Tamworth
Encyclopedia
Tamworth is a town
and local government district
in Staffordshire
, England, located 14 miles (22.5 km) north-east of Birmingham
city centre and 103 miles (165.8 km) north-west of London
. The town takes its name from the River Tame
, which flows through the town, as does the River Anker
. At the 2001 census the town had a population
of 74,531.
Tamworth is the home of the historic Tamworth Castle
and Moat House
, and has a non-league football
team, Tamworth FC. The Snowdome
, the UK's first full-sized real-snow indoor ski slope
is located in Tamworth, and only a short distance away is Drayton Manor Theme Park
.
The town's main industries include logistics, engineering, clothing, brick, tile and paper manufacture. It was also home to the Reliant
car company, which produced the famous three-wheeled Robin model and the Scimitar sports car for several decades.
times
and in the reign of King Offa, was the capital of Mercia
the largest of all English kingdoms of its time (see Heptarchy
). It was by far the largest town in the Midlands
when today's much larger city of Birmingham
was still in its infancy. This is largely because of its strategic position at the meeting point of two rivers (the Tame and the Anker), which meant the town was perfectly placed as a centre of trade and industry.
The town was later sacked by Danes in 874. The town remained a ruin until 913 when Ethelfleda
, Lady of the Mercians, the daughter of King Alfred the Great
, rebuilt the town and constructed a burh
to defend the town against further Danish invaders. She made Tamworth her principal residence and died there in 918. In Tamworth church
in 926, St. Edith of Polesworth was forced to marry to Sihtric the one-eyed Danish King of York and Dublin
castle was built on the probable site of the Saxon fort which still stands to this day as an important tourist attraction. Grants of borough privileges, including rights to a third additional fair in 1588 consolidated Tamworth’s historic importance as ‘the seat of Saxon kings’.
In the Middle Ages Tamworth was a small market town. However the king gave it charters in 1319 In the Middle Ages a charter was a document granting the townspeople certain rights or confirming existing ones. In 1337 Tamworth was granted the right to hold two annual fairs In the Middle Ages fairs were like markets but they were held only once a year and they attracted buyers and sellers from far and wide.
In 1345 Tamworth suffered a disastrous fire, and much of the town burned. Fire was a constant hazard in the Middle Ages because most buildings were made of wood with thatched roofs. However, the town was soon rebuilt and grew in size.
granted Tamworth another charter in 1560.
In the 16th and 17th centuries Tamworth, like all towns, suffered from outbreaks of plague. It struck in 1563, 1579, 1597–98, 1606 and 1626. Each time the plague struck many people died but each time the population recovered. Fortunately the 1626 outbreak was the last.
James I, the first Stuart king of England, visited Tamworth in 1619 and whilst he was accommodated by Sir John Ferrers at Tamworth Castle, the Prince of Wales and future King Charles was entertained by William Comberford at the Moat House.
Tamworth castle was besieged by parliamentarian forces during the English Civil War in 1643. An order was issued for the castle to be destroyed but this was not carried out.
Tamworth continued to grow and remained one of the most populous towns in the Midlands by 1670, when the combined hearth tax returns from Warwickshire and Staffordshire list a total of some 320 households. Its strategic trade advantage lay with control of the two vital packhorse bridge
s across the Anker and the Tame on the route from London to Chester. While it remained a local market town, it did a brisk trade providing travellers with the staple bread, ale and accommodation, maintaining trading links as far afield as Bristol. Charles II’s reconfirmation of its borough's privileges in 1663 gave the town an added boost, as confirmed by Richard Blome's description of its celebrated market, well served with corn, provisions and lean cattle.
In 1678 the town's future Member of Parliament
Thomas Guy
founded almshouses in Tamworth, rebuilt in 1913. He also built Tamworth Town Hall in 1701 and later founded Guy's Hospital
in London.
There are four cannons in the Castle Grounds, an indication of the town's previously violent past.
There were a number of improvements to Tamworth during the 19th century. In 1807 the pavements were flagged. From 1835 Tamworth had gaslight. In the late 19th century a piped water supply was created.
The town grew rapidly in the 18th and 19th centuries during the Industrial Revolution
, benefitting from the surrounding coal
mines. It also became a hub of the canal
network, with the Coventry Canal
and the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal
being built through the town. Later, the railways arrived with the Midland Railway
route from Derby
to Birmingham
arriving in Tamworth in 1847, and later the London and North Western Railway
, which provided direct trains to the capital. A split-level station
exists where the two main lines cross each another, the higher level platforms (on the Derby to Birmingham line), being at right angles to the lower ones on the main line to London.
The first municipal cemetery opened in 1876. The Assembly Rooms were built in 1889. In 1897 the corporation bought Tamworth Castle.
A hospital was built in Tamworth in 1880. An infirmary was built in 1903.
