]], [[Marks and Spencer]] and [[Pizza Hut]] have all had branches in Dudley town centre in the past. The [[Bean Cars]] factory was opened in the first years of the 20th century and remained in use until the 1930s, but survives to this day for other industrial use. == Localities == * [[Brierley Hill]] † - Still regarded as a separate town, and dominated by the [[Merry Hill Shopping Centre]] which was mostly developed between 1985 and 1989. For some 150 years prior to 1982, the town was dominated by the [[Round Oak Steel Works]], which was situated on part of the site now occupied by Merry Hill. * [[Coseley]] † - One of the local area's smaller towns, was originally part of [[Sedgley]] before becoming a town in its own right in 1897. Until its absorbment in Dudley nearly 70 years later, the town became increasingly more densely developed for housing. Its industry has declined considerably in recent decades, with the most recent major loss being the huge [[Bean cars|Bean]] car component factory (once the home of Bean Cars) which closed due to financial problems in 2005. * [[Holly Hall]] - In the south-west of Dudley town, situated around the road towards Brierley Hill and [[Stourbridge]]. Local landmarks include [[Holly Hall School]] and Dudley Cemetery (the resting place of local soccer legend [[Duncan Edwards]]). * [[Kates Hill]] - Situated on a hill to the east of the town centre. Parliamentary soldiers fired cannons from Kates Hill during the [[English Civil War|Civil War]] of 1648 in their attack on the Royalist garrison at [[Dudley Castle]]. When the local area was developed for housing some 200 years later, many of the local streets took their names from Parliamentary figures. The parish church and church school (though no longer in use as a school) are about the only buildings left on Kates Hill from this era, as many council houses were built between 1920 and 1980. * [[Kingswinford]] † - A suburban area of the borough which was originally a parish in its own right until becoming part of Brierley Hill and finally Dudley. Unlike many other towns in the borough, it still has a very rural atmosphere despite having been extensively developed for private housing since the 1920s. Is now considered as one of the most desirable residences in the [[Black Country]]. * [[Milking Bank]] - A modern private residential area which was mostly developed in the 1980s on open land more than a mile west of the town centre. Was further expanded in the mid to late 1990s, mostly on land previous occupied by [[Burton Road Hospital]], this development being known as Earls Keep. * [[Gornalwood]] † - A village in the [[Sedgley]] township which was a largely rural area until the early 20th century, and has retained much of its original character despite extensive private and council housebuilding since the 1920s. * [[Lower Gornal]] † - Another village in the Sedgley township, which is very similar to neighbouring Gornalwood and is very difficult to differentiate from its close neighbour, with the boundary between the two villages being very difficult to determine. * [[Netherton, West Midlands|Netherton]] - Originally a village, but now more of a small town, which has always been part of Dudley. It grew in size during the [[Industrial Revolution]], and 150 or so years later it retains its [[Black Country]] character to a greater extent than most other local towns. * [[Oakham, Dudley|Oakham]] - A suburban and mostly upmarket eastern area of the town which has mostly been developed since the 1920s, and part of which was absorbed into the [[County Borough of Warley]] (now [[Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell|Sandwell]]) in 1966. Is home to Dudley Golf Course, which since 1966 has actually existed beyond Dudley's boundaries. * [[Priory Estate]] - Situated beyond the ancient Priory Ruins to the north of the town centre. Was developed in the 1930s with a mixture of council houses to rehouse people from town centre slums as well as a few streets of more desirable private houses. Includes a public park, primary school, shopping parade and public house. * [[Russells Hall]] - Situated to the west of the town centre and mostly developed between 1958 and 1966 for a mix of private and council housing. Consists of one primary school and three special schools, and since 1983 has been home to [[Russells Hall Hospital]]. * [[Sedgley]] † - A town in its own right which is situated some four miles north of Dudley in the direction of [[Wolverhampton]]. Was originally a manor of villages, but developed into a town between 1920 and 1970 following extensive housebuilding in the private and public sectors. * [[Upper Gornal]] † - A village within the Sedgley township that is situated around the main road between [[Dudley]] and [[Wolverhampton]]. As with Lower Gornal and Gornal Wood, Upper Gornal features a wide range of building types. * [[Wall Heath]] † - A village within the Kingswinford suburban area that is among the most popular and desirable residential areas in the [[Black Country]], and a sharp contrast to many other parts of the borough. * [[Woodsetton]] † - A village situated about two miles east of Sedgley town centre near the border with Coseley, most notable for [[Holden's Brewery]] that dates back to the 19th century and is one of the local area's biggest and best known brewers. * [[Woodside, Dudley|Woodside]] - Originally a separate manor from Dudley that also bordered with Brierley Hill, but was merged into Dudley towards the end