Why is Sandwell called Sandwell? If you have ever visited our award-winning Sandwell Valley, you may have walked past the answer without knowing it! In Sandwell Valley lie the remains of a Benedictine monastery, which was founded in the 1100s. The monastery is believed to have been built on a former spring, which at this point would have resembled a sandy well. The monastery was consequently called Sandwell Priory. Although the priory was dissolved in 1525 at the command of Cardinal Wolsey, parts of its walls remain and are accessible by public footpath. The name also remained, as demonstrated by Sandwell Hall, built in the 18th century. When the Sandwell borough was formed in 1974, it took on the name… and the rest is history!
If you have any memories or facts about Sandwell that you would like to share, please get in touch at [email protected].
Have you ever wondered where our coat of arms comes from?
It’s an amalgamation of the Arms of Warley and the Arms of West Bromwich, the two authorities which were combined to create Sandwell in 1974.
The green and gold colouring, along with the division into four, is from Warley, as is the Saxon crown shown in the shield.
The symbols in each quarter (known as Fers de Moline) are taken from West Bromwich, depicting the iron part of a millstone. The stag bearing the Caduceus is also from West Bromwich, the Caduceus being a symbol of industry and commerce, two things West Bromwich was famed for.
However, some new parts were added to celebrate Sandwell’s creation. The wavy blue lines in the middle of the shield, for example, representing a well, which alongside the sandy colouring of the shield, denotes Sandwell.
Legendary comedian Frank Skinner, born Christopher Graham Collins, grew up in Oldbury. He also co-wrote the football anthem Three Lions and it an avid fan of West Bromwich Albion. In 2004, alongside Baggies legend Cyrille Regis and world-famous actress Julie Walters, he was made an Honorary Freeman of Sandwell.
Do you know any interesting historical facts about Sandwell or have some bostin memories that you’d like to share? Please let us know at… [email protected]
Oldbury
Did you know…?
Oldbury is a very old settlement. In fact, it was already considered old in 1086, when it appeared in the Domesday Book. This age is reflected in the name – ‘Oldbury’ comes from the Anglo-Saxon words ‘Eald’ (meaning old) and ‘Byrig’ meaning ‘fortified town.’
During WW1, Oldbury Carriage and Wagon Works was a major contributor of tanks, providing the first five tanks for the Royal Naval Armoured Car Squadron. Nor was this Oldbury’s only contribution to WW1 – the famous war song ‘It’s a Long Way to Tipperary’ was written by Jack Judge, who was born in Oldbury in 1872.
Goods made in Oldbury have made the international stage. At the 1974 Olympic Games, held in Munich, West Germany, javelins from Oldbury were used.
Do you have a happy memory of Oldbury that you want to share with us? Get in touch at [email protected]. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Smethwick
Did you know…?
Smethwick has been recorded as far back as the Domesday Book. Its name derives from the Anglo-Saxon words ‘smethe’ and ‘wic’, together meaning ‘settlement on smooth land.’
Smethwick was a small community until the Industrial Revolution when it became a hub of industry. From 1811 to 1861, its population grew from 1,300 to 13,000.
The oldest working steam engine in the world was built in Smethwick by James Watt and is now at the ThinkTank Museum in Birmingham.
Smethwick was a manufacturing hub during the Industrial Revolution. Spon Lane was home to the Chance Brothers’ glassworks, which shipped its wares all over the world. Glass from the factory was used in lighthouses in Canada, New Zealand and India. They also provided the glass for the Crystal Palace in the Great Exhibition of 1851.
Hollywood actress and Honorary Freeman Julie Walters grew up in the Bearwood area of Smethwick.
Do you have a happy memory of Smethwick that you want to share with us? Get in touch at [email protected]. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Wednesbury
Did you know…?
‘Wednesbury’ derives from ‘Woden’ – the Anglo-Saxon god of war and ‘beorg’, meaning fortified town. The name was apt – Wednesbury is believed to have been an Iron Age hillfort, as well as being the site of a battle between Mercia and Wessex.
In the 900s, Wednesbury was made a fortified town as a defence against the Vikings by the daughter of Alfred the Great.
Coal has been mined from the area as early as 1315, with nail making and gun barrel manufacturing becoming important cottage industries in the later centuries. Pottery also became a trade in the 1600s, with ‘Wedgbury Ware’ being sold in the local area. By the 1700s, mining became the main industry, leading to a growth in the canal network.
In 1743-744, there were a series of anti-Wesleyan protests (the Shrovetide riots) in Wednesbury, against preacher John Wesley.
Do you have any memories of Wednesbury that you want to share with us? Get in touch at [email protected]. We can’t wait to hear from you!
West Bromwich
Did you know…?
The name West Bromwich is Anglo Saxon, meaning ‘village of the heath.’ The ‘West’ prefix was added later to differentiate it from Castle Bromwich and Little Bromwich.
The discovery of coal in West Bromwich led to increased trade routes,
Despite its importance in the Industrial Revolution, West Bromwich is most famous for its football club, West Bromwich Albion, which has won the FA Cup five times. Boing Boing!
Do you have a happy memory of West Bromwich that you want to share with us? Get in touch at [email protected]. We can’t wait to hear from you!
