West Bromwich in 1859

BROMWICH, WEST (ALL SAINTS), a parish, and the head of a union, in the S. division of the hundred of OFFLOW and of the county of STAFFORD; adjoining the town of Wednesbury, and containing 26,121 inhabitants.  The town is within the jurisdiction of the county magistrates, who hold a petty-session every Saturday.The parish comprises by measurement 5155 acres; the soil is gravel, alternated with red sand, and in some parts clay, alternated with loam; and the subsoil abounds with coal and iron-stone.

The surface is hilly, and the surrounding scenery richly wooded and pleasingly diversified: Sandwell, the seat of the Earl of Dartmouth, is a handsome mansion, situated in an extensive park, embellished with stately timber; and there are several other good residences in the neighbourhood.  There are places of worship for Wesleyans, Primitive Methodists, Baptists, and Independents; also a Roman Catholic chapel, and national and other schools. 

The union of West Bromwich comprises six parishes or places, and contains a population of 52,596. A priory of Benedictine monks was founded at the close of the reign of Henry II., or the beginning of that of Richard I., by William, son of Guy de Opheni, at Sandwell, which was dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene; it flourished till the Dissolution, when its revenue, amounting to £38.8.7. was granted to Cardinal Wolsey for the endowment of his intended colleges, and the site is now occupied by the splendid mansion of the Earl of Dartmouth. A tessellated pavement was discovered in 1741. William Parsons, the gigantic porter of James I., was a native of the parish. 

 

[Description(s) from The Topographical Dictionary of England (1859) by Samuel Lewis - Transcribed by Mike Harbach ©2020]