Oxley, Wolverhampton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oxley |
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 Oxley
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| Population | 12,797 (2011.Ward Census) |
| Metropolitan borough |
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| 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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Oxley is a lively area in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England. It's like a neighborhood, also known as a ward, which is a local area that elects people to the City of Wolverhampton Council. Oxley is in the northern part of Wolverhampton. It shares borders with South Staffordshire and other Wolverhampton wards like Bushbury North and Tettenhall Regis. It's also part of the Wolverhampton North East area, which elects a Member of Parliament.
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What's in a Name? The Story of Oxley
The name Oxley comes from very old English words. Imagine a time long ago when most of England was covered in forests!
How Oxley Got Its Name
The first part, 'Ox', comes from the Old English word 'Oxa', meaning 'ox' (the animal). The second part, 'Ley', comes from 'lēah', which means a clearing in a woodland or a meadow. So, 'Oxley' means a "clearing in the woods where oxen were found."
Oxley's Past as a Rural Area
Many place names in Wolverhampton are from Old English. This shows how much of the land was once woodland. A huge forest called Cannock Forest used to stretch through Wolverhampton. Oxley would have been part of this forest. For a long time, until the 1900s, Oxley was a quiet, rural area. It was located on the main road between Wolverhampton and Stafford.
Getting Around: Transport in Oxley
Oxley is a hub for different ways to travel, especially by water and rail.
Canals and Waterways
On Oxley's western side, two important canals meet. At Autherley Junction, the Shropshire Union Canal connects with the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. Close by, at Aldersley Junction, the BCN Main Line (a major canal route) also joins the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. These canals were once very important for moving goods.
Trains and Railway History
A main railway line, once part of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway, runs through Oxley. In 1907, a big train depot was built here by the Great Western Railway. This depot, called Oxley, could house nearly 100 locomotives, mostly freight trains.
Later, in 1972, the railway line near Oxley was updated. It became the first part of the old Great Western network to use an electric overhead line system. This allowed electric trains to travel to Wolverhampton from places like London Euston.
Today, Oxley TRSMD (Traincare Depot) is a busy place. It's operated by Alstom and maintains the fast Class 390 Pendolinos trains used by Avanti West Coast. Soon, it will also be the home for new Class 805 and 807s trains.
Buses for Local Travel
Oxley has good bus services. National Express West Midlands runs services 3 and 4 very often, connecting the City Centre to Three Tuns Island. Other bus services, like the 877/878, also run to nearby towns such as Brewood and sometimes Stafford.
Oxley Today: Modern Life and Landmarks
Oxley has changed a lot over the years, with new developments and important local spots.
Shopping and Local Hubs
The main shopping area in Oxley is called Three Tuns Parade. It's located on the A449 Stafford Road. Here, you'll find many shops, takeaways, and banks.
Famous Landmarks
Two tall railway viaducts are a well-known sight in Oxley. They cross over the Birmingham Canal Navigations Main Line Canal.
A big change to the Oxley skyline was the removal of the blue and yellow chimney from the Goodyear tyre factory. The factory stopped making car tyres in 2006. The famous 81-year-old chimney was taken down in 2008. Now, a new housing estate is being built on the site. This new area includes an Aldi supermarket and a Hungry Horse pub called "The Gatehouse." The pub's name comes from its location, where the old Goodyear gatehouse used to be.
Community and Education
The Church of the Epiphany is the local Anglican church on Lymer Road. It was built in the early 1960s. Inside, it has a special Compton Theatre organ that used to be in the Windsor Theatre in Bearwood, Birmingham. The local Polish community also has its own centre and Catholic Church on Stafford Road.
The suburb of Pendeford is also part of the Oxley ward. Near Oxley's southern border, you'll find Wolverhampton Science Park. This park is built on the site of the old Gas Works at Gorsebrook. For education, Ormiston NEW Academy is a school located within the ward.