The Victorian
Prime Minister
Sir Robert Peel served as the town's Member of Parliament
from 1830 until his death in 1850. He lived at the nearby Drayton Manor
. It was in Tamworth that Robert Peel unveiled his Tamworth Manifesto
in 1834 which created what is now the modern Conservative Party
. During the 19th century a breed of pig called Tamworth Pig
was initially bred here using some imported Irish
stock. Sir Robert Peel was a member of the historic Tamworth Castle Bowls club, founded in 1814, which still has an active membership.
Samuel Parkes
who won the Victoria Cross
in the Charge of the Light Brigade
was born in Wigginton
and baptised at St. Editha's on 24 December 1815. His parents, Thomas and Lydia, are buried in its churchyard.
The first public library in Tamworth was built in 1905. Tamworth gained an electricity supply in 1924.
Tamworth grew rapidly in the postwar years as it soaked up overspill from the West Midlands conurbation to the southwest. A population of about 7,000 in 1931 had risen to some 13,000 just after the Second World War; this figure remained fairly static until the late 1960s when a major expansion plan was implemented. Although not officially a "New Town", Tamworth's expansion resembled the development of many new towns. As part of this plan the town boundaries were expanded to include the industrial area around Wilnecote
to the south. The 1961 population of the new enlarged area was 25,000. In 1971 it was 40,000; in 1981, 64,000; in 1991, 68,000 and in 2001, 74,000, meaning that the town's population had almost doubled within 30 years.
The town of Fazeley merges almost completely into the town to the southwest, but belongs to the Lichfield District
area rather than Tamworth Borough. It became a town, by holding a referendum, to prevent efforts from Tamworth to absorb it.
Tamworth was historically split between Staffordshire
and Warwickshire
, with the county boundary running through the town centre. Staffordshire was made to include the entire borough in 1888.
The Reliant Motor Company was founded in Tamworth in 1935 by T.L.Williams, and cars such as the Scimitar
and the Robin
were manufactured here until the company moved to Cannock
in 1998. A year later the old factory was raised to the ground and a new housing estate built in its place called "Scimitar Park" with street names assuming names of Reliant vehicles (i.e. Robin Close).
The A5 £26,000,000 5 miles (8 km) dual-carriageway Fazeley
, Two Gates and Wilnecote
Bypass opened in July 1995, acting both as a bypass of Watling Street, and as a fast route for traffic into the town. This was further extended to meet the M6 Toll and A38 in 2005. The road's official name is Thomas Guy
Way.
Tamworth has two designated Local Nature Reserve
s, Hodge Lane (Amington) and Kettlebrook (Glascote/Wilnecote). They were joined by Dosthill Park in 2010.
was launched by Daniel Addison, with its original premises in Silver Street.
Mr Addison continued to publish the paper for nine years until 29 October 1877, when it was taken over by a consortium of leading townsmen. The paper now has its offices on the town's Ventura Park industrial estate.
Daniel Addison had a son Albert Christopher Addison
who was a historical writer.
during World War II
before becoming in 1943 a member of the British mission to the U.S. to participate in the Manhattan Project
which developed the atomic bomb. He was knighted in 1970.
Former The Teardrop Explodes
frontman and solo artist/writer Julian Cope
was raised in Tamworth and later lived in nearby Drayton Bassett
. Cope recorded three solo albums during his Tamworth years, 'World Shut Your Mouth' (1984), 'Fried' (1984) and 'Saint Julian' (1987), and all three used various locations around Tamworth for their sleeve art and several videos. The heavy rock band Wolfsbane
cut their teeth in the town, before their lead singer Blaze Bayley
went on to front the legendary Iron Maiden
. Rock guitarist Clem Clempson
was born in Tamworth. Bob Catley
the lead singer of rock band Magnum (band)
also lives in Tamworth. Structures, the enigmatic Post-Rock band also call the town their home. Tamworth has an active music scene, which circulates to some degree around The Skull Club and Tamworth Bands (also known as 'Tambands') websites.
are:
, who made a number of appearances over the years. Tamworth F.C.
has also fielded a number of notable players in recent times, including West Bromwich Albion legend Bob Taylor
and, for one match in the 2005/2006 season, former Aston Villa
and Arsenal
midfielder Paul Merson
. Tamworth FC showed signs of progress, just surviving to get their third season in the Conference, playing former league sides such as Halifax Town
, Oxford United
& Kidderminster Harriers
on a regular basis. The club also has a keen rivalry with fellow Staffordshire clubs Stafford Rangers
and Burton Albion
However, their biggest rivals are Nuneaton Borough. In 2009, as winners of Conference North, Tamworth were promoted to the Conference National.
Other football players from Tamworth include goalkeeper Martin Taylor who played for Derby and Wycombe, and currently Ashley Williams who has just signed for Swansea and been called up to the Wales squad. Aston Villa F.C.
youngster Marc Albrighton
is from Tamworth.
