Halesowen

 

The name Halesowen means simply 'Owen's Nooks' from the old English word 'halh' meaning 'nook' or corner piece of land. The Owen part of the town name comes from the Welsh Prince Owen who resided here at the turn of the thirteenth century. He had been given the land by Henry II at the end of the 12th century. The river Stour is probably the reason for the nooks which formed part of the broken valleys by the river. Halesowen has been around for some time and the Saxons found its proximity to the river Stour to be an ideal location from which to make a settlement.

Halesowen Abbey
The Abbey ruins can be visited at weekends during the summer months for those that are keen on finding out about the history of Halesowen. The Abbey dates back to 1215 when land was given to French monks by King John. The monks it would seem were not that popular and history records an uprising against the Abbot due to the high rate of taxes imposed upon the local people of Halesowen. The monks were an industrious bunch and as well as being a place of worship the Abbey doubled up as a fish farm and a mill. Pilgrims would also use the Abbey as a resting point along their pilgrimage route. This all of course came to an abrupt end in the 16th century when the Abbey was ransacked and the monks disbanded with the dissolution of the monasteries.

Churches
The distinctive Halesowen parish church was built in 1083 by Earl Roger de Montgomery. It dates back to Norman times and features Norman arches. Like most churches with such dated history it has seen many changes and additions to its infrastructure.

St Kenelm's Church is famous for its well which is thought to have healing properties and which was a popular destination for pilgrims. Tradition states that the church is built on the site where King Kenelm of Mercia died. After his death he was buried and a mysterious spring appeared on the site of his burial. Those who drank the water were said to have been cured of a variety of ailments.

Industry
Halesowen was noted for its manufacture of nails. This was its main trade. It was a trade that was carried out in the back yards of Halesowen folk for years. Very much a domestic industry it was collectively on a large scale. Coal mines were the most recent industry. Like most of the neighbouring Black Country, Halesowen had its share of the mining trade. In total there were over a hundred mines in and around Halesowen. The proximity of Halesowen to the expanding motorway network has, in recent years seen some major national organisations come to the town which was previously hard to reach. These include the regional headquarters of the AA and Barnardos. Some of the architecture in Halesowen, notably the ruins of St Mary's Abbey and the Parish Church of St John the Baptist, date back to the early 13th century and the Norman period respectively. William Shenstone is buried in the parish churchyard, where the remains of an ancient cross are also kept. It used to stand in the Great Cornbow. Today, the town has a population of around 48,000 people.

Halesowen Today
Halesowen became a Borough in its own right in 1936. This only lasted until 1974 when government reorganisation placed it under the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley. There is nothing really unique about the towns infrastructure. Halesowen had the heart ripped out of it in the 1960's building frenzy and suffered as a result. However, steps have been made to rectify this insult and the shopping arcade and side streets are almost pleasing on a busy day. With its close location to Birmingham, Halesowen is easily accessible and a busy route to the motorways and the South West beyond.

Halesowen Town Football Club are locally known as the Yeltz and are one of England's oldest football clubs.