West Bromwich
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  Map sources for West Bromwich at grid reference SO9992
|
West Bromwich is a town in the English county of the West Midlands, five miles north west of Birmingham lying on the A41 London to Holyhead trunk road. It is part of the Black Country. West Bromwich is the largest town within the borough of Sandwell with a population of 136,940 (2001). The motto on the town's coat of arms proclaims in Latin "Labor Omnia Vincit" which translates as "Work Conquers All".
Contents |
[edit] Features
The town is famous for its football team, West Bromwich Albion whose nickname is The Baggies. Engineering and chemicals are important to the town's economy.
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 Methodist - many of them colliers and drovers - knew him as "Brother Earl". See Black Country Methodism.
In 2004, a modern community arts centre known as "The Public" (or in StudlyCaps, "THEpUBLIC") was developed in the town centre. Designed by the architect Will Alsop, the £52million venue comprises a massive cuboid building constructed in dark grey and silver metal cladding with irregularly-shaped windows edged in magenta; its appearance has drawn comparisons with a fish tank [1]. The development has been beset by financial difficulties, going into administration even before the expected opening date of July 2006 [2].
[edit] History
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). A Benedictine priory existed in West Bromwich from the 12th century around which much of the town grew. In 1727 the town became a stop on the coaching road between London and 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.
In 1888 West Bromwich became a county borough, incorporating the village of Great Barr. It was expanded in 1966 to include most of the borough of Tipton and Wednesbury urban district, before joining with the neighbouring county borough of Warley in 1974 to form the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell.
Charlemont Hall built c.1755 stood on the west side of the present Charlemont Crescent, in the Charlemont and Grove Vale neighborhood 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.
[edit] West Bromwich Town Hall
The West Bromwich Town Improvement Commissioners (1854-1882) purchased prime land, previously part of West Bromwich Heath, from the rich Izon family, for the erection of public buildings including the Town Hall.
The Town Hall, situated in the centre of High Street, was built in 1874 -1875 in brick and stone to an Italian Gothic design of the architects Messrs Alexander & Henman of Stockton-on-Tees, Middlebrough and the building contractors were Messrs Trow & Sons of Wednesbury.
At the main entrance of the Town Hall is a triplet of arches supported by stone columns with carved capitals, which are decorated with medieval carved heads representing the twelve months of the year. A flight of stone steps lead up from the High Street into a wide corridor which encircles the main hall.
The interior of the Town Hall reflects the Victorian interest in Gothic and Medieval architecture. The ceilings, the iron work, the walls and pillars have been decorated from designs by the architects and the " harmonious blending of colours, and the magnificent stencil work costing many days of artistic and patient labour, cannot be too highly praised and words can hardly express the charming effect they have produced." (West Bromwich Weekly News, August 1875)
The wall of the main staircase leading from the corridor to the balcony has a large stained glass window with a centre panel containing the design of the crest and motto of the West Bromwich Town Improvement Commissioners.
The balcony in the main hall overlooks the fine maple floor of the ballroom, which leads up to the stage at the far end of the hall. Unique semi-circular cast-iron principals in the roof dominate the stage and form a magnificent setting for the Town Halls jewel in the crown, The Grand Organ.
This organ was the generous gift of Alexander Brogden, MP for Wednesbury, in 1878. It was built by Forster and Andrews of Hull following the International Exhibition of 1862 and is one of twelve organs built for town halls up and down the country by that firm. In May 1997 the organ was awarded a certificate by the British Institute of Organ Studies (BIOS) as it was considered to be of historic importance for its musical and technical qualities. It was recorded as historic in the National Pipe-Organ Register at Cambridge University.
Originally a monument to Victorian aspirations for West Bromwich to have a public building worthy of its status, the Town Hall has come, over the years, to occupy a very special place in the hearts of the local people.
[edit] Communications
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.
For rail, there are two rail routes through the town: The Great Western Railway opened the first section of its route between Birmingham and Wolverhampton on 14 November 1854, with a station at West Bromwich & Spon Lane. The trackbed of that line is now served by the Midland Metro light rail (tram) system.
The London and North Western Railway, later to become the LMSR, opened its line further to the south of the town. Here the station was named Spon Lane for West Bromwich. That has now closed, and the nearest main-line railway station is now Sandwell and Dudley.
The nearest airport which is approximately 16 miles away, is Birmingham International Airport.
[edit] Neighbourhoods
- Lyng
- Tantany
- Carters Green
- Greets Green
- Hill Top
- Hateley Heath
- Charlemont
- Charlemont Farm
- Grove Vale
- Newton
- Great Barr
- Stone Cross
- Sandwell Valley
[edit] Historic population
- 1831 - 15,000
- 1901 - 65,000
- 1950 - 89,000
- 1991 - 146,386
[edit] Famous people
- Francis Asbury - Methodist bishop
- Denise Lewis - heptathlete
- Robert Plant - singer with Led Zeppelin
- Madeleine Carroll - Actress
- Jana Bellin - Chess Grandmaster
- Phil Lynott - Thin Lizzy
- Ian Hill - Judas Priest
- K.K. Downing - Judas Priest guitarist
- Frank Skinner - comedian
- Brian Walden - Member of Parliament, journalist and broadcaster
- Matthew Marsden- Actor
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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
