West Bromwich
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223119952
2008-07-02T17:38:38Z
Erebus555
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Revert to revision 222515972 dated 2008-06-29 19:30:06 by SJP using [[:en:Wikipedia:Tools/Navigation_popups|popups]]
{{infobox UK place|
|country = England
|map_type= West Midlands
|latitude= 52.52587
|longitude= -2.01617
|population= 136,940 ([[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]])
|official_name= West Bromwich
|metropolitan_borough= [[Sandwell]]
|region= West Midlands
|metropolitan_county= [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]]
|historic_county= [[Staffordshire]]
|constituency_westminster= [[West Bromwich West (UK Parliament constituency)|West Bromwich West]]
|constituency_westminster1= [[West Bromwich East (UK Parliament constituency)|West Bromwich East]]
|post_town= WEST BROMWICH
|postcode_district = B70-B71
|postcode_area= B
|dial_code= 0121
|os_grid_reference= SO9992
|london_distance= 126.1m
}}
'''West Bromwich''' ({{Audio|en-uk-WestBromwich.ogg|pronunciation}}) is a [[town]] in the [[Metropolitan Borough]] of [[Sandwell]], in the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]], historically [[Staffordshire]], [[England]]. It is {{convert|5|mi|km|1|lk=on}} north west of [[Birmingham]] lying on the [[A41 road|A41]] London-to-Holyhead road. The issue of its participation in the [[Black Country]] is often a topic of debate. West Bromwich is the largest town within the Borough of Sandwell with a population of [[List of English cities by population|136,940 (2001)]].
The motto on the town's coat of arms proclaims in Latin "[[Labor omnia vincit]]" which translates as "Work Conquers All".
==Features==
The town is famous for its [[football (soccer)|football]] team, [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]]. The team won the [[Football League Championship|league championship]] in 1920 and has won five [[FA Cup]]s; the most recent in [[1968 FA Cup Final|1968]]. Albion were based in and around the centre of West Bromwich during their formative years, but moved further out of the town in 1900 when they switched to their current ground, [[The Hawthorns]].
Engineering and chemicals are important to the town's economy, as it played a crucial part in the [[Industrial Revolution]] during the 19th century and still retains many manufacturing jobs to this day, despite a steady nationwide decline in this sector since the 1970s.
The [[Sandwell General Hospital]] is located near the town centre. The hospital is part of the [[Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust]], and is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the [[United Kingdom]].
[[William Legge, 2nd Earl of Dartmouth]] had his seat at Sandwell Hall. Legge was unusual as an aristocrat of this period by being a [[Methodist]] and attending the [[Wednesbury]] Methodist meetings, where fellow Methodists - many of them [[collier]]s and [[drover]]s - knew him as "Brother Earl".
[[West Bromwich Town Hall]] and the Grand Organ within, built by the West Bromwich Town Improvement Commissioners, are features along with the Walk West Bromwich Heritage Trail. The town improvement commissioners also constructed a market hall, free library and public baths.<ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/place_page.jsp?p_id=914 Vision Of Britain: West Bromwich]</ref>
[[Image:The Public Building.jpg|thumb|right|The Public by Will Alsop.]]
In 2004, a modern community arts centre known as "[[The Public, West Bromwich|The Public]]" was developed in the town centre. Designed by the architect [[Will Alsop]], the £52 million venue consists of a massive [[cuboid]] building constructed in dark [[grey]] and [[silver (colour)|silver]] metal [[cladding]] with irregularly-shaped windows edged in [[magenta]]; its appearance has drawn comparisons with a fish tank.<ref>''[http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,1805225,00.html What looks like a magenta fish, cost £52m and closed before it opened?]'' - The Observer (Guardian Arts), June 25 2006</ref> The development has been beset by financial difficulties, going into [[Administration (insolvency)|administration]] before the expected opening date of July 2006.<ref>''[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/4777882.stm Debts put new arts centre on hold]'', BBC News, 6 March 2006</ref>
{{clr}}
==History==
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" align="right"
|+'''Historical population of West Bromwich''' <ref>[http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/STS/WestBromwich/#Census GENUKI: West Bromwich Census information]</ref>
|-
! style="background:#efefef;" | Year
! colspan="1" style="background:#efefef;" | Population figure
|-
| style="border-bottom:3px solid grey;" | 1801
| style="border-bottom:3px solid grey;" | 5,687
|-
| style="border-bottom:3px solid grey;" | 1811
| style="border-bottom:3px solid grey;" | 7,485
|-
| style="border-bottom:3px solid grey;" | 1821
| style="border-bottom:3px solid grey;" | 9,505
|-
| style="border-bottom:3px solid grey;" | 1831
| style="border-bottom:3px solid grey;" | 15,377
|-
| style="border-bottom:3px solid grey;" | 1841
| style="border-bottom:3px solid grey;" | 26,121
|-
| style="border-bottom:3px solid grey;" | 1851
| style="border-bottom:3px solid grey;" | 34,581
|-
| style="border-bottom:3px solid grey;" | 1861
| style="border-bottom:3px solid grey;" | 41,795
