SMBC/WM 2006.02 OAK HOUSE west bromwich “A wonderful specimen of English life and history” WEST BROMWICH CENTRAL LIBRARY walk From the original yellow of “What a beautiful building, the mosaics and stained west bromwich. furze bushes and heathland, glass are truly stunning” heritage trail through the black and fiery SANDWELL PARK FARM reds of industrialisation, “I love my visit, every time I visit it’s just the best” to the vibrant pink and SANDWELL VALLEY silver of recent building, “Thank you Sandwell for maintaining and enhancing this jewel shining in the surrounding desert” West Bromwich today DARTMOUTH PARK presents a vibrant and living “This place is a haven of peace and pleasure kaleidoscope of people to walk around” and buildings sharing a fascinating past and inspiring future. Named after the “Broom” bush and Wic meaning heath, WEST BROMWICH “Broom Wic” was a Saxon settlement to which West was Directions: later added in about 650 AD to distinguish it from other Metro info: Bromwiches. Saxon and Mediaeval farmland was gradually tel: 0121 254 7272 replaced in the 1500s and 1600s as industries like web: www.travelmetro.co.uk nailmaking and gunlock filing flourished. Small iron works sprang up and mines were dug to exploit iron and coal. Bus and rail info: The opening of a canal in 1769 and the first railway station Traveline: 0870 608 2608 Centro Hotline: 0121 200 2700 in 1837 together with new and improved roads made the web: www.centro.org.uk transport of raw materials and finished goods easier and National Rail: 08457 48 49 50 increased the importance of West Bromwich as a prosperous and wealthy industrial town. Birmingham International Airport: tel: 08707 335511 web: www.bhx.co.uk1and D N D SOUTH E OA WODEN R D ROA REEN M5 RYDDIN HALL G AD O R RD STE R R 12 CHE G LA TE S D B . O OA AL H TMIN W IL LERTON S L R ES L T WITTON L TO W E OP LA. 4 D K ROAD sites and LSA LAN E JO H A W O ET RO T LA. WA R ’S LA MARS . EDGE N O A E Y T HAW AN L D attractions key L TH CLA O W ORN E S NE LES H W ST CO RKE N BLACK S LA E NE 1 Oak House N VE The corner of Oak Road and Cambridge Street B70 8HJ LA RI ROAD FORGE LA TON L LAKE D NEW AD BIGH DIA DEN RO NE 2 Farley Clock Tower AGE West Bromwich High Street, Carters Green B70 AR 9 IC V LANE Sandwell Valley Country Park CHURCH 3 O L Salters Lane B71 4BG D M EET AY E TR ET W Bishop Asbury’s Cottage T 4 HE I N Newton Road, Great Barr B43 6HN E G XP INTS M5 S A RESS WAY S LLAM S T L L HA Sandwell Priory and Holy Well A 5 Dagger Lane B71 4BG 7 6 West Bromwich Library 2 HIGH ST THE West Bromwich High Street B70 8DZ T LANE I 5 P 3 EXP Y REET UTH ST 7 Sandwell Park Farm CLA 8 RESS B Salters Lane B71 4BG ST R 11 DARTMO O 6 WE MW ST W R IC AY 8 West Bromwich Town Hall O R 10 H BR MO ING West Bromwich High Street B70 8DT A OAK ROAD WA NDO 1 Y PARK LANE 9 All Saints Church N WAY The corner of All Saints Way B70 1RU E N B‘ A HAM T L S D OR RD 10 The Public H E C MF N I West Bromwich Town Centre B70 6EY N O BIR W R E B MINGH M O AM RD R KELVI PON LA 11 Dartmouth Park & War Memorial E N WA S B A N Y 41 T Dagger Lane B71 4BG LA Jct 1 LANE ES S RD W FO RD West Bromwich Manor House M O 12 ©Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Sandwell MBC Licence No. 100032119 2008 Hall Green Road B71 2EA BRO HALF sites and attractions 1 5 9 Oak House Sandwell Priory All Saints Church Oak House is a large and picturesque half-timbered farmhouse The present church of All Saints, often known as the “old” dating back to the sixteenth century. It is one of the finest timber & Holy Well church, dates from 1871-2. The church was originally framed buildings in the Midlands and was given to the people Near the spring or sand well, which gives its name to the dedicated to St Clement and was given to the Convent of West Bromwich by Alderman Reuben Farley. It is thought to present Borough, are the remains of a Benedictine Priory of Worcester by Henry I, who later granted it to the Priory be named after a large oak tree which stood in front of the founded by William Fitz-Ansculf in the 1100s. Sandwell Priory of Sandwell. It consists of a chancel and nave with south house until early last century, although it may equally derive from was closed down in 1525. A succession of grand houses were aisle, organ chamber, south porch, and the original 12th the oak woodlands which originally surrounded the house. The built on the site culminating in Dartmouth House built by the century tower. The unusual wooden choir stalls are engraved home has been open to the public since the 1890s and its Earl of Dartmouth in 1705 and demolished in 1928. with figures depicting scenes from church life. The font 3 acres of gardens gives visitors a rare opportunity to is a perpendicular work of the 15th century and the oak experience rural tranquillity in the heart of urban West Bromwich. table dates back to 1626. 