Russells Hall Estate
Encyclopedia
Russells Hall is a residential area of Dudley
in the West Midlands
of England
. The area was extensively mined for coal during the Industrial Revolution
and would remain open for many years, which meant the district had become highly industrialised in the then heyday of the Black Country
's industrial past. This process ceased in about 1950 when the local council
earmarked the area for housing development.
The land at Russells Hall was then made safe and allowed to settle until house building commenced. The first council house was occupied in 1958 and the whole estate was completed within a decade, with a mix of private and council housing. The estate is served by a primary school, a secondary school and three special schools, as well as being within close proximity of the local hospital.
, West Midlands
, England
. Situated approximately one mile to the west of Dudley town centre, the site was earmarked for development as council housing in around 1950, to rehouse hundreds of families from the dilapidated 19th century terraces which were still standing in the town centre around The Inhedge and Stafford Street.
The site of the Russells Hall Estate had been extensively mined for coal
since the late 18th century, and after the land was made level it had to be left to settle for five years before any homes could be built. Local industrialisation had been considerable, as the district had become highly industrialised in the then heyday of the Black Country
's industrial past.
The first house was completed and let in 1958, and by 1966 the estate was complete, consisting of several hundred council houses and flats as well as some private houses, mostly situated around Scott’s Green Close on the south side of the estate. Several more private and council properties, including about 30 council bungalows, were added in the 1970s around Middlepark Road.
The Sutton School is a special educational needs school in the Russells Hall Estate in Dudley
, West Midlands
, England
. It provides education to pupils aged 11 to 16 years and caters for approximately 160 pupils. The school has been awarded specialist status as a Business and Enterprise College
. The current headteacher is Mr D Bishop-Rowe.
The current school buildings were constructed in 1962 and the school underwent a significant expansion in 1997.
Athletics The Sutton School has enjoyed an excellent tennis season in 2009, with a team overall record of 14-2 against valley league opponents.
Sutton School attracted interest in 2000 when Dudley Council wanted to send Andrew Downer, an 11-year old whose parents wanted him to attend Castle High School
, to Sutton School. At a subsequent Special Educational Needs Tribunal, his parents were successful and he was allowed to attend Castle High School.
, West Midlands
, England
. It is situated in Stourbridge Road on the edge of the Russells Hall Estate, by the scotts green close roundabout and was opened in 1966 to replace a smaller building several hundred yards along the road towards Brierley Hill
. Most of that building has now been demolished.
It originally had secondary modern status until adopting comprehensive status in September 1975, three years after the entry age was increased from 11 to 12.
Holly Hall School is now independent from Dudley MBC and is grant maintained. The school received Mathematics and Computing College specialist status in September 2002. In the past four years, the school has constructed a £3 million building and had a major refurbishment.
In 2006, 39% of pupils achieved 5 or more A* to C grades in their GCSE examinations.
Since reverting to being an 11-16 comprehensive in September 1990 after 18 years as a 12-16 school, it has had pupil numbers in the region of 700.
In December 2007, plans were unveiled by Dudley council
for the school to be rebuilt and change to Academy status, which would make it the first school of its kind in the borough. Similar schools already exist in nearby boroughs Walsall
and Sandwell
. The plan also included taking in some pupils from Pensnett High School
, which was earmarked for closure with other pupils also transferring to The Crestwood School
at Kingswinford
. However, these plans were scrapped by the local council in March 2008 as the school was deemed "too successful" for academy status.
as a possible site for mass housing development.
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...
in the West Midlands
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,...
of 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...
. The area was extensively mined for coal during the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
and would remain open for many years, which meant the district had become highly industrialised in the then heyday of the Black Country
Black Country
The Black Country is a loosely defined area of the English West Midlands conurbation, to the north and west of Birmingham, and to the south and east of Wolverhampton. During the industrial revolution in the 19th century this area had become one of the most intensely industrialised in the nation...
's industrial past. This process ceased in about 1950 when the local council
Metropolitan Borough of Dudley
The Metropolitan Borough of Dudley is a metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It was created in 1974, and is made up of the towns of Dudley , Stourbridge , Halesowen, Brierley Hill, Amblecote, Sedgley and Coseley...
earmarked the area for housing development.
The land at Russells Hall was then made safe and allowed to settle until house building commenced. The first council house was occupied in 1958 and the whole estate was completed within a decade, with a mix of private and council housing. The estate is served by a primary school, a secondary school and three special schools, as well as being within close proximity of the local hospital.
The Russells Hall Estate
The Russells Hall Estate is a residential area of DudleyDudley
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...
, 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...
, 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 approximately one mile to the west of Dudley town centre, the site was earmarked for development as council housing in around 1950, to rehouse hundreds of families from the dilapidated 19th century terraces which were still standing in the town centre around The Inhedge and Stafford Street.
The site of the Russells Hall Estate had been extensively mined for coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
since the late 18th century, and after the land was made level it had to be left to settle for five years before any homes could be built. Local industrialisation had been considerable, as the district had become highly industrialised in the then heyday of the Black Country
Black Country
The Black Country is a loosely defined area of the English West Midlands conurbation, to the north and west of Birmingham, and to the south and east of Wolverhampton. During the industrial revolution in the 19th century this area had become one of the most intensely industrialised in the nation...
's industrial past.
