West Bromwich facts for kids

Quick facts for kids West Bromwich
West Bromwich Town Hall
West Bromwich
Population	103,112
OS grid reference	SP0091
• London	126 mi (203 km)
Metropolitan borough	Sandwell
Shire county	Staffordshire
Metropolitan county	West Midlands
Region	West Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	WEST BROMWICH
Postcode district	B70, B71
Dialling code	0121
Police	West Midlands
Fire	West Midlands
Ambulance	West Midlands
EU Parliament	West Midlands
UK Parliament	Tipton and Wednesbury West Bromwich
List of places UK England West Midlands 52°31′08″N 1°59′42″W / 52.519°N 1.995°W / 52.519; -1.995

West Bromwich (pronounced BROM-itch), often called West Brom, is a busy market town in the Sandwell area of the West Midlands, England. It used to be part of Staffordshire. The town is about 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Birmingham. West Bromwich is also part of the Black Country, an area known for its history, culture, and unique way of speaking. In 2021, about 103,112 people lived in West Bromwich.

West Bromwich started as a small village. It grew a lot during the Industrial Revolution. This was because the area had lots of ironstone and coal. It was also close to canals and railway lines. The town became a hub for coal mining, making bricks, and working with iron and metals. They made things like nails, springs, and guns. Later, in the 20th century, the town's main industries became engineering, manufacturing, and making cars.

During World War II, West Bromwich was bombed by German planes. The town also faced tough times during economic problems in the 1970s, 1980s, and late 2000s.

The town is famous for its football team, West Bromwich Albion. The club has played here since it started in 1878. West Bromwich is also home to parts of Sandwell Valley Country Park and the Sandwell Valley RSPB nature reserve.

History of West Bromwich

How West Bromwich Started

West Bromwich was first mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086. It was called Bromwic, which means 'broom village'. People think it might have been part of the Handsworth area back then.

A Benedictine priory (a type of monastery) was built in West Bromwich in the 12th century. The village of Broomwich Heath grew up around this priory. In 1727, the town became a stop for coaches travelling between London and Shrewsbury. This is when the town really started to grow. The name 'West' was added to tell it apart from Castle Bromwich, which is about 8 miles (13 km) to the east.

Growing as an Industrial Town

In the 1800s, coal was found in the area. This made the town grow very quickly as an industrial centre. Industries like making springs, guns, and nails became very important. By the end of the 19th century, West Bromwich was a major town, just like older nearby towns such as Dudley and Walsall.

In 1888, West Bromwich became a county borough, which is a type of local government area. It included the village of Great Barr. The town grew even more in 1966, taking in parts of Tipton and Wednesbury. In 1974, it joined with Warley County Borough to form the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell.

Charlemont Hall was a large house built in the 1750s. It was a grand brick house with stone details. An extra part was added in 1855. The house was taken down in 1948. Now, smaller homes stand where it once was. Many houses were built in the surrounding area in the 1960s.

In 1831, a cholera outbreak hit West Bromwich hard. A temporary health board was set up, and a hospital opened. The town's drainage system was not good enough. In 1854, the West Bromwich Town Improvement Commissioners were formed. They worked to fix the drainage problems in the town.

West Bromwich Library

West Bromwich in the 20th Century

By 1914, when World War I started, many old houses built for workers were in poor condition. After the war, the local council began building new homes. This helped to rehouse people from the old town centre. However, you can still see many buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s in West Bromwich.

The first Council housing in West Bromwich was built in 1920 on the Tantany Estate. Over the next 20 years, thousands of council houses were built. The biggest housing areas were in the north of the town. These included the Charlemont Farm Estate and the Friar Park Estate.

World War II fund-raising badge, sold during "War Weapons Week", 15–22 March 1941

West Bromwich was badly damaged by air raids during World War II. On 19 November 1940, 58 people died, mostly near Oak Road. Other parts of the town, like Stone Cross, also had smaller raids.

After the war, more council houses were built, like the Harvills Hawthorn Estate in 1948.

In the 1950s and 1960s, many people moved to West Bromwich from countries in the Commonwealth. Most came from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Many also came from the Caribbean. These new residents often settled in the older parts of town.

The roads in West Bromwich also improved a lot in the 1960s and 1970s. The M5 motorway ends near West Bromwich. In 1972, a new dual carriageway called the Northern Loop Road (or The Expressway) opened. This helped traffic flow better between Wolverhampton and Birmingham.

How local government looked in the Black Country before 1966

West Bromwich faced tough economic times in the mid-1970s and early 1980s. This led to many people losing their jobs.