Others
Able Seaman Colin Grazier
, who rescued the Enigma
Code Book from a captured U-Boat
, was born in Two Gates. His achievement is celebrated in a monument in the town centre.
Sir Ernest William Titterton
, nuclear physicist, was born at Kettlebrook.
Author Julia Suzuki
was born and raised in Fazeley
, attending Rawlett Community Sports College.
Rock musicians Julian Cope
(of Teardrop Explodes) and Blaze Bayley
from Wolfsbane
and Iron Maiden
also lived in Tamworth.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
and local government district
Non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially shire districts, are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a so-called "two-tier" arrangement...
in Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, England, located 14 miles (22.5 km) north-east of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
city centre and 103 miles (165.8 km) north-west of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The town takes its name from the River Tame
River Tame, West Midlands
The River Tame is the main river of the West Midlands, and the most important tributary of the River Trent. The Tame is about 40 km from source at Oldbury to its confluence with the Trent near Alrewas, but the main river length of the entire catchment, i.e...
, which flows through the town, as does the River Anker
River Anker
The River Anker is a river in England. The river flows through the centre of Nuneaton towards Tamworth in Staffordshire. The river continues on before merging with the River Tame in Tamworth...
. At the 2001 census the town had a population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 74,531.
Tamworth is the home of the historic Tamworth Castle
Tamworth Castle
Tamworth Castle, a Grade I listed building, is a Norman castle, located next to the River Tame, in the town of Tamworth in Staffordshire, England....
and Moat House
Moat House
The Moat House is a Grade II* historic building located in what were once the grounds of Tamworth Castle in Staffordshire, England. A Gazebo nearby is a Grade II listed building.Currently the Moat House is a family restaurant....
, and has a non-league football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
team, Tamworth FC. The Snowdome
Snowdome
SnowDome, , is an indoor ski slope just off the A5 road in Tamworth, Staffordshire, England. It opened in May 1994, and was the first full sized recreational indoor ski slope in the UK.-Facilities:...
, the UK's first full-sized real-snow indoor ski slope
Indoor ski slope
Indoor ski slopes are found in several countries, proving a climate controlled environment can be maintained in which snow can be manufactured using a snow cannon, enabling skiing and snowboarding to take place year-round.-Notable mentions:...
is located in Tamworth, and only a short distance away is Drayton Manor Theme Park
Drayton Manor Theme Park
Drayton Manor Theme Park is a theme park, resort & zoo in the grounds of the former Drayton Manor, near Tamworth in Staffordshire, England.Drayton Manor is best known because it is a theme park and zoo which attracts around 1.4 million people a year. The attraction has a wide selection of rides set...
.
The town's main industries include logistics, engineering, clothing, brick, tile and paper manufacture. It was also home to the Reliant
Reliant
Reliant was a British car manufacturer. The company was traditionally based at Tamworth in Staffordshire, England, but in 2001 it moved to nearby Cannock. It ceased manufacturing cars shortly afterwards.-History:...
car company, which produced the famous three-wheeled Robin model and the Scimitar sports car for several decades.
History
Tamworth has existed since SaxonAnglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
times
and in the reign of King Offa, was the capital of Mercia
Mercia
Mercia was one of the kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy. It was centred on the valley of the River Trent and its tributaries in the region now known as the English Midlands...
the largest of all English kingdoms of its time (see Heptarchy
Heptarchy
The Heptarchy is a collective name applied to the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of south, east, and central Great Britain during late antiquity and the early Middle Ages, conventionally identified as seven: Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia, Essex, Kent, Sussex and Wessex...
). It was by far the largest town in the Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
when today's much larger city of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
was still in its infancy. This is largely because of its strategic position at the meeting point of two rivers (the Tame and the Anker), which meant the town was perfectly placed as a centre of trade and industry.
The town was later sacked by Danes in 874. The town remained a ruin until 913 when Ethelfleda
Ethelfleda
Æthelflæd , was the eldest daughter of King Alfred the Great of Wessex and Ealhswith, wife of Æthelred, ealdorman of Mercia, and after his death, ruler of Mercia...
, Lady of the Mercians, the daughter of King Alfred the Great
Alfred the Great
Alfred the Great was King of Wessex from 871 to 899.Alfred is noted for his defence of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of southern England against the Vikings, becoming the only English monarch still to be accorded the epithet "the Great". Alfred was the first King of the West Saxons to style himself...
, rebuilt the town and constructed a burh
Burh
A Burh is an Old English name for a fortified town or other defended site, sometimes centred upon a hill fort though always intended as a place of permanent settlement, its origin was in military defence; "it represented only a stage, though a vitally important one, in the evolution of the...
to defend the town against further Danish invaders. She made Tamworth her principal residence and died there in 918. In Tamworth church
Church of St Editha, Tamworth
The Church of St Editha is an Anglican parish church and Grade I listed building in Tamworth, Staffordshire, England.-History:The church of St. Editha is the largest medieval parish church in Staffordshire...
in 926, St. Edith of Polesworth was forced to marry to Sihtric the one-eyed Danish King of York and Dublin
Medieval history
In the 11th century, a NormanNorman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
castle was built on the probable site of the Saxon fort which still stands to this day as an important tourist attraction. Grants of borough privileges, including rights to a third additional fair in 1588 consolidated Tamworth’s historic importance as ‘the seat of Saxon kings’.
