Bloxwich

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Bloxwich
latitude= 52.61577
longitude= -2.01620
map_type= West Midlands
population = ~40,000 (2001 Population Census)
metropolitan_borough= Metropolitan Borough of Walsall
metropolitan_county= West Midlands
region= West Midlands
post_town= BLOXWICH
postcode_district = WS3
postcode_area= WS
os_grid_reference= SJ9902
Ambulance= West Midlands Ambulance Service
constituency_westminster= Walsall North
static_

static_image_caption= All Saints Church, a landmark at one end of the High Street.

Bloxwich is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall, West Midlands, England, with a population of around 40,000 people.

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'.cite book| title=History of the Borough and Foreign of Walsall |author=Edward Lees Glew |year=1856 |publisher=J.R. Robinson |pages=75] 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. 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.

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.

Education

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
* Elmore Green Primary School
* St. Peter's Catholic Primary School

econdary schools

* Walsall Academy
* Sneyd Comprehensive School
* Frank F. Harrison Community School

Defunct schools

* Forest Comprehensive School
* T. P. Riley Comprehensive School

Transport

Bloxwich is well served by public transport and is home to two train stations, Bloxwich and Bloxwich North.

Very regular buses link Bloxwich with Walsall, whilst others link the area to the surrounding towns of Wolverhampton, Bilston, Willenhall, Brownhills, Wednesfield, Cannock and Hednesford. Other local services serve nearby estates of Coalpool, Harden, Mossley, Lower Farm, Goscote, Leamore, Beechdale, Dudley Fields, Landywood, Essington and Pelsall. Three peak only services link Bloxwich with Birmingham.

The main operator of bus services in the area is National Express West Midlands, but Arriva Midlands, A2Z Travel, Thandi Bus Services & Green Bus Services also operate on routes in the area. Roadwise, 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.

Famous residents

*Phil Drabble
*Lee Naylor
*Pat Collins

Also the birthplace of Arthur Tolcher.

References