Compton, Wolverhampton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Compton |
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 Compton
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| Population | 1,326 (2001 Census) |
| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Wolverhampton |
| Postcode district | WV |
| Dialling code | 01902 |
| Police | West Midlands |
| Fire | West Midlands |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| EU Parliament | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament |
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Compton is a lively area, or suburb, located in Wolverhampton, England. It sits to the west of the city centre, along the A454 road. It's part of the Tettenhall Wightwick area.
A Look Back at Compton's History
Compton is built on a hillside, with some homes climbing a steep path called 'The Holloway'. On the other side of the Smestow Brook valley, the land rises again towards Finchfield. This valley was formed by melting ice long ago, and people used to dig out sandstone from the ground here.
The name Compton tells us about its location! It was first written down in the Domesday Book in 1086. The Domesday Book was a huge survey ordered by William the Conqueror to record everything in England. The name Compton comes from old words meaning 'narrow valley' and 'farmstead' or 'fenced place'.
A special part of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal called Compton Lock was where building started in 1766. A famous engineer named James Brindley led this big project.
Later, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, a talented local artist named Joseph Vickers de Ville (1856–1925) lived in Compton. Around this time, the rows of houses you can still see today along Henwood Road were built.
Compton Today
Today, the old sandstone digging has stopped. Instead, many homes have been built along the valley sides. While much of Compton was built in the last half of the 1900s, you can still find some older buildings, especially on The Holloway.
Compton is home to one of the two Business Schools of the University of Wolverhampton. The other is in Telford.
If you love football, you might know that the Sir Jack Hayward Training Ground for Wolverhampton Wanderers football club is in Compton Park. Right next to it is St Edmund's Catholic Academy, and across the road is St Peter's Collegiate Academy.
Compton has many local shops, places to get take-aways, restaurants, and pubs. While the closest train station now is in Wolverhampton city centre, Compton used to have its own station called Compton Halt. It was on the Wombourne Branch Line from 1925 to 1932. The train line was used for carrying goods until 1965, but now it's a popular walking path!
Getting around Compton is easy with frequent bus services. The 10/10A buses connect Compton with Perton and Wolverhampton. Other services, like the 62/62A, go to Wolverhampton through Tettenhall and Dunstall Hill. These buses are run by National Express West Midlands. You can also catch the Arriva Midlands service 9, which runs hourly from Monday to Saturday between Wolverhampton and Bridgnorth.
