Handsworth, West Midlands facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Handsworth |
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|---|---|
 Soho Road |
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| Population | 12,703 |
| Language | English |
| OS grid reference | SP 040 896 |
| Metropolitan borough | |
| Shire county | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BIRMINGHAM |
| Postcode district | B20/B21 |
| Dialling code | 0121 |
| EU Parliament | West Midlands |
Handsworth is a lively area in Birmingham, England. It's part of the West Midlands region. Handsworth used to be in Staffordshire. It's located just outside Birmingham City Centre and close to the town of Smethwick.
Contents
History of Handsworth
The name Handsworth comes from an old Saxon owner named Hondes. It also includes the Old English word weorthing, which means a farm or estate. Handsworth was first written about in the Domesday Book in 1086. Back then, it was a very small village with farms and lots of trees. One of the oldest buildings in Handsworth is the Old Town Hall, built in 1460.
For many centuries, Handsworth stayed a small village. But in the 18th century, more homes were built for factory workers. The village grew quickly. By 1851, over 6,000 people lived there. Churches like St James' Church and St Michael's Church were built. By 1881, Handsworth had about 32,000 residents. This number more than doubled to 68,610 by 1911. The Council House on Soho Road was finished in 1879. Today, it's a public library and college.
Handsworth has many different types of buildings from various time periods. You can see some beautiful Victorian buildings here. The area is home to two grammar schools: Handsworth Grammar School and King Edward VI Handsworth School for girls. St Andrew's Church is a historic building. Handsworth also has Handsworth Park, which was restored in 2006. The busy shopping area of Soho Road is here too. St. Mary's Church holds the remains of famous inventors like Watt, Murdoch, and Boulton.
In 1911, Handsworth became part of Birmingham. During World War II, many people from the Caribbean came to Birmingham. They worked in factories that made supplies for the war. After the war, Birmingham needed more workers for its growing industries. Handsworth became a central place for Birmingham's Afro-Caribbean community.
A tram depot was built in Handsworth in the 1880s. It was used until the tram service stopped in 1939. A copy of this depot was later made at the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley.
Inventors: Boulton and Watt
The famous inventor Matthew Boulton set up his Soho Manufactory on the edge of Handsworth. This factory operated from 1766 to 1848. Boulton also had his home, Soho House, designed nearby. Today, Soho House is a museum.
In 1790, Heathfield Hall was built for Boulton's business partner, the engineer James Watt. Watt was a key inventor of the steam engine. He died in the house in 1819 and was buried at St Mary's Church. Later, in the 1880s, engineer George Tangye lived there. Heathfield Hall was taken down in 1927. Watt's workshop from the house was moved and rebuilt in the Science Museum in London.
Community Life and Challenges
Handsworth has faced some challenges over the years. In 1981, there were tensions in the area. Young people felt unfairly treated by the police, and there was high unemployment. These issues led to unrest. Similar events happened in 1985. After these times, local leaders worked hard to improve community relations. They wanted to help people from different backgrounds get along better. Arts groups also helped bring people together.
More unrest happened in 1991 and 2005. The 2011 England riots also affected Handsworth. News articles have explored why these events happen, highlighting the need for better relationships between the community and the police.
In recent years, new projects have helped improve Handsworth. Businesses on Soho Road work with the council to make the area better. There are also many groups that help people from different cultures connect. The Handsworth Community Choir brings together singers from the area. The Handsworth Park Community Garden opened in 2017. The community website ‘Inside Handsworth’ shares local news and stories.
Musical Legacy
Handsworth is famous for its music! Many talented musicians and bands come from here. These include:
- Steel Pulse, a reggae band whose first album, Handsworth Revolution, is named after the area.
- Joan Armatrading, a singer-songwriter.
- Pato Banton, a reggae singer.
- Benjamin Zephaniah, a well-known poet and writer.
- Swami and Apache Indian.
- Ruby Turner, a soul and R&B singer.
- B21, a Bhangra group.
Other famous musicians born in Handsworth include:
- Tony Iommi, lead guitarist for the band Black Sabbath.
- Steve Winwood, a pop singer.
- Jamelia, a singer.
- Carl Palmer, a progressive rock drummer.
The tenor singer Webster Booth was also born in Handsworth in 1902. He started singing as a child in St. Mary's. He became very famous for his singing.
Events in Handsworth Park
Handsworth Park has been the site of many exciting events. It has hosted the Birmingham Tattoo and The Birmingham Festival. The Handsworth Carnival started in Handsworth Park in 1984. It included a street parade. In 1995, the carnival moved to the streets of Handsworth and became known as the Birmingham International Carnival.
Education in Handsworth
Handsworth has several schools. Rookery School is a primary school that is over 100 years old. It still uses its original buildings from 1899.
Secondary schools in the area include:
- Handsworth Wood Girls' Academy
- Holyhead School
- St John Wall Catholic School
- Selective state schools like King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys and King Edward VI Handsworth School (for girls).
Notable People from Handsworth
Many interesting people have connections to Handsworth:
- Joan Armatrading (born 1950), singer-songwriter.
- Francis Asbury, an important leader in the Methodist Church.
- Pato Banton, reggae singer.
- Matthew Boulton (1728–1809), inventor who lived in Soho House.
- Ian Emes, an animator and film director.
- Roy Fisher (1930-2017), a poet and jazz pianist.
- Bert Freeman (1885–1955), an England international footballer.
- Kash Gill, a former world champion kickboxer.
- Anne Heywood (1931-2023), an actress.
- David Hinds (born 1956), lead singer of Steel Pulse.
- Mr Hudson, a singer.
- Apache Indian, a dancehall artist.
- Tony Iommi, guitarist for Black Sabbath.
- Jamelia (born 1981), a singer-songwriter.
- Bunny Johnson, a former British Heavyweight boxing champion.
- Bitty McLean, a reggae singer.
- M1llionz (born 1998), a rapper.
- Darren Moore, a footballer.
- Jimmy Moore, an England international footballer.
- Bill Morris, a trade union leader.
- William Murdoch (1754–1839), an inventor who helped develop gas lighting.
- Carl Palmer (born 1950), a drummer for bands like Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
- George Ramsay (1855–1926), manager of Aston Villa football club.
- Tommy Roberts, a professional footballer.
- Malkit Singh, a Punjabi folk singer.
- Daniel Sturridge, a professional footballer.
- Ruby Turner (born 1968), a soul and R&B singer.
- James Watt (1736-1819), the famous inventor and engineer.
- Caroline Watts (1868–1919), a painter and illustrator.
- Steve Winwood (born 1948), a rock musician.
- Benjamin Zephaniah (1958-2023), a poet and writer.
Transport in Handsworth
The Birmingham Canal Navigations Main Line Canal runs through Handsworth. The former London, Midland & Scottish Railway main line also passes through, connecting Birmingham and Wolverhampton. The West Midlands Metro tram system has a stop at Handsworth Booth Street. Local bus services like 11A, 11C, 16, 74, and 101 also serve the area.
