Merry Hill, Wolverhampton facts for kids
Merry Hill is a lively area, or suburb, located in the city of Wolverhampton, in the West Midlands region of England. It is also a special local area called a ward, which is represented by councillors on the Wolverhampton City Council. Merry Hill is in the south-west part of the city. It shares its borders with South Staffordshire and other Wolverhampton wards like Tettenhall Wightwick, Park, Graiseley, and Penn. This area is part of the larger Wolverhampton South West area, which elects a Member of Parliament.
The heart of Merry Hill ward is the Merry Hill crossroads, where five main roads meet. Because of how the ward's borders are drawn, parts of nearby areas like Bradmore, Castlecroft, and Finchfield are also included in the Merry Hill ward. In 2011, a count of all the people living there, called a census, showed that 12,189 people lived in the Merry Hill ward.
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History of Merry Hill
Merry Hill has an interesting past. Long ago, there was a big house here called Bellencroft. It had beautiful gardens and an orchard, which is a place where fruit trees grow.
Bellencroft House
The Bellencroft house is no longer standing. Its gardens have also disappeared. Today, a street named Bellencroft Gardens is located where the gardens once were. A few private homes now stand where the house used to be. The old orchard is now a quiet street called Orchard Crescent, which leads to Orchard Court. The only thing left from the original Bellencroft is a stone pillar from its old driveway entrance. This pillar used to have the name 'Bellencroft' carved into it, but it has since been replaced with a new sign.
The house was first known as 'Bhylls House' and was on a street called 'Bhylls Lane'. The owner later changed its name to Bellencroft. He did this by combining the names of his two daughters, Bella and Ellen.
Modern Buildings
In 1967, three tall blocks of flats were built in Merry Hill. They are located near the Highfields estate and have been a noticeable part of the local area ever since. There is also a traditional pub in the area called The Merry Hill.
Schools in Merry Hill
Merry Hill ward is home to several schools for young people. These include Highfields Secondary School, Uplands Junior School, St Michael's RC Primary School, and Springdale Primary School. These schools help educate many children and teenagers in the community.
Getting Around Merry Hill
Public transport is available in Merry Hill. The National Express West Midlands bus service 4 runs daily through the area. This bus connects Spring Hill and the i54 business park, passing through the city centre.
Local Government and Politics
Merry Hill is a ward that is represented by three councillors. These councillors are elected by the people living in the ward to speak for them on the Wolverhampton City Council.
Historically, Merry Hill has often voted for the Conservative Party. In the 1980s, candidates from the Labour Party usually came in third place. However, in more recent times, the ward has become more competitive. Now, it is considered a "marginal ward," meaning that either the Conservative or Labour Party could win elections there.