In the Middle Ages Tamworth was a small market town. However the king gave it charters in 1319 In the Middle Ages a charter was a document granting the townspeople certain rights or confirming existing ones. In 1337 Tamworth was granted the right to hold two annual fairs In the Middle Ages fairs were like markets but they were held only once a year and they attracted buyers and sellers from far and wide.
In 1345 Tamworth suffered a disastrous fire, and much of the town burned. Fire was a constant hazard in the Middle Ages because most buildings were made of wood with thatched roofs. However, the town was soon rebuilt and grew in size.
16th and 17th centuries
Queen ElizabethElizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
granted Tamworth another charter in 1560.
In the 16th and 17th centuries Tamworth, like all towns, suffered from outbreaks of plague. It struck in 1563, 1579, 1597–98, 1606 and 1626. Each time the plague struck many people died but each time the population recovered. Fortunately the 1626 outbreak was the last.
James I, the first Stuart king of England, visited Tamworth in 1619 and whilst he was accommodated by Sir John Ferrers at Tamworth Castle, the Prince of Wales and future King Charles was entertained by William Comberford at the Moat House.
Tamworth castle was besieged by parliamentarian forces during the English Civil War in 1643. An order was issued for the castle to be destroyed but this was not carried out.
Tamworth continued to grow and remained one of the most populous towns in the Midlands by 1670, when the combined hearth tax returns from Warwickshire and Staffordshire list a total of some 320 households. Its strategic trade advantage lay with control of the two vital packhorse bridge
Packhorse bridge
A packhorse bridge is a bridge intended to carry packhorses across a river or stream. Typically a packhorse bridge consists of one or more narrow masonry arches, and has low parapets so as not to interfere with the horse's panniers.Packhorse bridges were often built on the trade routes that...
s across the Anker and the Tame on the route from London to Chester. While it remained a local market town, it did a brisk trade providing travellers with the staple bread, ale and accommodation, maintaining trading links as far afield as Bristol. Charles II’s reconfirmation of its borough's privileges in 1663 gave the town an added boost, as confirmed by Richard Blome's description of its celebrated market, well served with corn, provisions and lean cattle.
In 1678 the town's future Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
Thomas Guy
Thomas Guy
Thomas Guy was a British bookseller, speculator and de facto founder of Guy's Hospital, London-Early life:Thomas Guy was born a son of a lighterman, wharf owner and coal-dealer at Southwark. In 1668, after eight years as an apprentice of a bookseller, he began his own bookstore in Lombard Street...
founded almshouses in Tamworth, rebuilt in 1913. He also built Tamworth Town Hall in 1701 and later founded Guy's Hospital
Guy's Hospital
Guy's Hospital is a large NHS hospital in the borough of Southwark in south east London, England. It is administratively a part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. It is a large teaching hospital and is home to the King's College London School of Medicine...
in London.
There are four cannons in the Castle Grounds, an indication of the town's previously violent past.
18th and 19th centuries
In 1801, the population was a little over 3000.There were a number of improvements to Tamworth during the 19th century. In 1807 the pavements were flagged. From 1835 Tamworth had gaslight. In the late 19th century a piped water supply was created.
The town grew rapidly in the 18th and 19th centuries during the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
, benefitting from the surrounding coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
mines. It also became a hub of the canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
network, with the Coventry Canal
Coventry Canal
The Coventry Canal is a navigable narrow canal in the Midlands of England.It starts in Coventry and ends 38 miles north at Fradley Junction, just north of Lichfield, where it joins the Trent and Mersey Canal...
and the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal
Birmingham and Fazeley Canal
The Birmingham and Fazeley Canal is a canal of the Birmingham Canal Navigations in the West Midlands of England. Its purpose was to provide a link between the Coventry Canal and Birmingham and thereby connect Birmingham to London via the Oxford Canal....
being built through the town. Later, the railways arrived with the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
route from Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
to Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
arriving in Tamworth in 1847, and later the London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
, which provided direct trains to the capital. A split-level station
Tamworth railway station
Tamworth railway station is located where the Cross Country Route passes over the West Coast Main Line, in the United Kingdom, although there is no rail link between the two lines...
exists where the two main lines cross each another, the higher level platforms (on the Derby to Birmingham line), being at right angles to the lower ones on the main line to London.
The first municipal cemetery opened in 1876. The Assembly Rooms were built in 1889. In 1897 the corporation bought Tamworth Castle.
A hospital was built in Tamworth in 1880. An infirmary was built in 1903.
The Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
Sir Robert Peel served as the town's Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
from 1830 until his death in 1850. He lived at the nearby Drayton Manor
Drayton Manor
Drayton Manor, one of Britain's lost houses, was a British stately home at Drayton Bassett, in the District of Lichfield, Staffordshire, England....
. It was in Tamworth that Robert Peel unveiled his Tamworth Manifesto
Tamworth Manifesto
The Tamworth Manifesto was a political manifesto issued by Sir Robert Peel in 1834 in Tamworth, which is widely credited by historians as having laid down the principles upon which the modern British Conservative Party is based....
in 1834 which created what is now the modern Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
. During the 19th century a breed of pig called Tamworth Pig
Tamworth Pig
The Tamworth is a breed of domestic pig originating in the United Kingdom, with input from Irish pigs. It is among the oldest of pig breeds but as with many older breeds of livestock it is not well suited to modern production methods and is listed as "Threatened" in the United States and...
was initially bred here using some imported Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
stock. Sir Robert Peel was a member of the historic Tamworth Castle Bowls club, founded in 1814, which still has an active membership.
Samuel Parkes
Samuel Parkes (VC)
Samuel Parkes VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces...
who won the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
in the Charge of the Light Brigade
Charge of the Light Brigade
The Charge of the Light Brigade was a charge of British cavalry led by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in the Crimean War. The charge was the result of a miscommunication in such a way that the brigade attempted a much more difficult objective...
was born in Wigginton
Wigginton, Staffordshire
Wigginton is a village in the district of Lichfield, in Staffordshire, England. It lies about north of Tamworth.-History:The name Wigginton is believed to come from Old English, and to mean Wicga's farm...
and baptised at St. Editha's on 24 December 1815. His parents, Thomas and Lydia, are buried in its churchyard.
Modern history
The first council houses in Tamworth were built in 1900. More were built in the 1920s and 1930s and after 1945.The first public library in Tamworth was built in 1905. Tamworth gained an electricity supply in 1924.
Tamworth grew rapidly in the postwar years as it soaked up overspill from the West Midlands conurbation to the southwest. A population of about 7,000 in 1931 had risen to some 13,000 just after the Second World War; this figure remained fairly static until the late 1960s when a major expansion plan was implemented. Although not officially a "New Town", Tamworth's expansion resembled the development of many new towns. As part of this plan the town boundaries were expanded to include the industrial area around Wilnecote
Wilnecote
Wilnecote is an English housing district about 3 km south east of Tamworth, Staffordshire. It is one of the largest communities in the town....
to the south. The 1961 population of the new enlarged area was 25,000. In 1971 it was 40,000; in 1981, 64,000; in 1991, 68,000 and in 2001, 74,000, meaning that the town's population had almost doubled within 30 years.
The town of Fazeley merges almost completely into the town to the southwest, but belongs to the Lichfield District
Lichfield
Lichfield is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly north of Birmingham...
area rather than Tamworth Borough. It became a town, by holding a referendum, to prevent efforts from Tamworth to absorb it.
Tamworth was historically split between Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
and Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, with the county boundary running through the town centre. Staffordshire was made to include the entire borough in 1888.
The Reliant Motor Company was founded in Tamworth in 1935 by T.L.Williams, and cars such as the Scimitar
Reliant Scimitar
Reliant's first Scimitar was a coupé based upon the styling of a Daimler SP250 prototype and the chassis of a Reliant Sabre. It was first displayed in 1964. It was powered by a 2.6 L Ford straight six from the Ford Zephyr / Ford Zodiac...
and the Robin
Reliant Robin
thumb|right|250px|1975 Greek advertisement for Mebea Robin The Reliant Robin is a small three wheeled car formerly manufactured by the Reliant Motor Company in Tamworth, England...
were manufactured here until the company moved to Cannock
Cannock
Cannock is the most populous of three towns in the district of Cannock Chase in the central southern part of the county of Staffordshire in the West Midlands region of England....
in 1998. A year later the old factory was raised to the ground and a new housing estate built in its place called "Scimitar Park" with street names assuming names of Reliant vehicles (i.e. Robin Close).
The A5 £26,000,000 5 miles (8 km) dual-carriageway Fazeley
Fazeley
Fazeley is a small town and civil parish in the District of Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. Fazeley is located on the outskirts of Tamworth and the civil parish of Fazeley also includes Mile Oak and Bonehill....
, Two Gates and Wilnecote
Wilnecote
Wilnecote is an English housing district about 3 km south east of Tamworth, Staffordshire. It is one of the largest communities in the town....
Bypass opened in July 1995, acting both as a bypass of Watling Street, and as a fast route for traffic into the town. This was further extended to meet the M6 Toll and A38 in 2005. The road's official name is Thomas Guy
Thomas Guy
Thomas Guy was a British bookseller, speculator and de facto founder of Guy's Hospital, London-Early life:Thomas Guy was born a son of a lighterman, wharf owner and coal-dealer at Southwark. In 1668, after eight years as an apprentice of a bookseller, he began his own bookstore in Lombard Street...
