Wren's Nest Estate
Encyclopedia
The Wren's Nest Estate is a housing estate
located to the north west of the town centre of Dudley
, West Midlands
, England
.
's industrial past.
The Wren's Nest Estate was originally council housing
and was largely built between 1935 and 1939 to rehouse families from town centre slum clearances, along with the adjoining Priory Estate
which was built around the same time. Old Park Farm was added in the early 1950s.
The estate has been served by a primary school, Wren's Nest Primary School on Marigold Crescent, since 14 October 1936. This initially served the 5-11 age ranges, later incorporating a nursery unit for 3 and 4 years olds. Reorganisation saw the school extended to serve 12 year olds from September 1972, only for it to revert to a 3-11 school from September 1990.
A secondary school, Wren's Nest Secondary School, opened in Wrens Hill Road on 15 October 1965 to replace Wolverhampton Street School as one of the town's 11+ secondary modern schools. It became a 12-16 school in September 1972 and its status changed to comprehensive in September 1975, when its name was changed to Mons Hill School. However, pupil numbers were declining by the 1980s
and in early 1989 the decision was made to close the school with effect from July 1991. However, its closure was ultimately brought forward to July 1990, after which the remaining pupils and staff were split between Castle High
and the Coseley School, and the Mons Hill buildings were incorporated into Dudley College
, who completed a multi-million pound expansion of the site in 1993.
St Christopher's Parish Church opened on Summer Road on 22 April 1939, but closed within 40 years. It was refurbished and re-opened as a community centre, being officially opened by the former Manchester United
and England national football team
player Bobby Charlton
on 18 September 1982.
The Washington Public House opened on Wren's Nest Road on 10 December 1937, serving the estate for nearly 70 years until its closure and demolition in 2006. It has since been redeveloped for housing.
Further development took place around Wren's Nest Road during the 1950s, with a small number of bungalows being built, along with six blocks of three-storey flats. These developments were also made by the local council.
, burglary and joyriding
, helped to push the area into a seemingly irreversible decline. Some families on the estate had even abandoned the decaying upstairs bedrooms and were sleeping in downstairs rooms, few of which were in a much better condition. The plight of people living in squalor on the Wren's Nest was highlighted in February 1985, in the second edition of the Dudley News
.
However, more recently the estate has been significantly improved due to regeneration in the 1990s. Over £10m of new government money, via the Single Regeneration Budget
, was invested into the area from 1994. This saw the introduction of youth worker activities, education programmes, community capacity initiatives managed by the council's Housing Department, green environmental improvements by Groundwork Black Country (including a vineyard at the rear of Meadow Road), and the creation of local newspapers and social enterprises via Co-operation Black Country. However, the most significant improvement was to the council-owned properties, which received new boundary walls, driveways, double glazing, and major heating and insulation works.
Demolition of three of the blocks of flats on Wrens Nest Road took place in 1997, and a fourth block followed in 2000. One block of flats was retained for residential use, while the other remaining block was converted into Turner House; a local government facility which includes the offices of Dudley North's current MP. The site of one of the demolished blocks of flats was redeveloped as The Greens Health Centre, which opened in April 2000; the remaining land was redeveloped for private housing approximately five years later.
A notable resident of the estate is Tony Harlow (born 1962), a criminal known to the media as the 'Laughing Cavalier' due to his resemblance to the 17th century painting. He went on a shooting spree on the estate during May 1986, causing damage to several properties before hiding in the nearby caverns. He was finally arrested and charged with possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. In December that year, Harlow was sentenced to life imprisonment at Stafford
Crown Court
, and was not released from prison until late 2009. Harlow escaped prison at least twice and by the time of his release he had served 23 years - one of the longest periods of imprisonment served by someone in England and Wales
found guilty of a crime lesser than murder. In May 2004 he was sentenced to 18 months in prison as punishment for escaping custody; one month after being caught at a house in Coseley
, having spent 11 months on the run from Sudbury Open Prison in Derbyshire
.
quarry annually until closure in 1924 and permanent abandonment in 1925, along with the adjoining Canal Basin
.
quarry to the Seven Sister Tunnels and Dudley station as this 1930's O.S. map shows-. The line was not present in 1903 as this- 1903 O.S. map illustrates and was cut back by the Wren's Nest Estate by 1948 as this- 1948 O.S map points out. It was used as a long siding by local freight trains after the pit closed and was removed by the early 1950s. This was preseaded by a canal basin that lead to the Dudley Canal
at the Dudley Tunnel
. All of them are now closed and removed, with the tunnels being blocked up for safety reasons.
Housing estate
A housing estate is a group of buildings built together as a single development. The exact form may vary from country to country. Accordingly, a housing estate is usually built by a single contractor, with only a few styles of house or building design, so they tend to be uniform in appearance...
located to the north west of the town centre of 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...
