Swindon, Staffordshire
Encyclopedia
Swindon is a village located in Staffordshire
, just outside the West Midlands conurbation
. The nearest major town is Dudley
, approximately five miles eastwards. It stands halfway between the small town of Kingswinford
and village of Wombourne
.
Historically, Swindon was part of Seisdon rural district
, but in 1974 was incorporated into the new local authority of South Staffordshire
. Unusually, it is included in the DY3 postal district of Sedgley
, which has never existed within the same local authority and is no longer even in the same county.
mill then a corn mill belonging to Halesowen Abbey
. This was converted into a finery forge
, perhaps in the 1620s. This was leased to Thomas Foley in 1647 and passed to his son Philip
with many of his other ironworks in 1669. After he sold it in 1674, it passed through various hands, coming into the hands of Francis Homfray
of Oldswinford
by the 1720s, remaining in the hands of this family until 1820. The works were much enlarged in the 19th century, so that in 1859 there were 13 puddling furnaces. It was leased in 1866 to E. P. and W. Baldwin, the owners of the Wilden Ironworks
. Their successor company amalgamated to form Richard Thomas & Baldwin Ltd, which became part of the nationalised British Steel Corporation, who closed the works in 1976. During the 2nd World War many of the village males who worked there were given reserved occupation
status as the works was considered vital to the war effort. The works were demolished in the early 1980s to make way for new housing, the developments were named Swin Forge Way and Baldwin Way, Baldwin coming from the name of the works. All that remains today is the canteen which is now used as the village community centre.
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...
, just outside the West Midlands conurbation
West Midlands conurbation
The West Midlands conurbation is the name given to the large conurbation that includes the cities of Birmingham and Wolverhampton and the large towns of Dudley, Walsall, West Bromwich, Solihull, Stourbridge, Halesowen in the English West Midlands....
. The nearest major town is 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...
, approximately five miles eastwards. It stands halfway between the small town of 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...
and village of Wombourne
Wombourne
Wombourne is a very large village and civil parish located in the district of South Staffordshire, in the county of Staffordshire, 4 miles south-west of Wolverhampton. Local affairs are run by a parish council. At the 2001 census it had a population of 13,691...
.
Historically, Swindon was part of Seisdon rural district
Seisdon
Seisdon is a rural village in the county of Staffordshire approximately six miles west of Wolverhampton.-Etymology:The name appears to mean "hill of the Saxons", deriving from the Anglo-Saxon words Seis meaning Saxon and Dun meaning hill.-History:...
, but in 1974 was incorporated into the new local authority of South Staffordshire
South Staffordshire
South Staffordshire is a local government district in Staffordshire, England. The district lies to the north and west of Wolverhampton and the West Midlands, bordering Shropshire to the west and Worcestershire to the south...
. Unusually, it is included in the DY3 postal district of Sedgley
Sedgley
Sedgley is an urban village within the West Midlands county of England. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Sedgley was formerly an ancient manor composed of several smaller villages, including Gornal, Gospel End, Woodsetton, Ettingshall, Coseley and Brierley...
, which has never existed within the same local authority and is no longer even in the same county.
Shops and Pubs
- The Green Man
- The Greyhound http://www.marstonspubs.co.uk/thegreyhound-swindon/
- The Old Bush website
Iron Works
Swin or Swindon Forge was once a fullingFulling
Fulling or tucking or walking is a step in woolen clothmaking which involves the cleansing of cloth to eliminate oils, dirt, and other impurities, and making it thicker. The worker who does the job is a fuller, tucker, or walker...
mill then a corn mill belonging to Halesowen Abbey
Halesowen Abbey
Halesowen Abbey was an abbey in Halesowen, England of which only ruins remain. It was located in an exclave of the historic county of Shropshire until 1844...
. This was converted into a finery forge
Finery forge
Iron tapped from the blast furnace is pig iron, and contains significant amounts of carbon and silicon. To produce malleable wrought iron, it needs to undergo a further process. In the early modern period, this was carried out in a finery forge....
, perhaps in the 1620s. This was leased to Thomas Foley in 1647 and passed to his son Philip
Philip Foley
Philip Foley was the youngest of the three surviving sons of the British ironmaster Thomas Foley . His father transferred to him in 1668 and 1669 all his ironworks in the Midlands for £60,000...
with many of his other ironworks in 1669. After he sold it in 1674, it passed through various hands, coming into the hands of Francis Homfray
Francis Homfray
Francis Homfray was an English industrialist and one of the founders of the iron industry in South Wales.Homfray, whose family were originally from Yorkshire, had been successful in the iron trade in Coalbrookdale, Staffordshire, and made his home at Wollaston Hall, Worcestershire. He married...
of Oldswinford
Oldswinford
The name Oldswinford is now used for a small area of Stourbridge, close to the parish church.-History:Originally, it was an extensive ancient parish, covering the whole of the former Municipal Borough of Stourbridge, except Pedmore...
by the 1720s, remaining in the hands of this family until 1820. The works were much enlarged in the 19th century, so that in 1859 there were 13 puddling furnaces. It was leased in 1866 to E. P. and W. Baldwin, the owners of the Wilden Ironworks
Wilden Ironworks
The village of Wilden is in the English county of Worcestershire. It was for many years the location of an ironworks.-Wilden Mill:Wilden was part of the demesne of the Bishop of Worcester's manor of Hartlebury. A mill was built on the River Stour in 1511 by William Baylly, a fuller...
. Their successor company amalgamated to form Richard Thomas & Baldwin Ltd, which became part of the nationalised British Steel Corporation, who closed the works in 1976. During the 2nd World War many of the village males who worked there were given reserved occupation
Reserved occupation
A reserved occupation is an occupation considered important enough to a country that those serving in such occupations are exempt - in fact forbidden - from military service....
status as the works was considered vital to the war effort. The works were demolished in the early 1980s to make way for new housing, the developments were named Swin Forge Way and Baldwin Way, Baldwin coming from the name of the works. All that remains today is the canteen which is now used as the village community centre.