Way.
Tamworth has two designated Local Nature Reserve
Local Nature Reserve
Local nature reserve or LNR is a designation for nature reserves in the United Kingdom. The designation has its origin in the recommendations of the Wild Life Conservation Special Committee which established the framework for nature conservation in the United Kingdom and suggested a national suite...
s, Hodge Lane (Amington) and Kettlebrook (Glascote/Wilnecote). They were joined by Dosthill Park in 2010.
Local newspaper
In 1868 The Tamworth HeraldTamworth Herald
The Tamworth Herald is a weekly tabloid newspaper published every Thursday in Tamworth, Staffordshire, England. Its offices are based in Ventura Park Road, Bitterscote, and its current editor is Gary Phelps...
was launched by Daniel Addison, with its original premises in Silver Street.
Mr Addison continued to publish the paper for nine years until 29 October 1877, when it was taken over by a consortium of leading townsmen. The paper now has its offices on the town's Ventura Park industrial estate.
Daniel Addison had a son Albert Christopher Addison
Albert Christopher Addison
Albert Christopher Addison was an English writer born 1862 in Northallerton, Yorkshire. In 1868 his father Daniel Addison founded the Tamworth Herald newspaper.-Bibliography:...
who was a historical writer.
Tamworth suburbs
- AmingtonAmingtonAmington is a ward, a parish and a suburb of Tamworth in Staffordshire, England, and was formerly a distinct village. Amington is to the far east of the town centre...
- BelgraveBelgrave, TamworthBelgrave is an area of Tamworth, Staffordshire, roughly 2.5 km from the town centre. Starting life as a mining village, Belgrave had its own colliery up until the late 19th century...
- Bitterscote
- BolehallBolehallBolehall is an area of Tamworth in Staffordshire, England. It contains many council houses and a large estate leading onto the moors. It is home to Ankermoor Primary School and has a number of shops on the main road....
- Bonehill
- Borough Park
- Coton GreenCoton GreenCoton Green is a small housing estate north of Tamworth. Originally built from around 1970 the development contains a mix of private and council owned houses....
- DordonDordonDordon is a village and civil parish in the North Warwickshire district of the county of Warwickshire in England and close to the border with Staffordshire. The village is located on the A5 and is adjacent to Polesworth. Other nearby places include Grendon, Wood End, Baddesley Ensor, Atherstone,...
- DosthillDosthillDosthill is an area of Tamworth, Staffordshire, 2.5 miles south of the town centre, and close to the River Tame. The area is mostly residential, centring around Dosthill High Street, with local employment on the adjoining Tame Valley Industrial Estate...
- FazeleyFazeleyFazeley is a small town and civil parish in the District of Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. Fazeley is located on the outskirts of Tamworth and the civil parish of Fazeley also includes Mile Oak and Bonehill....
- GillwayGillwayGillway is a council estate in Tamworth, United Kingdom built in the 1950s. It is a small suburb consisting of brick and concrete houses and two storey flats. It has a local school called Flaxhill and a pub called the Tam 'o' Shanter. It also has shops opposite the pub, and is near the Leyfields...
- Glascote
- Glascote Heath
- Hockley
- Kettlebrook
- Lakeside
- LeyfieldsLeyfieldsLeyfields is a housing estate in Tamworth, Staffordshire, consisting of 3-storey flats, maisonettes, bungalows and houses. It was built in the 1960s as a postwar housing estate...
- Perry Crofts
- PolesworthPolesworthPolesworth is a large village and civil parish in the North Warwickshire district of Warwickshire, England. In the 2001 census it had a population of 8,439, inclusive of the continuous sub-villages of St Helena, Dordon and Hall End directly to the south...
- Quarry Hill
- Riverside
- StonydelphStonydelphStonydelph is a neighbourhood about south east of the centre of Tamworth, Staffordshire. A spelling of "Stoneydelph" is sometimes used but the OS map of 1888 shows "Stonydelph Farm" as the only building in this area...
- The Alders
- The Leys
- Two Gates
- WilnecoteWilnecoteWilnecote is an English housing district about 3 km south east of Tamworth, Staffordshire. It is one of the largest communities in the town....
Culture
Sir (Ernie) Ernest William Titterton was born in Tamworth. He was a research officer for the British AdmiraltyAdmiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
before becoming in 1943 a member of the British mission to the U.S. to participate in the Manhattan Project
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
which developed the atomic bomb. He was knighted in 1970.