|-
| style="border-bottom:3px solid grey;" | 1871
| style="border-bottom:3px solid grey;" | 47,918
|-
| style="border-bottom:3px solid grey;" | 1881
| style="border-bottom:3px solid grey;" | 56,295
|-
| style="border-bottom:3px solid grey;" | 1891
| style="border-bottom:3px solid grey;" | 59,538
|-
| style="border-bottom:3px solid grey;" | 1901
| style="border-bottom:3px solid grey;" | 65,175
|-
| style="border-bottom:3px solid grey;" | 1950
| style="border-bottom:3px solid grey;" | 89,000
|-
| style="border-bottom:3px solid grey;" | 1991
| style="border-bottom:3px solid grey;" | 146,386
|}
West Bromwich was first mentioned in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086, the name meaning "the little village on the heath of broom" (broom being a particular type of bush). It is believed that it may have originally been part of the [[Handsworth]] parish.<ref>[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=36165 British History Online: West Bromwich Churches]</ref> A [[Benedictine]] [[priory]] existed in West Bromwich from the 12th century around which the settlement of ''Broomwich Heath'' grew. In 1727, the town became a stop on the coaching road between [[London]] and [[Shrewsbury, Shropshire|Shrewsbury]] and its growth began. In the 19th century, coal deposits were discovered, ensuring that the town grew rapidly as an industrial centre, with industries such as spring, gun and nail making developing. Most of the coal deposits were found below the ground a mile or so west of Broomwich Heath, and so the "new" town adopted the name ''West Bromwich''. Well before the end of the 19th century, West Bromwich had established itself as a prominent area to match older neighbouring towns including [[Dudley]] and [[Walsall]].
In 1888, West Bromwich became a [[county borough]], incorporating the village of [[Great Barr]]. It was expanded in 1966, acquiring most of the [[borough]] of [[Tipton]] and [[Wednesbury]] [[urban district]], before joining with the neighbouring county borough of [[County Borough of Warley|Warley]] in 1974 to form the [[Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell]].
[[Charlemont Hall]], built during the 1750s, stood on the west side of the present Charlemont Crescent, in the Charlemont and Grove Vale district of the town. Charlemont Hall was described c. 1800 as 'a lofty neat-looking house of brick, faced with stone, with iron palisades etc. in front'. An east wing was added in 1855. The last occupants were Thomas Jones, town clerk of Wednesbury 1897-1921, and his widow. The house was demolished in 1948, and is now covered by a number of smaller detached homes. Much of the surrounding area was developed during the 1960s as the [[Charlemont Farm]] housing estate, which ia a mix of private and council housing.
West Bromwich suffered heavily in the [[Cholera epidemic of 1831]] which spread northwards into the town. A temporary board of health was set up and a hospital opened in the former Revivalist chapel in Spon Lane. The natural gradual slope of the land provided drainage within the soil, however, urbanisation made this increasingly difficult and drainage along the streets was described as inadequate. The [[West Bromwich Town Improvement Commissioners]] was established in 1854, and they tackled the drainage problem in the town. They appointed members to new titles and in the 1880s bought land in Friar Park for a sewerage farm.
Under the [[Reform Act of 1832]], West Bromwich became part of the new southern division of [[Staffordshire]], and under the [[Reform Act of 1867]] it was transferred to the parliamentary borough of Wednesbury.<ref name="BHO p history">[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=36164&strquery=west%20bromwich British History Online: West Bromwich parliamentary history]</ref> Under the [[Redistribution of Seats Act of 1885]], the borough of West Bromwich became a parliamentary borough returning one member. In 1885, it was held by the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]] but from 1886 to 1906 it was held by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] before being held by the Liberal Party again until 1910 when the Conservative Party regained the area which they held until 1918 under the representation of [[Viscount Lewisham]].<ref name="BHO p history" /> In 1918, it became a Labour hold who have held it since, except for between 1931 to 1935 when it held by the [[National Unionist]]s.<ref name="BHO p history" />
[[Image:West-bromwich-town-hall.jpg|thumb|right|[[West Bromwich Town Hall]]]]
By the outbreak of [[World War I]] in 1914, many of the older houses that had been built to house workers during the [[Industrial Revolution]] were becoming unfit for human habitation. Sanitation was inadequate, decay was rife, and the homes were becoming a danger to the health and safety of their inhabitants. After the end of the war, the local council started building new homes to rehouse people from the rundown inner city areas. The new homes were a vast improvement on their predecessors, with many modern features such as bathrooms, indoor toilets, running water, electricity and gardens. A significant number of privately owned homes were also built for the town's wealthier residents. This continued after [[World War II]] and by 1970, most of West Bromwich was unrecognisable to what it had been 50 years earlier, although a great deal of older houses remained and some remain to this day.
