Woodcross
Encyclopedia
Woodcross is a residential area of Bilston
, West Midlands
, England
. It is set within the borough of Wolverhampton
, though the area existed within the boundaries of Sedgley
and finally Coseley
until 1966.
History=
The first known record of the name was in 1614, where it was recorded as Woodcrosse - likely meaning 'the cross at the wood' or 'the wooden cross'.
Prior to 1930, Woodcross was a largely rural area which consisted of a few residential properties on the slope of Beacon Hill as well as extensive farmland. But over the next 40 years, the area was heavily developed for housing (most of which was built by Coseley UDC).
Woodcross borders Ettingshall
and Lanesfield
to the north, Sedgley
to the west, Woodsetton to the south and Coseley
/ Roseville
to the south and east.
Today=
Notable landmarks in Woodcross are Beacon Hill Cemetery, Manor Primary School
and St Mary's Church. There is also a statue in honour of local doctor Frederick Baker, who died in 1912, that is located on the corner of Hall Lane and Gorge Road.
Woodcross was a largely rural area until the 1930s when Coseley Urban District Council built a number of houses in and around Woodcross Lane. After the end of World War II
in 1945, the Council built many more houses, this time creating a large estate with many streets named after Coseley councillors and famous local people, including Tipton
born runner Jack Holden
, whose name is featured on Jack Holden Avenue.
The 2001 Census tells us that the majority of Woodcross's population is of English ethnicity (89.4% White British), with the largest minority population being of Indian ethnicity (5.2% Asian Indian).
Woodcross has several estate based pubs. 'The Three Crowns' on Dovedale Road, the 'Horse and Jockey' on the corner of Evans Street and Robert Wynd, and the 'Gate Hangs Well' on Hurst Road. There is also a working mens club complete with function rooms, the 'Woodcross Club' on Woodcross Lane. The 'New Spread Eagle' (formerly the 'Spread Eagle') on Meadow Lane off the Birmingham New Road was closed in 2010 and demolished in the spring of 2011 to make way for a new nursing home.
Woodcross is served by Manor Primary School, for pupils aged 3-11 years. It began life in 1933, when Woodcross was still in the early stages of development, as Manor Secondary School for pupils aged 11 and above. However, the vast growth of Woodcross and nearby Lanesfield
, as well as the construction of the new Ettingshall Park estate, after World War II
led to increased pressure on places at the school, and it was replaced by Parkfield Secondary Modern School on Lawnswood Avenue, Lanesfield, in April 1962. Manor Primary School opened in its buildings in September 1962.
Bilston
Bilston is a town in the English county of West Midlands, situated in the southeastern corner of the City of Wolverhampton. Three wards of Wolverhampton City Council cover the town: Bilston East and Bilston North, which almost entirely comprise parts of the historic Borough of Bilston, and...
, West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is set within the borough of Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
, though the area existed within the boundaries of Sedgley
Sedgley
Sedgley is an urban village within the West Midlands county of England. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Sedgley was formerly an ancient manor composed of several smaller villages, including Gornal, Gospel End, Woodsetton, Ettingshall, Coseley and Brierley...
and finally Coseley
Coseley
Coseley is a town located mostly within the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley in the English West Midlands. Part of the Black Country, it lies south east of Wolverhampton and north of Dudley....
until 1966.
History=
The first known record of the name was in 1614, where it was recorded as Woodcrosse - likely meaning 'the cross at the wood' or 'the wooden cross'.
Prior to 1930, Woodcross was a largely rural area which consisted of a few residential properties on the slope of Beacon Hill as well as extensive farmland. But over the next 40 years, the area was heavily developed for housing (most of which was built by Coseley UDC).
Woodcross borders Ettingshall
Ettingshall
Ettingshall is an area of Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England, and is a ward of Wolverhampton City Council.-History:Ettingshall was mentioned as an ancient manor in the Domesday Book of 1086...
and Lanesfield
Lanesfield
Lanesfield is a district now within the boundaries of Wolverhampton, specifically in the city council's Spring Vale ward. Lanesfield lies within the Ancient Manor of Sedgley and was a rural village for many years until the growth of the Black Country's industries. Lanesfield's name originates from...
to the north, Sedgley
Sedgley
Sedgley is an urban village within the West Midlands county of England. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Sedgley was formerly an ancient manor composed of several smaller villages, including Gornal, Gospel End, Woodsetton, Ettingshall, Coseley and Brierley...
to the west, Woodsetton to the south and Coseley
Coseley
Coseley is a town located mostly within the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley in the English West Midlands. Part of the Black Country, it lies south east of Wolverhampton and north of Dudley....
/ Roseville
Roseville
-United States:*Roseville, Arkansas, in Logan County, Arkansas*Roseville, California*Roseville, Illinois*Roseville, Michigan*Roseville, Minnesota*Roseville, Ohio*Roseville, Pennsylvania*Roseville Township, Minnesota*Roseville, Newark, New Jersey...
to the south and east.
Today=
Notable landmarks in Woodcross are Beacon Hill Cemetery, Manor Primary School
Manor Primary School (Bilston)
Manor Primary School is a primary school located near Woodcross, Coseley West Midlands, England within the southern limits of the city of Wolverhampton, very close to the Dudley MBC border. It stands on Ettingshall Road and mostly serves the surrounding Woodcross area...
and St Mary's Church. There is also a statue in honour of local doctor Frederick Baker, who died in 1912, that is located on the corner of Hall Lane and Gorge Road.
Woodcross was a largely rural area until the 1930s when Coseley Urban District Council built a number of houses in and around Woodcross Lane. After the end of 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...
in 1945, the Council built many more houses, this time creating a large estate with many streets named after Coseley councillors and famous local people, including Tipton
Tipton
Tipton is a town in the Sandwell borough of the West Midlands, England, with a population of around 47,000. Tipton is located about halfway between Birmingham and Wolverhampton. It is a part of the West Midlands conurbation and is a part of the Black Country....
born runner Jack Holden
Jack Holden (athlete)
John Thomas Holden was a long-distance runner from England, who won four consecutive national titles in the men's marathon . He represented Great Britain at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, where he did not finish...
, whose name is featured on Jack Holden Avenue.
The 2001 Census tells us that the majority of Woodcross's population is of English ethnicity (89.4% White British), with the largest minority population being of Indian ethnicity (5.2% Asian Indian).
Woodcross has several estate based pubs. 'The Three Crowns' on Dovedale Road, the 'Horse and Jockey' on the corner of Evans Street and Robert Wynd, and the 'Gate Hangs Well' on Hurst Road. There is also a working mens club complete with function rooms, the 'Woodcross Club' on Woodcross Lane. The 'New Spread Eagle' (formerly the 'Spread Eagle') on Meadow Lane off the Birmingham New Road was closed in 2010 and demolished in the spring of 2011 to make way for a new nursing home.
Woodcross is served by Manor Primary School, for pupils aged 3-11 years. It began life in 1933, when Woodcross was still in the early stages of development, as Manor Secondary School for pupils aged 11 and above. However, the vast growth of Woodcross and nearby Lanesfield
Lanesfield
Lanesfield is a district now within the boundaries of Wolverhampton, specifically in the city council's Spring Vale ward. Lanesfield lies within the Ancient Manor of Sedgley and was a rural village for many years until the growth of the Black Country's industries. Lanesfield's name originates from...
, as well as the construction of the new Ettingshall Park estate, after 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...
led to increased pressure on places at the school, and it was replaced by Parkfield Secondary Modern School on Lawnswood Avenue, Lanesfield, in April 1962. Manor Primary School opened in its buildings in September 1962.