The first house was completed and let in 1958, and by 1966 the estate was complete, consisting of several hundred council houses and flats as well as some private houses, mostly situated around Scott’s Green Close on the south side of the estate. Several more private and council properties, including about 30 council bungalows, were added in the 1970s around Middlepark Road.
Primary and special schools
The estate is served by several schools including Russells Hall Primary School on Overfield Road and the Holly Hall School on Scotts Green Close.The Sutton School is a special educational needs school in the Russells Hall Estate in Dudley
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...
, 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...
, 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 provides education to pupils aged 11 to 16 years and caters for approximately 160 pupils. The school has been awarded specialist status as a Business and Enterprise College
Business and Enterprise College
Business and Enterprise Colleges were introduced in 2002 as part of the Specialist Schools Programme in the United Kingdom. The system enables secondary schools to specialise in certain fields...
. The current headteacher is Mr D Bishop-Rowe.
The current school buildings were constructed in 1962 and the school underwent a significant expansion in 1997.
Athletics The Sutton School has enjoyed an excellent tennis season in 2009, with a team overall record of 14-2 against valley league opponents.
Sutton School attracted interest in 2000 when Dudley Council wanted to send Andrew Downer, an 11-year old whose parents wanted him to attend Castle High School
Castle High School (Dudley)
For schools of the same name, see Castle High School.Castle High School is a secondary school located in Dudley, West Midlands, England. It caters for pupils aged from 11 to 16 years. It is also a specialist Arts College.-The school:...
, to Sutton School. At a subsequent Special Educational Needs Tribunal, his parents were successful and he was allowed to attend Castle High School.
Holly Hall School
Holly Hall School is a foundation comprehensive secondary school located in DudleyDudley
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...
, 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...
, 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 situated in Stourbridge Road on the edge of the Russells Hall Estate, by the scotts green close roundabout and was opened in 1966 to replace a smaller building several hundred yards along the road towards Brierley Hill
Brierley Hill
Brierley Hill is a town and electoral ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, West Midlands, England. It is one of the larger Black Country towns with a population of 9,631 and is heavily industrialised, best known for glass and steel manufacturing, although the industry has declined...
. Most of that building has now been demolished.
It originally had secondary modern status until adopting comprehensive status in September 1975, three years after the entry age was increased from 11 to 12.
Holly Hall School is now independent from Dudley MBC and is grant maintained. The school received Mathematics and Computing College specialist status in September 2002. In the past four years, the school has constructed a £3 million building and had a major refurbishment.
In 2006, 39% of pupils achieved 5 or more A* to C grades in their GCSE examinations.
Since reverting to being an 11-16 comprehensive in September 1990 after 18 years as a 12-16 school, it has had pupil numbers in the region of 700.
In December 2007, plans were unveiled by Dudley council
Metropolitan Borough of Dudley
The Metropolitan Borough of Dudley is a metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It was created in 1974, and is made up of the towns of Dudley , Stourbridge , Halesowen, Brierley Hill, Amblecote, Sedgley and Coseley...
for the school to be rebuilt and change to Academy status, which would make it the first school of its kind in the borough. Similar schools already exist in nearby boroughs 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...
and 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,...
. The plan also included taking in some pupils from Pensnett High School
Pensnett High School
The Pensnett 14-19 Education Campus is a secondary school located in the Pensnett area of Brierley Hill in the West Midlands of England. There are around 150 pupils aged 14–16 on the roll.-History:...
, which was earmarked for closure with other pupils also transferring to The Crestwood School
The Crestwood School
The Crestwood School is a school in Kingswinford, West Midlands, England.-Admissions:It is an 11-16 comprehensive school with some 700 students on the roll, averaging at around 140 per year group.-Grammar school:...
at Kingswinford
Kingswinford
Kingswinford is a suburban area in the West Midlands.Historically within Staffordshire, the area is mentioned in the Domesday Book its name relates to a ford for the King's swine - Latin Swinford Regis. The current significance is probably in tourism, education and housing...
. However, these plans were scrapped by the local council in March 2008 as the school was deemed "too successful" for academy status.
Parks and recreational areas
A large area of public open space exists around the centre of the estate and in 2005 was earned by Dudley councilMetropolitan Borough of Dudley
The Metropolitan Borough of Dudley is a metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It was created in 1974, and is made up of the towns of Dudley , Stourbridge , Halesowen, Brierley Hill, Amblecote, Sedgley and Coseley...
as a possible site for mass housing development.
See also
- GornalGornal, West MidlandsGornal is an area of the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, in the West Midlands of England. Gornal encompasses three areas: Upper Gornal, Lower Gornal and Gornalwood; and is located to the northwest of Dudley...
- Wrens Nest Estate
- Kates HillKates HillKates Hill is a residential area in Dudley, West Midlands, England.-History:Kates Hill was the scene of chaos in 1648 when parliamentarians used it as their base in the Civil War against King Charles I...
estate - KingswinfordKingswinfordKingswinford is a suburban area in the West Midlands.Historically within Staffordshire, the area is mentioned in the Domesday Book its name relates to a ford for the King's swine - Latin Swinford Regis. The current significance is probably in tourism, education and housing...
- Dudley Guest HospitalDudley Guest HospitalThe Dudley Guest Hospital is a hospital located in Dudley, West Midlands, England.-Victorian origins:It is situated in Tipton Road, Dudley and the buildings were originally constructed in 1849 by the Earl of Dudley to accommodate miners blinded in the numerous local coal mines...
- Old Swinford Hospital School