The local road network was also massively improved during the 1960s and 1970s. West Bromwich is located at the extreme northern end of the [[M5 motorway]], and has had direct access to it since the early 1960s. This gave the town an immediate fast road link to faraway places including [[Worcester]], [[Gloucester]], [[Bristol]] and [[Exeter]]. Traffic passing through West Bromwich on the main route from [[Wolverhampton]] to [[Birmingham]] was diverted along the new ''Northern Loop Road'' (also known as ''The Expressway'') after 1972, with another dual carriageway being built to link The Expressway with neighbouring [[Oldbury]].
As with many other parts of the Midlands, West Bromwich was hit badly by the recession during the late-1970s and the 1980s. Many local factories closed as there was no longer an adequate demand for the supply they were generating. Several more factories have closed in more recent years as manufacturers look to countries where the labour is cheaper, but there are still a considerably large number of factories in the West Bromwich area to this very day.
West Bromwich's road links were further enhanced in 1995 on the completion of the [[Black Country Spine Road]] that gives an unbroken dual carriageway link to [[Bilston]]. The completion of this new road opened up several square miles of previously inaccessible land, and has allowed several major businesses to set up along the route. This has helped relieve some of the unemployment problems in West Bromwich, although some parts of the town still have some of the highest unemployment rates in the West Midlands.
==Politics==
[[Image:westbromcrest.jpg|thumb|right|The coat of arms of West Bromwich.]]
The town is divided into two constituencies; [[West Bromwich East (UK Parliament constituency)|West Bromwich East]] and [[West Bromwich West (UK Parliament constituency)|West Bromwich West]]. West Bromwich East is served by [[Tom Watson (politician)|Tom Watson]] of [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]. He has held the position since the 2001 general election. Preceding him was [[Peter Snape]], also of Labour, who had served the ward since the 1992 general election.<ref>[http://politics.guardian.co.uk/hoc/constituency/0,,-1418,00.html The Guardian: West Bromwich East]</ref>
West Bromwich West is served by [[Adrian Bailey]] of [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] who won a 54.3% share in the 2005 general election. He has been MP for the ward since the [[West Bromwich West by-election, 2000|2000 by-election]].<ref>[http://politics.guardian.co.uk/hoc/constituency/0,9338,-1419,00.html The Guardian: West Bromwich West]</ref> Preceding him, the MP for the ward was [[Betty Boothroyd]], <ref>[http://politics.guardian.co.uk/hoc/constituency/history/0,,-1419,00.html The Guardian: West Bromwich West full election history]</ref> who for eight years served as the first female [[Speaker of the House of Commons]].
==Religion==
West Bromwich is a culturally diverse area with many places of worship for several different religions.
[[Christianity]] is still the predominant faith group in the area, with the [[Church of England]] providing the most places of worship across the geographically wider [[West Bromwich Deanery]] (taking in West Bromwich, Hill Top, Stone Cross, Carter's Green, Friar's Green and others) which contains nine [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] churches and the newly formed [[West Bromwich Network Church]]. Other Christian denominations are present, including [[Roman Catholic]], [[Methodist]], [[Baptist]], Elim [[Pentecostal]], [[Assemblies of God]] and other independent churches. The deanery of West Bromwich is under the [[Diocese of Lichfield]].
[[Hinduism|Hindus]] have had a formal place of worship in West Bromwich since the opening of the Shree Krishna Temple in 1974, in a converted church once called Ebenezer [[Congregational]] Chapel which had closed in 1971.<ref>[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=36168&strquery=west%20bromwich British History Online: West Bromwich Hindus]</ref>
In 1875, being locked out of a packed [[Evangelist]] meeting in [[Birmingham]] caused John Blackham of Ebenezer Congregational Church to start the Pleasant Sunday Afternoon Movement.<ref>[http://www.blackcountrysociety.co.uk/articles/sundayafternoon.htm Black Country Society:Pleasant Sunday Afternoon]</ref>
Mass immigration from the [[Commonwealth]] took place in West Bromwich during the 1950s and 1960s, with most of these hailing from the [[India]]n sub-continent, although a significant number of [[Afro-Caribbean]] immigrants also settled in West Bromwich. The majority of these immigrants settled in the older parts of the town that were mostly made up of [[Victorian era|Victorian]] and [[Edwardian period|Edwardian]] terraced houses.