.
Housing development
Local industrialisation was considerable in the early 20th century, as the district had become highly industrialised in the then heyday 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...
's industrial past.
The Wren's Nest Estate was originally council housing
Council house
A council house, otherwise known as a local authority house, is a form of public or social housing. The term is used primarily in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Council houses were built and operated by local councils to supply uncrowded, well-built homes on secure tenancies at...
and was largely built between 1935 and 1939 to rehouse families from town centre slum clearances, along with the adjoining Priory Estate
Priory Estate
The Priory Estate is a housing estate in Dudley, West Midlands, England, which has largely been developed since 1929.-History:The Priory Estate is so named because it is located near the Priory ruins and Priory Park...
which was built around the same time. Old Park Farm was added in the early 1950s.
The estate has been served by a primary school, Wren's Nest Primary School on Marigold Crescent, since 14 October 1936. This initially served the 5-11 age ranges, later incorporating a nursery unit for 3 and 4 years olds. Reorganisation saw the school extended to serve 12 year olds from September 1972, only for it to revert to a 3-11 school from September 1990.
A secondary school, Wren's Nest Secondary School, opened in Wrens Hill Road on 15 October 1965 to replace Wolverhampton Street School as one of the town's 11+ secondary modern schools. It became a 12-16 school in September 1972 and its status changed to comprehensive in September 1975, when its name was changed to Mons Hill School. However, pupil numbers were declining by the 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
and in early 1989 the decision was made to close the school with effect from July 1991. However, its closure was ultimately brought forward to July 1990, after which the remaining pupils and staff were split between Castle High
Castle High School
Castle High School can refer to:*John H. Castle High School in Newburgh, Indiana, United States*James B. Castle High School in Kaneohe, Hawaii, United States*Castle High School in Belfast, Northern Ireland...
and the Coseley School, and the Mons Hill buildings were incorporated into Dudley College
Dudley College
Dudley College is a college of further education in Dudley, West Midlands, England.-History:In 1862 the Dudley Public Hall and Mechanics Institute was built. In 1896 this was expanded to become the Dudley Technical School, which became Dudley Technical College in 1926...
, who completed a multi-million pound expansion of the site in 1993.
St Christopher's Parish Church opened on Summer Road on 22 April 1939, but closed within 40 years. It was refurbished and re-opened as a community centre, being officially opened by the former Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
and England national football team
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
player Bobby Charlton
Bobby Charlton
Sir Robert "Bobby" Charlton CBE is an English former professional football player, a member of the England team who won the World Cup and Ballon d'Or for European Footballer of the Year in 1966...
on 18 September 1982.
The Washington Public House opened on Wren's Nest Road on 10 December 1937, serving the estate for nearly 70 years until its closure and demolition in 2006. It has since been redeveloped for housing.
Further development took place around Wren's Nest Road during the 1950s, with a small number of bungalows being built, along with six blocks of three-storey flats. These developments were also made by the local council.
Modern times
During the 1970s, the poor quality of the housing, together with numerous forms of crime including anti-social behaviourAnti-social behaviour
Anti-social behaviour is behaviour that lacks consideration for others and that may cause damage to society, whether intentionally or through negligence, as opposed to pro-social behaviour, behaviour that helps or benefits society...
, burglary and joyriding
Joyride (crime)
To joyride is to drive around in a stolen car, boat, or other vehicle with no particular goal, a ride taken solely for pleasure.In English law, joyriding is not considered to be theft, because the intention to "permanently deprive" the owner of the vehicle cannot be proven...
, helped to push the area into a seemingly irreversible decline. Some families on the estate had even abandoned the decaying upstairs bedrooms and were sleeping in downstairs rooms, few of which were in a much better condition. The plight of people living in squalor on the Wren's Nest was highlighted in February 1985, in the second edition of the Dudley News
Dudley News
The Dudley News is a local free newspaper which has served the Dudley area of the West Midlands, England since February 1985. It succeeded the Dudley Herald and is currently in its 22nd year of circulation....
.
However, more recently the estate has been significantly improved due to regeneration in the 1990s. Over £10m of new government money, via the Single Regeneration Budget
Urban renewal
Urban renewal is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s – under the rubric of...
, was invested into the area from 1994. This saw the introduction of youth worker activities, education programmes, community capacity initiatives managed by the council's Housing Department, green environmental improvements by Groundwork Black Country (including a vineyard at the rear of Meadow Road), and the creation of local newspapers and social enterprises via Co-operation Black Country. However, the most significant improvement was to the council-owned properties, which received new boundary walls, driveways, double glazing, and major heating and insulation works.