Queen's Square shopping centre opened in 1971. It had 60 shops and a large car park. The smaller King's Square also opened that year. In 2011, Queen's Square was renovated.

Bromford Lane, West Bromwich. Steam trams used to run here.

Many shops in West Bromwich closed when the Merry Hill Shopping Centre opened nearby in the 1980s. Big stores like Marks & Spencer and British Home Stores moved to Merry Hill. Later, Littlewoods closed in 2005. The economic problems starting in 2008 also affected the town centre. For example, the Woolworths store closed in 2008.

Even though some factories have closed, West Bromwich is still an important industrial area.

Forge Mill Lake, Sandwell Valley Country Park

In 1995, the Black Country Spine Road was finished. This new road helped open up land for businesses. It has helped with unemployment in West Bromwich.

West Bromwich in the 21st Century

In August 2011, West Bromwich was affected by widespread rioting across England. Shops closed early, and there was some vandalism. Police closed main roads into the town.

The town's economy has improved since July 2013. A new shopping and entertainment complex called New Square opened. It was built on the site of an old school. This brought new shops like Next and Primark, an Odeon cinema, and many restaurants. Hundreds of jobs were created.

The success of West Bromwich Albion F.C. has also helped the town's economy. When the club played in the top football league, many fans came to watch.

The history records for West Bromwich are kept at the Sandwell Community History and Archives Service.

Local Government

The coat of arms of West Bromwich County Borough Council.

West Bromwich is divided into two areas for Parliament: Tipton and Wednesbury and West Bromwich.

Sarah Coombes (from the Labour Party) represents West Bromwich. She was elected on 4 July 2024.

Antonia Bance (from the Labour Party) represents Tipton and Wednesbury. She was also elected on 4 July 2024. Before her, Betty Boothroyd was the MP for this area. She was the first female Speaker of the House of Commons.

People and Diversity

In 2021, the population of West Bromwich was 103,112. Here's a look at the different groups of people living there:

Here's a look at the different religions in West Bromwich in 2021:

Climate in West Bromwich

West Bromwich has a mild climate. It doesn't get too hot or too cold. There is also enough rain throughout the year. This type of climate is called "Oceanic climate".

Things to See and Do

The Hawthorns, home of West Bromwich Albion F.C.

West Bromwich is home to the football club West Bromwich Albion. The club started in 1878. In 1888, it was one of the first 12 teams to join the Football League. They won the league championship in 1920. They have also won the FA Cup five times, most recently in 1968. They won the League Cup in 1966. The team moved to their current stadium, The Hawthorns, in 1900. It is the highest football ground above sea level in the country.

Engineering and chemical industries are still important in West Bromwich. The town played a big part in the Industrial Revolution. It still has many manufacturing jobs today.

Sandwell General Hospital is located near the town centre. It is a large hospital that is part of the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust.

Oak House, West Bromwich.

William Legge, 2nd Earl of Dartmouth lived at Sandwell Hall. He was a Methodist and was known as "Brother Earl" by his friends.

West Bromwich Town Hall is a beautiful old building on the High Street. It was built between 1874 and 1875. It has a grand organ built in 1862, which is very important for its music and design.

The Public, by Will Alsop

West Bromwich Manor House was built in the late 1200s. Only the Great Hall remains from the original buildings. Over time, the house was updated and expanded. It was saved from being torn down in the 1950s.

The Oak House is another historic building in the Greets Green area. It was owned by the Turton family in 1634. John Wesley, a famous religious leader, preached there twice. In 1898, it was given to the town as a museum.

The lakes and pools within Sandwell Valley are home to many birds.

The Public arts centre opened in 2009. It was designed by architect Will Alsop. It attracted many visitors and brought famous artists to the town. In 2013, it was decided that the building would be used by Sandwell College as a new sixth form centre.

A large new shopping centre called New Square, West Bromwich opened in 2013. It includes a Tesco Extra store and other shops. This development created many new jobs.

Dartmouth Park opened in 1878. It is to the east of the town. Beyond the park is Sandwell Valley. This area includes Sandwell Valley Country Park and Sandwell Valley RSPB nature reserve. The country park is 660 acres and is home to many birds. There are also two farms open to the public: Sandwell Park Farm and Forge Mill Farm.

Places of Worship

West Bromwich is a town with many different cultures and religions. You can find many places of worship here.

The Church of England has many churches in West Bromwich. Other Christian churches include Roman Catholic, Seventh-day Adventist, Methodist, Baptist, and Pentecostal churches.

