Wall Heath
Encyclopedia
Geography
Wall Heath is a small village on the western fringe of the Black CountryBlack 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...
and 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....
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is located on the A449 road
A449 road
The A449 is a major road in the United Kingdom. It runs north from junction 24 of the M4 motorway at Newport in South Wales to Stafford in Staffordshire....
, approximately seven miles south 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...
and 9 miles North of Kidderminster
Kidderminster
Kidderminster is a town, in the Wyre Forest district of Worcestershire, England. It is located approximately seventeen miles south-west of Birmingham city centre and approximately fifteen miles north of Worcester city centre. The 2001 census recorded a population of 55,182 in the town...
.
Wall Heath is situated on the edge of the conurbation and to the north, east and south lie other suburban areas 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...
. However, the border to the west is green belt, which stretches for many miles through Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a 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. It borders Wales to the west...
, beyond the Severn Valley
Severn Valley
Severn Valley could be*The Severn Valley in Shropshire, English Midlands *The Severn Valley Country Park in Shropshire, English Midlands *The fictional Severn Valley...
and into Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
It is part of the 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...
township and Dudley borough
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...
, having been in Kingswinford Rural District until 1938 and 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...
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....
until 1966.
There are approximately 5,000 inhabitants in the village.
Closest cities, towns and villages
Village services
The village contains numerous outlets providing varied services; including a Co-op supermarket, Boots Local Pharmacy, a podiatrist and a private dental surgery. There are four public housePublic house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
s, two Indian restaurants, two Chinese take-aways, a Chinese restaurant, a pizza delivery/take-away and a catering company. There was, until recently, a small public library, which was closed by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council for economic reasons. The local authority states that the money from the closure of Wall Heath Library and four other Dudley libraries will be used for a £2.3 million scheme to update services in the borough. There are currently plans to improve 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...
Library. The other libraries in the borough which fell victim of the council policy were Quarry Bank, Amblecote, Dudley Wood and Woodside.
There are two allotments in the village and three public parks located in the village. One is accessible from Albion Street and two are accessible from High Street.
Located in Wall Heath is Holbeche House
Holbeche House
Holbeche House is a mansion located near Kingswinford, on the borders of Staffordshire. It is the building in which some of the central Gunpowder plotters were captured, and the rest killed.-Gunpowder Plot:...
, which is where the flight of the gunpowder plotters ended. The building is now a private care home for the elderly. There is also a Dudley MBC shelter, The Gables, located in the village.
The Wall Heath Community centre regularly hosts National Blood Service
National Blood Service
The National Blood Service is the organisation for England and North Wales which collects blood and other tissues, tests, processes, and supplies all the hospitals in England and North Wales...
blood donation sessions. There are many events held here such as charity events and local classes for all ages including a nursery and yoga classes. There are also frequent displays showcasing old photographs of Wall Heath and the local area.
In the last century, Wall Heath was the home of the Sant family (Maidensbridge Road). Herbert Sant won an MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
during the First World War. His brother William became a famed artist whose work is displayed at the Tate Gallery
Tate Gallery
The Tate is an institution that houses the United Kingdom's national collection of British Art, and International Modern and Contemporary Art...
in London and other notable locations. Ancestor Steven Sant born in nearby Dudley is a renowned writer on football and local politics.
Sport
The village has produced three professional cricketers; John (Jack) Alfred Flavell, Paul Pridgeon and Stuart LampittStuart Lampitt
Stuart Lampitt was an English cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-pace bowler. He played for Worcestershire from 1985 to 2002. During his career he was victorious in the 1986 final of the William Younger Cup, and helped his team to the semi-finals of the Benson and...
. All played for Worcestershire CCC, with Jack Flavell
Jack Flavell
Jack Flavell was an English cricketer who played in four Tests for England from 1961 to 1964. His county cricket career was spent with Worcestershire, with whom Flavell won two County Championship titles...
playing for the England national team.
The village is home to Dudley Kingswinford Rugby Football Club (DKRFC), who after relegation from the Midland 1 League are currently playing in the Midland 2 West league.
Churches
There are three churches in the village. These are the Church of the Ascension, the smaller St Andrew's United Reformed Church and Wall Heath Evangelical Free Church. The Church of the Ascension sits at the centre of the village next to the school of the same name, Church of the Ascension Primary School (CofEChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
).
Education
The village is supported by two primary schools; Maidensbridge Primary School and Church of the Ascension CofE Primary School. Maidensbridge Primary School has hosted the Helen Taylor School of Dance for 20 years, who perform annually at the 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...
Grand Theatre. On completion of primary education, typically the pupils from both schools continue their education at The Kingswinford School, in nearby 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...
or alternatively, the Summerhill School, also in Kingswinford.
Maidensbridge Primary School was saved from closure in 2005 due to campaigning by local residents.
Politics
The village is part of the Kingswinford North and Wall Heath ward of the Dudley Metropolitan Borough. It is represented by three seats on the Borough council. Currently these are occupied by two Liberal Democrat and one Conservative councillor.The village falls within the Dudley South
Dudley South
Dudley South is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election. It is a Labour-Conservative marginal seat.-Boundaries:...
constituency of the UK parliament. The current MP is Chris Kelly
Chris Kelly
Chris Kelly is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League . He is an alternate captain for the Bruins during away games.- Minor Hockey :...
(Conservative Party (UK)
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
).