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Willenhall in 1859

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Topographical Dictionary of England, Samuel Lewis - 1859

WILLENHALL, a chapelry, in the parish and union of WOLVERHAMPTON, S. division of the hundred of OFFLOW and of the county of STAFFORD, 3 miles (W.) from Walsall, on the road to Wolverhampton; containing 8695 inhabitants. This place, at the period of the Norman survey, was called Winehala, the Saxon term for victory, probably from the great battle fought near it in 911. The village began to thrive in the reign of Elizabeth, when, from the extensive mines of iron-stone and coal in the neighbourhood, the iron manufacture was first established here: at present it is noted for its collieries and its flourishing trade in locks, the latter of which it possesses to a greater extent than any other place of its size in Europe. Many other articles of hardware are made, particularly currycombs, gridirons, screws, &c.

The township comprises 2050a.3r.17p. in nearly equal portions of arable and pasture, the soil of which varies exceedingly. The Tame brook passes through the chapelry; also the Wyrley and Essington canal; and the Grand Junction railway has a station here. Courts leet and baron are annually held and there is a court of requests on three Mondays in every alternate month, for the recovery of debts under £5. In the neighbourhood are the remains of an old hall, the seat of the maternal ancestors of the Duke of Cleveland.

The living is a perpetual curacy; net income, £300; patrons, the Inhabitants: the tithes, which belong to the duke, have been commuted for £640. The chapel, dedicated to St. Giles, was rebuilt about 1748, and repaired in 1844. There are places of worship for Baptists and Wesleyans; and three national and one British school. 

 

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