Oakham, West Midlands
Encyclopedia
Oakham is an area of Dudley
, England
, situated on the peak of Turners Hill
, the highest point in the West Midlands (region)
. All of the area was historically in Dudley but in 1966 approximately half of it was incorporated into the county borough of Warley
, which in turn merged with West Bromwich
in 1974 to form Sandwell
.
It was a largely rural area until the 1930s, when private and council housing developments took place around City Road, including the Grace Mary Estate (predominantly council housing). The Tividale Hall Estate was developed for private housing in the mid to late 1930s. Both of these estates were expanded after the end of World War II
in 1945.
Despite being situated some two miles to the east of Dudley town centre, the Oakham area fell victim to most of the town's air raids by the German
Luftwaffe
in 1941. These damaged several houses on the Grace Mary Estate and resulted in a number of civilian deaths.
Dudley
Dudley is a large town in the West Midlands county of England. At the 2001 census , the Dudley Urban Sub Area had a population of 194,919, making it the 26th largest settlement in England, the second largest town in the United Kingdom behind Reading, and the largest settlement in the UK without...
, 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...
, situated on the peak of Turners Hill
Turners Hill, West Midlands
Turners Hill or Turner's Hill is the highest hill in the West Midlands, England, at 271m above sea level. The hill is situated on the border of Dudley and Rowley Regis, in the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell , in a rural part of the predominantly industrial Black Country.The hill can be seen from...
, the highest point in the West Midlands (region)
West Midlands (region)
The West Midlands is an official region of England, covering the western half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It contains the second most populous British city, Birmingham, and the larger West Midlands conurbation, which includes the city of Wolverhampton and large towns of Dudley,...
. All of the area was historically in Dudley but in 1966 approximately half of it was incorporated into the county borough of Warley
Warley
Warley is the name of several places in the United Kingdom:In the West Midlands:*County Borough of Warley*Warley, West Midlands*Warley *Warley High School*Warley WoodsIn Essex:*Great Warley*Little Warley...
, which in turn merged with West Bromwich
West Bromwich
West Bromwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands, England. It is north west of Birmingham lying on the A41 London-to-Birkenhead road. West Bromwich is part of the Black Country...
in 1974 to form Sandwell
Sandwell
Sandwell is a metropolitan borough of the West Midlands with a population of around 289,100, and an area of . The borough is named after Sandwell Priory, and spans a densely populated part of both the Black Country, and the West Midlands conurbation, encompassing the urban towns of Blackheath,...
.
It was a largely rural area until the 1930s, when private and council housing developments took place around City Road, including the Grace Mary Estate (predominantly council housing). The Tividale Hall Estate was developed for private housing in the mid to late 1930s. Both of these estates were expanded after the end of 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...
in 1945.
Despite being situated some two miles to the east of Dudley town centre, the Oakham area fell victim to most of the town's air raids by the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
in 1941. These damaged several houses on the Grace Mary Estate and resulted in a number of civilian deaths.