==Transport==
For roads, the [[M5 motorway]] between the West Midlands and the [[West Country]] passes through the town. West Bromwich has its own bus station in the town centre, with connections to Birmingham and other major towns in the [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands region]].
[[West Bromwich railway station]] was opened by the [[Great Western Railway]] on its [[Birmingham Snow Hill-Wolverhampton Low Level Line|route]] between [[Birmingham Snow Hill railway station|Birmingham Snow Hill]] and [[Wolverhampton Low Level railway station|Wolverhampton Low Level]] on [[14 November]], [[1854]]. The trackbed of that line is now served by the [[Midland Metro]] light rail (tram) system. The nearest main-line railway station is now [[Sandwell and Dudley railway station]], approximately one mile away in [[Oldbury, West Midlands|Oldbury]] town centre.
[[Image:WBA The Great Escape.jpg|thumb|right|Fans spill on to [[The Hawthorns]] pitch following West Bromwich Albion's escape from relegation in 2005.]]
The nearest [[airport]] which is approximately 16 miles away, is [[Birmingham International Airport (UK)|Birmingham International Airport]].
==Education==
The town is served by three secondary schools; [[Menzies High School]], [[George Salter High School]] and [[Dartmouth High School]].
Menzies High School serves the area around [[Hateley Heath]], [[Tantany]], [[Charlemont and Grove Vale]]. George Salter served the west of the town near the border with [[Tipton]]. Dartmouth serves the north-eastern part of the town around [[Great Barr]].
==Localities==
{{flatlist}}
* [[Carters Green]]
* [[Charlemont and Grove Vale|Charlemont]]
* [[Charlemont and Grove Vale|Charlemont Farm]]
* [[Charlemont and Grove Vale|Grove Vale]]
* [[Great Barr]]
* [[Greets Green]]
* [[Hill Top, West Midlands|Hill Top]]
* [[Hateley Heath]]
* [[Lyng, West Midlands|Lyng]]
* [[Newton, West Midlands|Newton]]
* [[Stone Cross, West Midlands|Stone Cross]]
* [[Sandwell Valley]]
* [[Tantany]]
{{endflatlist}}
==Famous residents==
*[[Francis Asbury]] - [[Methodist]] [[bishop]]
*[[Denise Lewis]] - [[heptathlon|heptathlete]]
*[[Robert Plant]] - [[singer]] with [[Led Zeppelin]]
*[[Major Nichols]] - [[lightweight]] [[Racing bicycle]] [[manufacturer]]
*[[Madeleine Carroll]] - [[actress]]
*[[Jana Bellin]] - [[chess]] [[Grandmaster (chess)|grandmaster]]
*[[Phil Lynott]] - [[Thin Lizzy]]
*[[Ian Hill]] - [[Judas Priest]]
*[[K.K. Downing]] - [[Judas Priest]] [[guitar]]ist
*Dr [[Karl Shuker]] - [[zoologist]], [[cryptozoologist]] and [[author]]
*[[Frank Skinner]] - [[comedian]]
*[[Brian Walden]] - [[Member of Parliament]], [[journalist]] and [[Presenter|broadcaster]]
*[[Matthew Marsden]]- [[actor]]
*[[Cindy Kent]] - former singer with [[The Settlers (band)|The Settlers]] and currently [[Premier Christian Radio|a broadcaster
*[[Steve Webb]] - [[Member of Parliament]], and [[Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrat]] leadership candidate
*[[John Byrne]] - comic book artist (Moved to Canada when 8)
==Local dialect==
The West Bromwich dialect owes much to the [[Black Country]] which has words of its own and strong pronunciation. The West Bromwich version, however, is slightly diluted but still contrasts markedly with the adjacent [[Birmingham]] "[[Brummie]]" dialect.
==Quotes==
*"I would rather spend a holiday in [[Tuscany]] than in the Black Country, but if I were compelled to chose between living in West Bromwich or [[Florence]], I would make straight for West Bromwich." [[J.B. Priestley]], ''[[English Journey]]''
==See also==
*[[West Bromwich Building Society]]
*[[Charlemont and Grove Vale]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
*[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=36169 'West Bromwich: Social life', A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 17: Offlow hundred (part) (1976), pp. 70-74. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=36169. Date accessed: 23 April 2008.]
==External links==
*[http://www.sandwell.gov.uk Sandwell MBC]
*[http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/builders/majornichols.html Major Nichols cycles]
*[http://blackcountrysociety.co.uk/articles/nicholls.htm Major Nichols history]
{{West Midlands County}}
[[Category:Towns in the West Midlands]]
[[Category:Areas of Sandwell]]
[[Category:Articles including recorded pronunciations (UK English)]]
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