Ashmore Park
Encyclopedia
Ashmore Park is a large housing estate
just outside of Wednesfield
, in England
. It is now in the city of Wolverhampton
, West Midlands
and was located within the historic county boundaries
of Staffordshire
. It forms most of the Wednesfield North
ward of Wolverhampton
City Council.
There are two main shopping areas, known locally as the 'top' or 'bottom' shops due to their geographic location. Both precincts house a mix of local and independent businesses. The 'bottom shops' has underwent an extensive facelift during the early 2000's that included work to preserve the historic moat site.
Located on Griffiths Drive (the main road around the estate) there is a community centre, a youth club and a newly built Children's Centre “The Parks”. The Ashmore Park Community Centre and Ashmore Park Youth Club have each been renovated in recent years, improving both accessibility and security for the general users.
The estate is served by two Banks's pubs: "The Ashmore" and "The True Briton". There is also a Fish And Chips shop, a Post Office Chemist and Library.
The housing estate was originally built as an overspill estate for Wolverhampton, but was built within Wednesfield
Urban District
. The estate consists predominantly of 1950s council house
s, flats and bungalows. It was the biggest council estate in Europe at the time of being built.
The estate was visited by Clive Anthony Lambden for one week during July 1989. It was during his years at North Staffordshire Polytechnic.
The home stead is viewed as being used by the Dean of Wolverhampton in his role as Dean of Ashmore Park (basically landlord). Generally the house was probably used as a farm and hostel for visitors and/ or workers utilized on the land and in the woods. Such things were common medieval uses for outlying city/ town estates. However, there is little to no actual evidence of such use here. The old farmhouse was probably taken down when a new one was built in the early 19th century; that new one was demolished in 1957 and a library was built near its site.
, where it was recorded as having a population of 6,734. 25-44 year olds represented the highest proportion of the estate's population at 27.6% with 60-74 year olds being the second highest at 24.3%. The neighbourhood is not an ethnically diverse area with 97.2% of the population being classed as White. Black Caribbean is the largest ethnic minority group in the neighbourhood, representing 0.9%. Christianity
is the predominant religion in the area with 81.6% of the population stating that they were Christians. 9.4% said that they did not have a religion.
There was a total of 2,968 households in the neighbourhood, of which 54.5% are owner occupied and 39.4% are council houses. 0.4% of the population live in communal establishments, 84% of which suffer from a long term illness. Of all the households, only 11.1% are considered to not be deprived at all and 7.2% are considered to be overcrowded.
Ashmore Park had an unemployment rate of 7.1%, above the Wolverhampton average of 5.3%. Of the economically inactive, 24.4% are retired.
, with services roughly every four minutes Monday-Saturday and twelve minutes Sundays.
The 528 bus runs approx every 30 mins from Wolverhampton to Bilston via Wood End (Prestwood Road), Ashmore Park (from Linthouse lane then onto Peacock ave) and Willenhall (The Dale). This service runs from approx 0730- 1800.
Then the 528E runs from 1810-2210 Wolverhampton to Ashmore Park only. An hourly service.
Fares are £1.60 for up to 4 stops and £1.80 beyond.
Housing estate
A housing estate is a group of buildings built together as a single development. The exact form may vary from country to country. Accordingly, a housing estate is usually built by a single contractor, with only a few styles of house or building design, so they tend to be uniform in appearance...
just outside of Wednesfield
Wednesfield
Wednesfield lies at , and is located to the northeast of Wolverhampton city centre on the northern fringe of the West Midlands conurbation...
, in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is now in the city of Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
, West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
and was located within the historic county boundaries
Counties of the United Kingdom
The counties of the United Kingdom are subnational divisions of the United Kingdom, used for the purposes of administrative, geographical and political demarcation. By the Middle Ages counties had become established as a unit of local government, at least in England. By the early 17th century all...
of Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
. It forms most of the Wednesfield North
Wednesfield North
Wednesfield North is a ward of Wolverhampton City Council, West Midlands. As the name suggests, it covers the northern parts of the town of Wednesfield. It borders the Wednesfield South, Heath Town and Fallings Park wards, as well as South Staffordshire and the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall...
ward of Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
City Council.
