Highgate, West Midlands
Encyclopedia
Highgate is a small village
located within the Walsall
Ring Road. The village was constructed in the Victorian era
for the wealthy, and has developed a reputation as one of the most expensive neighbourhoods in Walsall for house prices.
to the South with Caldmore
to the west and Chuckery
to the east.
, which is based on Gorway Road. The entrance to the University of Wolverhampton
's Walsall Campus East Gate along with a car parking facility owned by the university is situated within Highgate.
in 1939, which merged with the Bass brewery in 1961. It became independent when the management bought it out in 1995; however it was purchased by Aston Manor Brewery
in 2000 who used it to produce canned beer for supermarkets then sold it to pub company Global Star in July 2007. Following a tax bill of 1 million, Global sold it for £80,000 to two property developers.
The remains of the mill, built around the beginning of the 19th century, tower strikingly above the surrounding houses. The sails no longer remain and the upper section has been modified and added to over the years. The tower has a slight taper until the later cylindrical portion is reached; it is roughly five storeys, approximately 50 feet (15 m), tall with a crenellated top, which was a later addition.
Mentioned in the Birmingham Gazette
, Highgate Windmill came up for sale by Edward Rigby in both 1826 and 1828. It is known that Thomas Jennings worked it from 1835 to 1841, and in 1841, the Midland Counties Herald shows it being advertised by local builder M. Salt with a shop and cottage. Shortly thereafter, it was purchased by Mr. Moses Eyland, founder of the Walsall firm of buckle and spectacle makers Eyland & Sons, Ltd, of Lower Rushall Street (that factory having been converted into apartments in recent years). His son Charles Eyland, Mayor of Walsall 1857 - 58, inherited the property, having left his house in Lichfield Street for Hope Cottage, which stood in its own grounds adjoining the mill. During the Eyland ownership, the mill was worked by James Griffiths, who lived in the cottage opposite the malthouse, and it seems to have fallen into disuse between 1864 - 1868. After this, Charles Eyland removed the mill machinery, including the two grindstones. Appreciating the views tat could be obtained from the top storey of the tower, Mr. Eyland rebuilt, raised and furnished the top room, fitting a fireplace and laying a carpet. To aid his viewing he arranged a mirror on the camera obscura principle, so that the four compass directions could be seen in one glass.
In 1890, Charles Eyland died, and the mill passed to Charles Newbold Eyland, who moved into Hope Cottage with his family. In around 1919, the tower was struck by lightning, knocking down a piece of the parapet. One evening, several men arrived claiming they had been asked to repair the roof. The men were allowed to work and stripped the roof of the lead and stole it. Deprived of its protective covering, the roof sprang a leak and the inside walls were marked, however the building remained stable. On the death of Charles Newbold Eyland in 1925, the mill was bought by George Skidmore of Sandwell Villa, Sandwell Street, a member of the firm of buckle makers of Windmill Street. At the time, Mr. Skidmore was famed for his record in playing cricket for more than sixty years. Mr. Skidmore, who had for many years been interested in astronomy, supervised the rebuilding of the tower, re-pointing the brickwork and raising the parapet by approximately 2 foot (0.6096 m) and adding to the crenellations, so that it could be converted into an astronomical observatory. The floors were relaid with concrete on the oak beams, intending the construction to be more solid than before, and new stairs were built. George Skidmore then installed a large equatorial refracting telescope, which consisted of a lens, view finder, and a clockwork motor drive whereby it was possible to set the telescope on any star and ensure that it would be followed in its course across the heavens.
During World War II
, Highgate Windmill's commanding position made it the natural choice for use as an observation post by local Air Raid Patrol wardens, and for years it was manned by them every night. By the 1960s, the mill had fallen into disrepair, becoming covered in ivy. Little has been done to the building since apart from the removal of some of the ivy. Today, Highgate Windmill remains privately owned, and closed to the public. Despite this, it can still be viewed from Highgate Road and the footpath between there and Folly House Lane.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
located within the Walsall
Walsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
Ring Road. The village was constructed in the Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
for the wealthy, and has developed a reputation as one of the most expensive neighbourhoods in Walsall for house prices.
Geography
To the north is Walsall Town Centre and the The DelvesThe Delves
The Delves is a neighbourhood located in the south side of Walsall between Palfrey and Yew Tree estate in Walsall located on the outskirts of Walsall just before Sandwell.- Employment :...
to the South with Caldmore
Caldmore
Caldmore is one of the villages that make up the town of Walsall. The name is pronounced "Kar-ma" by the local populace.-History:The area was an important junction of roads which created a triangular shaped green called Caldmore Green...
to the west and Chuckery
Chuckery
Chuckery is a small suburb of Walsall located a mile from the town centre. -Name:The name "Chuckery" is believed to originate from the common medieval word to describe a poultry farming area.-Demographics:...
to the east.
Places of interest
Located within Highgate is Highgate Brewery, the local brewery of Walsall, and Walsall Cricket ClubWalsall Cricket Club
Walsall Cricket Club is an amateur cricket club in Walsall, West Midlands, England, UK.Established in 1833, it originally trained and played games in the Chuckery area of Walsall. It then moved to one at Windmill in 1847 and remained there until around 1850. The Chuckery ground became used by...
