Wednesbury

Wednesbury is situated in Sandwell. It is close to Walsall and has easy access to the Black Country route and the main road network. This part of the Black Country is well known for its engineering history and its contribution to the Industrial revolution. There have been settlements at Wednesbury for hundreds of years and it is one of the oldest areas in Sandwell. The first mention of Wednesbury was recorded at the time of the Anglo Saxon invasions. Wodnesbyri is the first known spelling and is also found in the Domesday book as Wadnesberie. Woden was the Saxon God of War and the word beorg means fort.

Wednesbury became an important fortification in the Kingdom of Mercia. It is known to have achieved independence from the Anglo Saxon kingdoms in A.D. 625.

Records show that two battles were fought with Danish invaders in A.D. 910 at Tettenhall near Wolverhampton and at Wednesfield. A series of fortifications were built by Ethelfleda, the daughter of Alfred the Great and Lady of Mercia to provide more adequate defence against this incursions.

The Domesday Book of 1086 details the following extract about Wednesbury: "The King retains Wadnesberie with the appurtenances". Wednesbury at that time included Bloxwich and Shelfield near Walsall. During the reign of Henry II, the Manor of Wednesbury passed from Crown ownership to a Simon de Heronville.

Mediaeval Wednesbury was very small, and its inhabitants would appear to have been farmers and farm workers. However, in 1315 coal had already been discovered and was being worked. Nail making was also in progress during these times. William Paget was born in Wednesbury in 1505, the son of a nail maker. He is noted as having risen to the position of Secretary of State, a Knight of the Garter and an Ambassador. He was one of executors of the will of Henry VIII.

Wednesbury suffered during the Civil War during to rivalry between various factions. In 1744 records show that John Wesley was assaulted during the Shrove-tide riots of that year. This was a historic event in the history of Wesleyanism. John Wesley was the 18th century evangelist and often preached in the High Bullen area.

The first turnpike road through Wednesbury was built in 1727 and others followed soon after. With the arrival of the canals the town expanded rapidly. Tramcars first appeared in the streets of Wednesbury in 1883 and were originally steam driven. Electric trams were introduced in 1893. The first electric tram ran from Wednesbury to Bloxwich. Trams ceased to operate in 1939.

The large increase in population during the industrial revolution saw Wednesbury expand rapidly. Like all industrial areas of the West Midlands the town has suffered from the closure of many factories and workshops in recent years but improvements are constantly being made and there are now modern shopping facilities and good local amenities.

Wednesbury was made a Municipal Borough in 1886 and together with nearby Darlaston and Willenhall it used to form part of the Wednesbury Borough before its incorporation into Sandwell.

The Sandwell Council Website can be found at http://www.smbc.sandwell.gov.uk/