Claregate

Burland Avenue, Claregate

Claregate is a suburb of Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England. It is north-west of Wolverhampton city centre, within the Tettenhall Regis ward.

History

As a distinct residential area, Claregate has only existed since the pre and post war housing estate was built between the Codsall and Aldersley roads. It is bounded on the North-East side by the rail line from Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury, on the South-East side by the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal and on the West side by the ridge that rises up to Tettenhall village. The origins of the name are unknown, though a 13th-century source names a place called 'Clare' in the area.[1]

Today

Wolverhampton Marathon 2013 at Codsall Road, Claregate

Claregate is a thriving suburb situated between Tettenhall, Pendeford and Aldersley. The area is majority housing, with shopping areas, pubs and a school. The area also forms part of the route of the Wolverhampton Marathon.

Amenities

The focal point of the area is the traffic island between Codsall Road, Pendeford Avenue, Blackburn Avenue and Knights Avenue. Here, a cluster of businesses are located including a Murco Petrol Station (formerly a Jet petrol station) - and originally named Claregate Garage,[2] Evergreen Hairdressers,[3] Esha's Boutique, Greedy Pig sandwich shop and Cut 'N' Dry barbers.

There are also shopping parades at the junction of Green Lane and Blakeley Avenue with a Costcutter branch, the Sunrise Chinese take-away and a children's nursery amongst other businesses, and Tettenhall Hardware, a Co-Operative Food store, the Roma Wines off-license and two fish and chip take-aways are situated on Pendeford Avenue at its junction with Green Lane.

Education

Claregate has one school, Claregate Primary School, situated on Chester Avenue.[4]

Claregate Playing Fields

Claregate has a large playing field that is used for cricket and football, as well as hosting tennis courts and a children's playground. In June 2013, the park was saved for future generations when it was unveiled as one of six Wolverhampton parks to be designated a Queen Elizabeth II Field.[5]

Adjacent to the playing fields is Claregate Pavilion. It provides changing room facilities to clubs which use the playing fields. It is also home to Sugar n Spice, an activity group for girls aged over nine years. Sugar n Spice was founded in 1975.[6]

Public houses

Claregate has two long established pubs, the first formerly called 'The Fieldhouse', but now sharing the areas name, 'The Claregate', on Codsall Road. The other is The Pilot, situated on Green Lane. Marston's Brewery recently announced plans to construct a mini Tesco supermarket on land that currently forms part of The Claregate pub's car park. The scheme faced opposition from a local campaign group called Residents Against Marston's Proposals (RAMP),[7] but was approved in November 2012 on the condition that the store close at 10pm, and a pedestrian crossing be installed on Codsall Road.[8]

Micropub

Hail to the Ale micropub, Claregate, Wolverhampton (January 2014)

The first micropub in the West Midlands resides in the centre of Claregate alongside the traffic island at Pendeford Avenue. Approval was granted by city planning chiefs in June 2013. The pub, ran by Essington based Morton Brewery, is called 'Hail to the Ale' and serves only ale, cider and fruit wines. It received its premises licence in August 2013 despite some opposition from local residents,[9][10][11] opening its doors on 5 September 2013, and proved immediately popular with drinkers.[12] The building was previously an antique furniture shop called 'Anything Goes', but is best known locally as the Claregate Post Office.[13]

References

  1. ↑ Horovitz, David (2005). The Place-Names of Staffordshire. p. 194. ISBN 978-0955030901.
  2. ↑ Brew, Alec (1996). Codsall and Claregate. The Chalford Publishing Company Limited. p. 2. ISBN 0752406744.
  3. ↑ "Sales ‘cut by half’ during Wolverhampton roadworks". Express & Star. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  4. ↑ "Claregate Primary School". www.wolverhampton-engage.net. Wolverhampton City Council. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  5. ↑ "Six Wolverhampton parks are saved following legal deal". www.expressandstar.com. Express & Star. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  6. ↑ "Sugar n Spice website". Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  7. ↑ Brown, Helen (31 October 2012). "Fears over plan for Tesco on pub site". Express & Star.
  8. ↑ "Mini Tesco on pub car park approved". Express & Star. 7 November 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  9. ↑ "First micro pub set to open in Wolverhampton despite concerns". Express & Star. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  10. ↑ "Fate of Wolverhampton micro pub plan to be decided". Express & Star. 8 August 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  11. ↑ "First micro pub to open in Wolverhampton despite residents’ anger". Express & Star. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  12. ↑ "Wolverhampton micro-pub is a real time machine". Native Monster. 6 January 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  13. ↑ Brew, Alec (1996). Codsall and Claregate. The Chalford Publishing Company Limited. p. 74. ISBN 0752406744.

Coordinates: 52°36′25″N 2°09′29″W / 52.607°N 2.158°W