of the 19th century as new developments began along the Stourbridge Road. * [[Wren's Nest]] - Dominated by a huge hill that contains numerous underground caverns as well as a huge collection of [[dinosaur]] fossils, which according to local legend "will never run out". The rural land beneath the hill was developed for council housing during the 1930s. By the 1980s, it was one of the most rundown and deprived estates in the West Midlands, but [[European Union]] funding in the early 1990s saw living conditions improve and many of the area's other problems solved. ; '''Notes''' :† &ndash; Areas added to Dudley County Borough in 1966. Some of these areas were split between Dudley and other County Boroughs. Those parts within the present Metropolitan Borough of Dudley are considered by the ONS to be part of the Dudley Urban Sub-Area. ==Notable people== [[Image:DuncanEdwards1.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Footballer [[Duncan Edwards]] was born in Dudley and is commemorated by a statue in the town.]] * [[Sam Allardyce]] (1954 - ) - footballer and football manager * [[John Badley (surgeon)|John Badley]] (1783–1870) - surgeon of Dudley, [[Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons|FRCS]] (original 300 Fellows) Medical pioneer * [[John Haden Badley]] (1865–1967) - educator, founder (1893) and Headmaster (1893-1935) [[Bedales School]] * [[Ben Black]] (1889–1950) - composer * [[Jason Bonham]] (1966 - ) - son of Led Zeppelin drummer [[John Bonham]] * [[Billy Dainty]] (1927-1986) - comedian * [[Duncan Edwards]] (1936-1958) - footballer who died in the [[Munich Air Disaster]] * [[Reanne Evans]] (1985 - ) Three-time Ladies' World Snooker Champion * [[Kaleigh Grainger]] (1986 - ) – unicyclist * [[Tony Harlow]] (1962 - ) - 'Laughing Cavalier' prisoner * [[Lenny Henry]] (1958 - ) - comedian * [[Nigel Mazlyn Jones]] - musician * [[Sue Lawley]] (1946 - ) - newsreader * [[Josie Lawrence]] (1959 - ) - comedienne * [[Jas Mann]] (1971 - ) - musician * [[Ian Messiter]] (1920-1999) - comedy writer * [[Norman Pace]] (1953 - ) – comedian * [[Joe Smith (football manager)|Joe Smith]] (1889-1971) - former footballer and manager (was manager of [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] at the time of their famous [[FA Cup Final 1953|1953 FA Cup final]] victory over Bolton, dubbed the "Matthews Final") * [[James Whale]] (1889-1957) - film director *[[William Perry (boxer)]] (1819 - 1880). Also known as the ''Tipton Slasher''. [[Prizefighter]]. Buried in St John's Churchyard, Kate's Hill. ==In popular culture== * The front and inner photographs for the 1971 [[Led Zeppelin IV]] album were taken in the Eve Hill area of town; the main [[tower block]], shown side on, is Butterfield Court, off Salop Street, and still stands today.<ref>[http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=butterfieldcourt-dudley-unitedkingdom Emporis: Butterfield Court entry]</ref> There were two other blocks in the Eve Hill area, all constructed during the 1960s, but they were both demolished in controlled explosions on [[18 July]] [[1999]]. Private housing, in a development known as Squire's Gate, was constructed on the site of the flats in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/blackcountry/content/image_galleries/bc_in_pictures_4_gallery.shtml?40|title=Gallery four: Black Country|work=BBC Black Country Website - Photo Galleries|author=Keith Slater|accessdate=2006-12-27}}</ref> * The [[borehole]] in local author [[Hugh Walters (author)|Hugh Walter]]' juvenile [[science fiction]] story ''[[The Mohole Mystery]]'' was sited in Dudley. *The [[television]] [[comedy]] series ''[[The Grimleys]]'', though set in Dudley was filmed some 80 miles away in [[Salford]], [[Greater Manchester]]. *In an episode of the [[television]] [[comedy]] series ''[[Men Behaving Badly]]'', Dudley is noted as the strangest place where Gary and Dorothy have had sex. *In an episode of ''[[popworld]]'', [[Pete Wentz]] claimed his favourite town in the UK was Dudley. ==Sport== Dudley is the largest town in England never to have had a [[The Football League|league football]] club.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-21474,00.html The Guardian: Which is the smallest English town/city ever to have hosted a top-flight football team? And which is the largest never to have done so?] (Accessed [[March 4]] [[2007]])</ref> The town's key football teams, [[Dudley Town F.C]] and [[Dudley Sports F.C.]] have never progressed beyond the [[Southern Football League|Southern League]]. ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==External links== *[http://www.blackcountrygob.com Black Country Gob] Community website for the region including Dudley *[http://www.dudley.nhs.uk/ Dudley PCT] Dudley NHS Primary Care Trust *[http://www.dudleynews.co.uk Dudley News] Local Dudley weekly newspaper *[http://www.bbc.co.uk/blackcountry/ BBC Black Country] *[http://www.dudley.gov.uk/ Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council] *[http://www.YourDudley.com/ Your Dudley] *[http://www.dudley-mind.org.uk/ Dudley Mind] Local branch of Mind, a mental health charity. {{West Midlands County}} {{LargestUKCities}} [[Category:Towns in the West Midlands]] [[Category:Dudley| ]] [[Category:Areas of Dudley]] [[Category:Articles including recorded pronunciations (UK English)]] [[de:Dudley]] [[eo:Dudley]] [[it:Dudley]] [[lt:Dadlis]] [[nl:Dudley (West Midlands)]] [[pl:Dudley (Anglia)]] [[ro:Dudley]] [[qu:Dudley]] [[ru:Дадли (город)]] [[fi:Dudley]]