Bloxwich
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bloxwich | |
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  Bloxwich shown within the West Midlands |
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| Population | ~40,000 (2001 Population Census) |
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| OS grid reference | |
| Metropolitan borough | Metropolitan Borough of Walsall |
| Metropolitan county | West Midlands |
| Region | West Midlands |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BLOXWICH |
| Postcode district | WS3 |
| Police | West Midlands |
| Fire | West Midlands |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| European Parliament | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament | Walsall North |
| List of places: UK • England • West Midlands | |
Bloxwich is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall, West Midlands, England, with a population of around 40,000 people.
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[edit] History
Bloxwich was originally formed hundreds years ago as a settlement in the ancient manor of Wednesbury. It was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 under the name 'Blockeswich'.[1] While still a village as recently as the early 19th century, most of the local people were employed in the newly founded mining and forging industries. The town grew rapidly in the 18th century around coal mining and various manufacturing industries. Manufacturing in the area consisted of bridle bits, stirrups, keys, cabinet locks, plane irons, buckle tongues, chains and saddles. Its most famous product of manufacture were awl blades, which it is reputed to have surpassed all other places in the United Kingdom in manufacturing.[1] It is also known for its canals. Famous people from Bloxwich include Pat Collins, who was a Funfair owner during the 19th century. The site of his house and Wakes grounds are now the location of an Asda supermarket that was built during the 1970s.
Being part of the County Borough of Walsall, Bloxwich was heavily developed between the wars for council housing. Most of the council houses of the 1920s and 1930s were constructed around Blakenall Heath, as well as the new housing estates of Harden and Goscote. In the 20 years which followed the Second World War, the Beechdale and Mossley estates were also erected as council housing developments, while the southern side of Harden was developed along with the Rivers Estate at Blakenall Heath. Many privately owned houses, mostly in the Little Bloxwich area, were also constructed.
Bloxwich is currently involved in numerous redevelopment projects - Bloxwich police station, the new market square and job centres are examples. Bloxwich Golf Club to the north of the town on the A34 marks the northern most edge of Bloxwich, Walsall and the West Midlands.
The town centre is still mostly made up of Victorian and Edwardian buildings which maintain Bloxwich's origins of a Staffordshire village. Good examples are Bloxwich Hospital, Bloxwich Hall, All Saints Church and several private houses in Station Street. The church contains the original cemetery which dates back to the early 1700s. When this stopped being available a new cemetery was created in land between the High Street and Field Road, just to the north. The last burial took place in 2000 and a new cemetery was open to the north of Bloxwich on the Turnberry estate, a private estate which was laid out during the 1980s.
[edit] Neighbourhoods
- Blakenall Heath
- Beechdale
- Harden
- Little Bloxwich
- Wallington Heath
- Mossley
- Turnberry Estate
- Dudley Fields
- Goscote
- Leamore
- Lower Farm Estate
The postcode for Bloxwich is WS3, it also covers the suburban centre of Pelsall.
[edit] Education
[edit] Primary schools
- Sunshine Infant School
- Blakenall Heath Junior School
- Harden Primary School
- Leamore Primary School
- Hatherton Lane Primary School
- Busill Jones Primary School
- Mossley Primary School
- Little Bloxwich Church of England Primary School
[edit] Secondary schools
[edit] Defunct schools
[edit] Transport
The A34, Southampton/Oxford/Manchester road, goes straight through the town and forms its High Street. Most shops are based on this linear development. The A4124 Wolverhampton to Brownhills road crosses to the north of the town. Bloxwich is four miles from the M6 motorway between junctions 10 and 11. It has two railway stations, Bloxwich and Bloxwich North, along the Chase Line which runs from Birmingham to Stafford.
Several bus routes serve Bloxwich, operated mostly by National Express West Midlands, but also Arriva Midlands, A2Z Travel and Green Motor Company, link the town to Walsall, Cannock, Wolverhampton, Bilston, Wednesfield and Willenhall. Buses also link the town with local estates including Beechdale, Lower Farm, Mossley, Landywood, Essington and New Invention.
[edit] Famous residents
Also the birthplace of Arthur Tolcher.
[edit] References
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