Former The Teardrop Explodes
The Teardrop Explodes
The Teardrop Explodes were an English post-punk/neo-psychedelic band formed in Liverpool in 1978. Best known for their Top Ten UK single "Reward" the group originated as a key band in the emerging Liverpool post-punk scene of the late 1970s, the group also launched the career of group frontman...
frontman and solo artist/writer Julian Cope
Julian Cope
Julian Cope is a British rock musician, author, antiquary, musicologist, poet and cultural commentator...
was raised in Tamworth and later lived in nearby Drayton Bassett
Drayton Bassett
Drayton Bassett is a village and civil parish in the District of Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. Nearby are the town of Tamworth and Middleton Lakes RSPB reserve, formerly a gravel quarry known in part as Drayton Bassett Pits.It formerly had a manor....
. Cope recorded three solo albums during his Tamworth years, 'World Shut Your Mouth' (1984), 'Fried' (1984) and 'Saint Julian' (1987), and all three used various locations around Tamworth for their sleeve art and several videos. The heavy rock band Wolfsbane
Wolfsbane (band)
Wolfsbane are an English heavy metal band. Formed in 1984, the band remained active until lead singer Blaze Bayley went on to join Iron Maiden in 1994. After a couple of reunion shows in 2007 and 2009, Wolfsbane officially reunited in June 2010...
cut their teeth in the town, before their lead singer Blaze Bayley
Blaze Bayley
Blaze Bayley is an English singer and songwriter. He has been the lead singer of Wolfsbane from 1984 to 1994, and nowadays since their recent reunion. Blaze is however world-known for having been the lead singer of British metal band Iron Maiden from 1994 to 1999...
went on to front the legendary Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
. Rock guitarist Clem Clempson
Clem Clempson
Clem Clempson is an English rock guitarist who has played in a number of bands including Colosseum and Humble Pie.-Career:...
was born in Tamworth. Bob Catley
Bob Catley
For the Australian politician, see Bob Catley Robert Adrian 'Bob' Catley is a British musician, perhaps best known as the lead singer of the rock band Magnum. He is also an accomplished solo artist.- Early years :...
the lead singer of rock band Magnum (band)
Magnum (band)
Magnum are a British progressive rock band from Birmingham, England. Formed as a four piece by Tony Clarkin , Bob Catley , Kex Gorin and Bob Doyle in order to appear as the resident band at The Rum Runner night club Birmingham...
also lives in Tamworth. Structures, the enigmatic Post-Rock band also call the town their home. Tamworth has an active music scene, which circulates to some degree around The Skull Club and Tamworth Bands (also known as 'Tambands') websites.
Twin towns
Tamworth's town twinsTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
are:
| Bad Laasphe Bad Laasphe Bad Laasphe is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, in the Siegen-Wittgenstein district.-Location:The town of Bad Laasphe lies in the upper Lahn Valley, near the stately home of Wittgenstein Castle in the former Wittgenstein district... , Germany since 10 October 1980 Vaujours Vaujours Vaujours is a commune in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris, in the département of Seine-Saint-Denis. Known for its wines and fruit until the end of the 19th century, Vaujours is now one of the world's premier producers of plaster of Paris.-History... , France |
Football
One of the more notable personalities to come from Tamworth is former Manchester City goalkeeper Tony CotonTony Coton
Anthony Philip "Tony" Coton is an English former footballer who made 500 appearances in the Football League and Premier League playing as a goalkeeper for Birmingham City, Watford, Manchester City and Sunderland...
, who made a number of appearances over the years. Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
has also fielded a number of notable players in recent times, including West Bromwich Albion legend Bob Taylor
Bob Taylor (footballer)
Robert Taylor , better known as Bob Taylor, is an English former footballer who played as a centre forward. Known by supporters as Super Bobby Taylor, Superbob or simply Super, Taylor scored more than 250 goals in a professional career that comprised almost 750 games in 20 years...
and, for one match in the 2005/2006 season, former Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
and Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
midfielder Paul Merson
Paul Merson
Paul Charles Merson is a retired English football player, and former player-manager of Walsall. His playing career has included spells at Arsenal, Middlesbrough, Aston Villa, Portsmouth and finishing his playing career at Tamworth. He also played for England 21 times...
. Tamworth FC showed signs of progress, just surviving to get their third season in the Conference, playing former league sides such as Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...
, Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
& Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
on a regular basis. The club also has a keen rivalry with fellow Staffordshire clubs Stafford Rangers
Stafford Rangers F.C.
Stafford Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional English football team from Stafford which plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.The team wear black and white stripes with black shorts...
and Burton Albion
Burton Albion F.C.
Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005...
However, their biggest rivals are Nuneaton Borough. In 2009, as winners of Conference North, Tamworth were promoted to the Conference National.
Other football players from Tamworth include goalkeeper Martin Taylor who played for Derby and Wycombe, and currently Ashley Williams who has just signed for Swansea and been called up to the Wales squad. Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
youngster Marc Albrighton
Marc Albrighton
Marc Kevin Albrighton is an English footballer who plays for Premier League side Aston Villa as a winger. He is most comfortable playing on the right side of midfield or as a right-winger, but is sufficiently effective on the left....
is from Tamworth.