Places of interest
At the heart of the estate is a large green park from which the area takes it name, consisting of a children’s play area and multiple sports facilities which include a skate park, all weather multi sports pitch BMX track and bowls green. The park is also home to the Wednesfield Aces speedway team.There are two main shopping areas, known locally as the 'top' or 'bottom' shops due to their geographic location. Both precincts house a mix of local and independent businesses. The 'bottom shops' has underwent an extensive facelift during the early 2000's that included work to preserve the historic moat site.
Located on Griffiths Drive (the main road around the estate) there is a community centre, a youth club and a newly built Children's Centre “The Parks”. The Ashmore Park Community Centre and Ashmore Park Youth Club have each been renovated in recent years, improving both accessibility and security for the general users.
The estate is served by two Banks's pubs: "The Ashmore" and "The True Briton". There is also a Fish And Chips shop, a Post Office Chemist and Library.
History
Ashmore Park was originally one of the wooded estates which Lady Wulfruna gave over to St. Peter's Fold in order for it to generate income and food for itself. A moat surrounded farmhouse was built here, sometime in the mid-14th century. Three-quarters of the moat still exists today, at the 'bottom shops'.The housing estate was originally built as an overspill estate for Wolverhampton, but was built within Wednesfield
Wednesfield
Wednesfield lies at , and is located to the northeast of Wolverhampton city centre on the northern fringe of the West Midlands conurbation...
Urban District
Urban district
In the England, Wales and Ireland, an urban district was a type of local government district that covered an urbanised area. Urban districts had an elected Urban District Council , which shared local government responsibilities with a county council....
. The estate consists predominantly of 1950s council house
Council house
A council house, otherwise known as a local authority house, is a form of public or social housing. The term is used primarily in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Council houses were built and operated by local councils to supply uncrowded, well-built homes on secure tenancies at...
s, flats and bungalows. It was the biggest council estate in Europe at the time of being built.
The estate was visited by Clive Anthony Lambden for one week during July 1989. It was during his years at North Staffordshire Polytechnic.
The home stead is viewed as being used by the Dean of Wolverhampton in his role as Dean of Ashmore Park (basically landlord). Generally the house was probably used as a farm and hostel for visitors and/ or workers utilized on the land and in the woods. Such things were common medieval uses for outlying city/ town estates. However, there is little to no actual evidence of such use here. The old farmhouse was probably taken down when a new one was built in the early 19th century; that new one was demolished in 1957 and a library was built near its site.
Demographics
The latest census to take place in the neighbourhood was in 2001United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
, where it was recorded as having a population of 6,734. 25-44 year olds represented the highest proportion of the estate's population at 27.6% with 60-74 year olds being the second highest at 24.3%. The neighbourhood is not an ethnically diverse area with 97.2% of the population being classed as White. Black Caribbean is the largest ethnic minority group in the neighbourhood, representing 0.9%. Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
is the predominant religion in the area with 81.6% of the population stating that they were Christians. 9.4% said that they did not have a religion.
There was a total of 2,968 households in the neighbourhood, of which 54.5% are owner occupied and 39.4% are council houses. 0.4% of the population live in communal establishments, 84% of which suffer from a long term illness. Of all the households, only 11.1% are considered to not be deprived at all and 7.2% are considered to be overcrowded.
Ashmore Park had an unemployment rate of 7.1%, above the Wolverhampton average of 5.3%. Of the economically inactive, 24.4% are retired.
Transport
The 59 bus provides regular access to the estate from WolverhamptonWolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
, with services roughly every four minutes Monday-Saturday and twelve minutes Sundays.
The 528 bus runs approx every 30 mins from Wolverhampton to Bilston via Wood End (Prestwood Road), Ashmore Park (from Linthouse lane then onto Peacock ave) and Willenhall (The Dale). This service runs from approx 0730- 1800.
Then the 528E runs from 1810-2210 Wolverhampton to Ashmore Park only. An hourly service.
Fares are £1.60 for up to 4 stops and £1.80 beyond.