West Bromwich has four mosques for the Muslim community. The Jami Masjid and Islamic Centre was the first mosque for the Bangladeshi community. The Madinatul Uloom Al-Islamiyah Madrasa on Moor Street is the largest mosque. It used to be an abandoned church and was turned into a mosque in 2001. It also offers Islamic classes for children.

There are many Sikh people in the area, and they have several Gurudwaras (Sikh temples). Sikhs started settling here in the 1950s. The oldest Gurdwara is Gurdwara Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji on High Street.

Hindus have a place of worship called the Shree Krishna Mandir. It opened in 1974 in a converted church.

Getting Around West Bromwich

Train and Tram

West Bromwich railway station opened in 1854. The old railway line is now used by the West Midlands Metro tram system. West Bromwich has seven tram stops, including West Bromwich Central. The closest main train station is Sandwell & Dudley railway station, about 1 mile (1.6 km) away in Oldbury. You can also catch trains from The Hawthorns railway station.

Roads

The M5 motorway and its connection to the M6 motorway pass through West Bromwich. This makes the town a key point in Britain's motorway network. Major improvements were made to the A41 junction near the town centre to help with traffic.

The original main road through West Bromwich was part of Thomas Telford's route from London to Holyhead. This became part of the A41 road. In 1973, a new dual carriageway called The Expressway was built to bypass the town centre.

In 1995, the Black Country Spine Road was completed. This road also helped improve transport links in the area.

Buses

West Bromwich has a large bus station. Many bus routes serve the town, connecting it to nearby places like Oldbury and Smethwick. There are also regional routes to cities like Birmingham and Wolverhampton.

Air Travel

The nearest airport is Birmingham Airport, which is about 16 miles (26 km) away. You can get there by tram and train.

Education in West Bromwich

The biggest school in West Bromwich is the Central Campus of Sandwell College. It is a modern building that opened in 2012. The college teaches over 5,000 students each year. It offers many subjects, including A-Levels. It even has a Boeing 737 plane for training cabin crew!

West Bromwich has five secondary schools: George Salter Academy, Health Futures UTC, the Phoenix Collegiate, Q3 Academy Great Barr and Sandwell Academy. A new secondary school, West Bromwich Collegiate Academy, opened in 2019.

The town also has 21 primary schools. Some of these are Lodge Primary School, St. John Bosco RC Primary School, and Holy Trinity C of E Primary School.

Statue of the Three Degrees by Graham Ibbeson, in West Bromwich

Fans celebrate West Bromwich Albion avoiding relegation in 2005.

Media

Local news and TV shows for West Bromwich come from BBC West Midlands and ITV Central. You can also listen to local radio stations like BBC Radio WM and Heart West Midlands. The local newspaper is the Express & Star.

Sports in West Bromwich

Football

Football is very popular in West Bromwich, thanks to West Bromwich Albion. The club was started in 1878 by workers from a spring factory. They played in different places before moving to The Hawthorns in 1900.

West Brom was one of the first 12 teams to form the Football League in 1888. Their main rivals are Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Albion has spent most of its history playing in the top division of English football.

The club has won nine major trophies. These include five FA Cups (in 1888, 1892, 1931, 1954, and 1968) and one league title (in 1920). They also won the Football League Cup in 1966. Their last major trophy was the FA Cup in 1968. They are currently in the EFL Championship, which is the second tier of English football.

Some famous players who played for West Bromwich Albion include Ronnie Allen, Bryan Robson, Laurie Cunningham, Tony Brown, and Jeff Astle.

Cricket

The local cricket team is West Bromwich Dartmouth Cricket Club. They started in 1834. They are one of the founding members of the Birmingham and District Premier League, which is the oldest cricket league in the world. They play their home games at Sandwell Valley.

Famous People from West Bromwich

The Farley Clock Tower, named after Reuben Farley.

• Francis Asbury – a Methodist bishop.
• Anne Aston – TV presenter and actress.
• Al Atkins – a founder of the band Judas Priest.
• Jana Bellin – a chess grandmaster.
• Paul Birch – a footballer.
• John Byrne – a comic book artist.
• Madeleine Carroll – an actress.
• K.K. Downing – guitarist for Judas Priest.
• Reuben Farley – the first Mayor of West Bromwich.
• Ian Hill – bassist for Judas Priest.
• Phil Lynott – singer and bassist for Thin Lizzy, born in Hallam Hospital.
• Matthew Marsden – an actor.
• Robert Plant – singer for Led Zeppelin, born in West Bromwich.
• Frank Skinner – a comedian.
• Larry Stephens – a comedy scriptwriter.
• Betty Boothroyd – a Member of Parliament and the first female Speaker of the House of Commons.

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See also

In Spanish: West Bromwich para niños