6 2 10 West Bromwich Farley Clock Tower Library The Public Next to the Town Hall stands West Bromwich Library. The The Farley Clock Tower is a memorial to Alderman Reuben library celebrates its 100th birthday in 2007 and is one of The Public Building is the first new major cultural facility in Farley, completed in his own lifetime. It is an imposing monument several Carnegie Libraries in the Black Country. It was West Bromwich since Andrew Carnegie gave a grant to the which closes the view of the High Street. The rich terracotta designed by local architect Stephen J. Holliday. The building town in 1907 for a new Central Library and is designed by detailing, including panels depicting the Oak House, the Town is in Ruabon facing bricks with Portland stone and terracotta Architect Will Alsop, who won the coveted Stirling Prize for Hall and a roundel of Farley himself, were the work of Albert detailing. It presents a striking façade dominated with huge architecture in 2000. Hopkins, student and later art master of Ryland Art School. The fluted Ionic pilasters. Inside there are several features of Part of the changing face of West Bromwich, The Public tower was built in 1897 to a design by Edward Pincher. Farley interest, including mosaics, stained glass and murals. is a BAFTA award winning community arts organisation attended the opening ceremony before he died later the same leading inspirational and participatory creative projects for year. Reuben Farley had served on many of the town’s Boards over 30 years. It is the largest community arts development and Committees; he gave Greets Green Park and the Oak 7 in europe, attractive to a wealth of artists and visitors. House to the people of West Bromwich and he was Mayor five times. When Farley died, local townspeople lowered their blinds and closed their shops as a final mark of respect. 11 3 Sandwell Park Farm Dartmouth Park In Sandwell Valley is Sandwell Park Farm, a fully restored 18th Sandwell Valley century farm which was constructed to supply food throughout & War Memorial the year to the Earls of Dartmouth’s estate and Sandwell Hall. A variety of livestock housed within the central courtyard and Reuben Farley, whilst Mayor of West Bromwich, sought to Country Park adjoining pasture are the actual breeds which would have been improve the conditions of the “man in the street” by providing kept on the farm at the turn of the century. The Victorian Kitchen a park. He contacted a local landowner, the Earl of Dartmouth, The Sandwell Valley provides a real taste of the countryside Garden demonstrates the techniques used to supply vegetables owner of Sandwell Park and the Dartmouth Estates who gave within one mile of West Bromwich Town Centre and has over and fresh fruit to Sandwell Hall. The farm also contains the land. The design of the park was put out to competition and 2000 acres of woodland and parkland with wildfowl lakes and collection of old agricultural machinery and displays illustrating judged by a local landscape gardener. Named Dartmouth Park the remains of an old Benedictine Priory. The footpaths include human activity in Sandwell Valley from pre-historic times. after the Earl of Dartmouth, the Park was laid out between part of the Beacon Way, a 25 mile waymarked trail from 1876 and 1878 and was officially opened by the Earl of Sandwell Park Farm to Gentleshaw, and several nature trails. Dartmouth on June 3rd 1878. Within the country park is a farm. 8 4 12 West Bromwich Bishop Asbury’s Town Hall West Bromwich The Town Hall opened in 1875 and was designed by Cottage architects Alexander Henman of Middlesborough. It played an Manor House important part in the public and social life of the Borough.