Bowls
Tamworth Castle Bowling Club was founded in 1814 and can boast Mayors and Prime ministers as past members. This crown green bowling club is situated behind a green door on Ladybank in the shadow of Tamworth Castle. The club is owned by its membership with a season running from March to October.Speedway
Speedway racing took place in the Tamworth area in the 1930s and in the post war era featured at the Greyhound Stadium in Fazeley. The Hounds started out in 1947 racing in the National League Division Three before becoming The Tammies in 1950 when the venture was purchased by Birmingham promoter Les Marshall.Sports Teams In Tamworth
| Club | Sport | Founded | League | Venue | Logo |
| Rugby Rugby union Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand... |
1925 | Midlands 2 West (North) Midlands 2 West (North) English Rugby Union Midland Division - Midlands 2 West is a level 7 English Rugby Union League.Midlands 2 West is made up of teams from around the Midlands of England who play home and away matches throughout a winter season... Midlands English Rugby Union Midland Division The Rugby Football Union Midland Division is a rugby union governing body for the English Midlands. It organises the following 18 leagues: It is part of the Rugby Football Union.-Leagues:*National League 3 Midlands*Midlands 1 East*Midlands 1 West... |
Wigginton Park | |
| Football Football (soccer) Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball... |
1953 | Midland Combination Midland Football Combination The Midland Football Combination is an English football league covering parts of the West Midlands. It comprises five divisions, a Premier Division, Divisions One and Two and two Reserves Divisions... Premier Division |
Rene Road Ground | |
| Football Football (soccer) Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball... |
1982 | Midland Combination Midland Football Combination The Midland Football Combination is an English football league covering parts of the West Midlands. It comprises five divisions, a Premier Division, Divisions One and Two and two Reserves Divisions... Premier Division |
New Mill Lane | |
| Football Football (soccer) Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball... |
1990 | Midland Combination Midland Football Combination The Midland Football Combination is an English football league covering parts of the West Midlands. It comprises five divisions, a Premier Division, Divisions One and Two and two Reserves Divisions... Division One |
Rene Road Ground | |
| Football Football (soccer) Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball... |
1958 | Midland Combination Midland Football Combination The Midland Football Combination is an English football league covering parts of the West Midlands. It comprises five divisions, a Premier Division, Divisions One and Two and two Reserves Divisions... Division One |
Recreation Ground | |
| Football Football (soccer) Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball... |
1933 | Conference National Conference National Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system... |
The Lamb Ground The Lamb Ground The Lamb Ground is a football stadium in the district of Kettlebrook, in Tamworth, England and the home of Tamworth F.C. It is approximately half a mile south of Tamworth railway station.-History:... |
 |
Notable residents
Freeman of the Borough- Cllr. Ron Cook - 2007,
- Terence (Terry) Dix - 2009
- David Weatherley - 2011
Others
Able Seaman Colin Grazier
Colin Grazier
Able Seaman Colin Grazier was posthumously awarded the George Cross for the "outstanding bravery and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of danger" which he displayed on 30 October 1942 in action in the Mediterranean.-WW2 heroics:...
, who rescued the Enigma
Enigma machine
An Enigma machine is any of a family of related electro-mechanical rotor cipher machines used for the encryption and decryption of secret messages. Enigma was invented by German engineer Arthur Scherbius at the end of World War I...
Code Book from a captured U-Boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
, was born in Two Gates. His achievement is celebrated in a monument in the town centre.
Sir Ernest William Titterton
Ernest William Titterton
Sir Ernest William Titterton Ph. D. was a nuclear physicist and professor.-Early years:...
, nuclear physicist, was born at Kettlebrook.
Author Julia Suzuki
Julia Suzuki
Julia Suzuki is a businesswoman, former model and author of The Land of Dragor series of children's books.-Early life:Julia Suzuki grew up in Fazeley, Staffordshire on an estate adjacent to Drayton Manor Theme Park. While at secondary school she faced challenges from other pupils and shyness...
was born and raised in Fazeley
Fazeley
Fazeley is a small town and civil parish in the District of Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. Fazeley is located on the outskirts of Tamworth and the civil parish of Fazeley also includes Mile Oak and Bonehill....
, attending Rawlett Community Sports College.
Rock musicians Julian Cope
Julian Cope
Julian Cope is a British rock musician, author, antiquary, musicologist, poet and cultural commentator...
(of Teardrop Explodes) and Blaze Bayley
Blaze Bayley
Blaze Bayley is an English singer and songwriter. He has been the lead singer of Wolfsbane from 1984 to 1994, and nowadays since their recent reunion. Blaze is however world-known for having been the lead singer of British metal band Iron Maiden from 1994 to 1999...
from Wolfsbane
Wolfsbane
Wolfsbane may refer to:* Aconitum, a flowering plant and herb* Wolfsbane , an English heavy metal/hard rock band* Wolfsbane , the 1994 album from Wolfsbane* Wolfsbane , a Marvel Comics superhero...
and Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
also lived in Tamworth.