, which is based on Gorway Road. The entrance to the University of Wolverhampton
University of Wolverhampton
The University of Wolverhampton is a British university located on four campuses across the West Midlands and Shropshire. The city campus is located in Wolverhampton city centre with a second campus at Compton Park, Wolverhampton; a third in Walsall and a fourth in Telford...
's Walsall Campus East Gate along with a car parking facility owned by the university is situated within Highgate.
Highgate Brewery
Highgate Brewery was founded in 1898. It was purchased by Mitchells & ButlersMitchells & Butlers
Mitchells & Butlers plc runs around 2,000 managed pubs, bars and restaurants throughout the United Kingdom. The Company's headquarters is in Birmingham, England, United Kingdom...
in 1939, which merged with the Bass brewery in 1961. It became independent when the management bought it out in 1995; however it was purchased by Aston Manor Brewery
Aston Manor Brewery
Aston Manor Brewery is a brewery and beer bottling company in Aston, Birmingham, England. The company produces beer, cider and perry. It is the third largest cider company in the UK by market share, and the fourth largest in the world. Its products include Frosty Jack's Cider, the UK's leading...
in 2000 who used it to produce canned beer for supermarkets then sold it to pub company Global Star in July 2007. Following a tax bill of 1 million, Global sold it for £80,000 to two property developers.
Highgate Windmill
Church Hill in Walsall is the highest and steepest section of a long ridge dropping gradually away towards the south, fading out before it reaches Broadway. Caldmore occupies the western flank of the ridge, and Highgate the crest and eastern side. Due to Highgate's position on the hill, it receives long views to the south and east, and is separated from central Walsall and the partly industrialised Caldmore area by the lie of the land. It is also the location of one of the Borough's most interesting buildings - Highgate Windmill. This windmill is unique in the Borough, being the only significant remains of this type of building. The top of Highgate Road was once known as Windmill Lane, and is situated about a mile from St. Matthew's Church, to the south. The old miller's cottage adjoins, its gable flanking Highgate Road. The mill tower is Grade II listed.The remains of the mill, built around the beginning of the 19th century, tower strikingly above the surrounding houses. The sails no longer remain and the upper section has been modified and added to over the years. The tower has a slight taper until the later cylindrical portion is reached; it is roughly five storeys, approximately 50 feet (15 m), tall with a crenellated top, which was a later addition.
Mentioned in the Birmingham Gazette
Birmingham Gazette
The Birmingham Gazette, known for much of its existence as Aris's Birmingham Gazette, was a newspaper that was published and circulated in Birmingham, England from the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries...
, Highgate Windmill came up for sale by Edward Rigby in both 1826 and 1828. It is known that Thomas Jennings worked it from 1835 to 1841, and in 1841, the Midland Counties Herald shows it being advertised by local builder M. Salt with a shop and cottage. Shortly thereafter, it was purchased by Mr. Moses Eyland, founder of the Walsall firm of buckle and spectacle makers Eyland & Sons, Ltd, of Lower Rushall Street (that factory having been converted into apartments in recent years). His son Charles Eyland, Mayor of Walsall 1857 - 58, inherited the property, having left his house in Lichfield Street for Hope Cottage, which stood in its own grounds adjoining the mill. During the Eyland ownership, the mill was worked by James Griffiths, who lived in the cottage opposite the malthouse, and it seems to have fallen into disuse between 1864 - 1868. After this, Charles Eyland removed the mill machinery, including the two grindstones. Appreciating the views tat could be obtained from the top storey of the tower, Mr. Eyland rebuilt, raised and furnished the top room, fitting a fireplace and laying a carpet. To aid his viewing he arranged a mirror on the camera obscura principle, so that the four compass directions could be seen in one glass.
In 1890, Charles Eyland died, and the mill passed to Charles Newbold Eyland, who moved into Hope Cottage with his family. In around 1919, the tower was struck by lightning, knocking down a piece of the parapet. One evening, several men arrived claiming they had been asked to repair the roof. The men were allowed to work and stripped the roof of the lead and stole it. Deprived of its protective covering, the roof sprang a leak and the inside walls were marked, however the building remained stable. On the death of Charles Newbold Eyland in 1925, the mill was bought by George Skidmore of Sandwell Villa, Sandwell Street, a member of the firm of buckle makers of Windmill Street. At the time, Mr. Skidmore was famed for his record in playing cricket for more than sixty years. Mr. Skidmore, who had for many years been interested in astronomy, supervised the rebuilding of the tower, re-pointing the brickwork and raising the parapet by approximately 2 foot (0.6096 m) and adding to the crenellations, so that it could be converted into an astronomical observatory. The floors were relaid with concrete on the oak beams, intending the construction to be more solid than before, and new stairs were built. George Skidmore then installed a large equatorial refracting telescope, which consisted of a lens, view finder, and a clockwork motor drive whereby it was possible to set the telescope on any star and ensure that it would be followed in its course across the heavens.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Highgate Windmill's commanding position made it the natural choice for use as an observation post by local Air Raid Patrol wardens, and for years it was manned by them every night. By the 1960s, the mill had fallen into disrepair, becoming covered in ivy. Little has been done to the building since apart from the removal of some of the ivy. Today, Highgate Windmill remains privately owned, and closed to the public. Despite this, it can still be viewed from Highgate Road and the footpath between there and Folly House Lane.