Demolition of three of the blocks of flats on Wrens Nest Road took place in 1997, and a fourth block followed in 2000. One block of flats was retained for residential use, while the other remaining block was converted into Turner House; a local government facility which includes the offices of Dudley North's current MP. The site of one of the demolished blocks of flats was redeveloped as The Greens Health Centre, which opened in April 2000; the remaining land was redeveloped for private housing approximately five years later.
A notable resident of the estate is Tony Harlow (born 1962), a criminal known to the media as the 'Laughing Cavalier' due to his resemblance to the 17th century painting. He went on a shooting spree on the estate during May 1986, causing damage to several properties before hiding in the nearby caverns. He was finally arrested and charged with possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. In December that year, Harlow was sentenced to life imprisonment at Stafford
Stafford
Stafford is the county town of Staffordshire, in the West Midlands region of England. It lies approximately north of Wolverhampton and south of Stoke-on-Trent, adjacent to the M6 motorway Junction 13 to Junction 14...
Crown Court
Crown Court
The Crown Court of England and Wales is, together with the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal, one of the constituent parts of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
, and was not released from prison until late 2009. Harlow escaped prison at least twice and by the time of his release he had served 23 years - one of the longest periods of imprisonment served by someone in England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
found guilty of a crime lesser than murder. In May 2004 he was sentenced to 18 months in prison as punishment for escaping custody; one month after being caught at a house in Coseley
Coseley
Coseley is a town located mostly within the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley in the English West Midlands. Part of the Black Country, it lies south east of Wolverhampton and north of Dudley....
, having spent 11 months on the run from Sudbury Open Prison in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
.
The former local mine
During the height of the Industrial Revolution, up to 20,000 tons of limestone was removed the local Wren's NestWren's Nest
The Wren's Nest is a National Nature Reserve located to the north west of the town centre of Dudley, West Midlands, England. Today, apart from the geological interest, the site is home to a number of species of birds and locally rare flora; the caverns also support large roosting populations of bats...
quarry annually until closure in 1924 and permanent abandonment in 1925, along with the adjoining Canal Basin
Canal basin
A canal basin is an expanse of waterway alongside or at the end of a canal, and wider than the canal, constructed to allow boats to moor or unload cargo without impeding the progress of other traffic, and to allow room for turning, thus serving as a winding hole...
.
The former mineral line and canal basin
A mineral line once coneccted the local Wren's NestWren's Nest
The Wren's Nest is a National Nature Reserve located to the north west of the town centre of Dudley, West Midlands, England. Today, apart from the geological interest, the site is home to a number of species of birds and locally rare flora; the caverns also support large roosting populations of bats...
quarry to the Seven Sister Tunnels and Dudley station as this 1930's O.S. map shows-. The line was not present in 1903 as this- 1903 O.S. map illustrates and was cut back by the Wren's Nest Estate by 1948 as this- 1948 O.S map points out. It was used as a long siding by local freight trains after the pit closed and was removed by the early 1950s. This was preseaded by a canal basin that lead to the Dudley Canal
Dudley Canal
The Dudley Canal is a canal passing though Dudley in the West Midlands of England. The canal is part of the English and Welsh connected network of navigable inland waterways, and in particular forms part of the popular Stourport Ring narrowboat cruising route....
at the Dudley Tunnel
Dudley Tunnel
Dudley Tunnel is a canal tunnel on the Dudley Canal Line No 1, England. At about long, it is now the second longest canal tunnel on the UK canal network today....
. All of them are now closed and removed, with the tunnels being blocked up for safety reasons.
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...
- 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 - Russells Hall EstateRussells Hall EstateRussells 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...
- 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 TunnelDudley TunnelDudley Tunnel is a canal tunnel on the Dudley Canal Line No 1, England. At about long, it is now the second longest canal tunnel on the UK canal network today....
- Dudley CastleDudley CastleDudley Castle is a ruined castle in the town of Dudley, West Midlands, England. Dudley Zoo is located in its grounds. The location, Castle Hill, is an outcrop of Wenlock Group limestone that was extensively quarried during the Industrial Revolution, and which now along with Wren's Nest Hill is a...
- Dudley Freightliner TerminalDudley Freightliner TerminalDudley Freightliner Terminal was opened on the site of Dudley railway station in October 1967, as one of Freightliner's first rail terminals. It was an instant financial success and by 1981 was one of the most profitable Freightliner terminals in Britain, but Freightliner UK announced plans to...
- Wren's NestWren's NestThe Wren's Nest is a National Nature Reserve located to the north west of the town centre of Dudley, West Midlands, England. Today, apart from the geological interest, the site is home to a number of species of birds and locally rare flora; the caverns also support large roosting populations of bats...
quarry
External links
- Wren's Nest Primary School
- Wren's Nest Community Policing
- Dudley and Netherton Remembered, Ned Williams (2010)
- http://www.thegreenshealthcentre.com/