Parks and green spaces

West Bromwich has some great parks and open spaces to enjoy.

 

Garden of Remembrance

The Memorial Gardens in West Bromwich aka the Garden of Remembrance. High Street, West Bromwich, B70 8RJ.

A place for reflection in West Bromwich for those lost in conflicts of the past. The gardens is in front of the Sandwell Register Office at Highfields House.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Dartmouth Park

Dartmouth Park is located on Reform Street in West Bromwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell. The park had a children's play area, ornamental lakes, walking / jogging routes, a war memorial, floral displays and a drinking fountain.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Sandwell Valley Country Park

Sandwell Valley Country Park starts at Salter's Lane, West Bromwich, Sandwell, West Midlands, B71 4BG. It stretches towards Park Lane, West Bromwich, B71 3SZ (near the Swan Pool). It is near Salter's Lane and Dartmouth Park. The park is split in half by the M5 motorway.

This green flag park contains two visitor centres, Forge Mill Farm and Sandwell Park Farm. Sot's Hole is one of three Local Nature Reserves in the Country Park. The highest point of Sandwell Valley is in Birmingham and is known as Hill Top, where the remains of a World War 2 gun emplacement can still be found.

Photography by Daniel Sturley

 

History and Heritage

West Bromwich has an incredible history and boasts some great places to visit.

 

Faith

The Catholic Church of St Michael and the Holy Angels

The Catholic Church of St Michael and the Holy Angels is at 260 High Street, West Bromwich, B70 8AQ. On the corner with St Michael Street.

A Roman Catholic Church in West Bromwich Town Centre. The Roman Catholic Church of St Michael and The Holy Angels West Bromwich was built from 1875-77 by Dunn and Hansom. The tower and spire was added by 1911 by Edmund Kirby. Built of  Red brick with some stone dressings and tile roof. A Grade II listed building since 1974. It is close to the West Bromwich High Street.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

St Andrew's Carters Green

St Andrew's Carters Green is at 18 Dudley Street, West Bromwich, B70 9LR. At the junction with Carters Green.

A church at Carters Green in West Bromwich which is shared by both The Church of England and The Methodist Church. It was built from 1915 to 1924.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Memorials

Farley Clock Tower

This Grade II listed red brick and terracotta clock tower dates to 1897, and was named after Reuben Farley (1826 - 1899), who was the first Mayor of West Bromwich, and served four terms. Located at Carters Green. There is three reliefs, a portrait of Reuben Farley, one of Oak House and one of West Bromwich Town Hall.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Elizabeth Farley Memorial Fountain

This drinking fountain and canopy was originally erected in 1885 in Dartmouth Park by Alderman Farley J.P. the son of Elizabeth Farley, of whom the fountain was in memory of. In 1987, the drinking fountain and canopy was relocated to the High Street at Dartmouth Square, around the time it was granted Grade II listing status. It used to be in a dark red colour, and a canopy over it from the Farley Centre was removed between 2012 and 2014. It was renovated and repainted in blue and green in 2022.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Kenrick's Clock

This Grade II listed clock dates to 1912, and was presented to the Borough by the then Mayor, Councillor J Archibald Kenrick. The clock was relocated in 2000 from a traffic island to it's current position in Dartmouth Square. In 2022, the clock was refurbished and repainted from it's old red colours to blue and green.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Pubs

The Old Hop Pole

The Old Hop Pole at 474 High Street, West Bromwich, B70 9LD. Corner of Guns Lane.

A traditional West Bromwich High Street pub near Guns Village called The Old Hop Pole.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Wheatsheaf

The Wheatsheaf at 379 High Street, West Bromwich, B70 9QW

A Real Ale public house on the High Street in the West Bromwich called The Wheatsheaf with Pure Black Country Holder's Golden.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Sandwell

The Sandwell is at 277 High Street, West Bromwich, B70 8ND. Corner with New Street.

A corner public house in West Bromwich at High Street and New Street. Now called The Sandwell. It was known as The Goose until at least 2015-16. And was associated in the past with Mitchells & Butlers. Now owned by Great UK Pubs.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Billiard Hall

The Billiard Hall is at St Michael's Street, West Bromwich Ringway, West Bromwich, B70 7AB

Built as a snooker and billiard hall in 1913 in West Bromwich, since the early 21st century, the building has been used as a JD Wetherspoon Free House.

Billiard Hall, West Bromwich (May 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Great Lion Bar & Grill

The Great Lion Bar & Grill is at 43 High Street, West Bromwich, B70 6PB

A red brick and stone building, built as the Lewisham Hotel in 1887. To the rear was the Lewisham Brewery, the architect was Arthur James Price. In recent years the building has been Desi Junction, and since 2021-22, as The Great Lion Bar & Grill, an Indian restaurant.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Greggs - formerly The Hawthorns Public House

Greggs is at 2 Birmingham Road, West Bromwich, B71 4JZ

A house built in circa 1840. It was a public house called The Hawthorns (used by the WBA Supporters Throstle Club). But has been been part of the Greggs bakery chain since 2015. The building is Grade II listed.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Civic buildings

Highfields House

Sandwell Register Office at Highfields, High Street, West Bromwich. B70 8RJ.

This building is the location of the Sandwell Register Office, it is called Highfields, or Highfields House. A Grade II listed building since 1985, was four houses, now offices, probably built in the 1830s.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

West Bromwich Grammar School

The former West Bromwich Grammar School was at Lodge Road, West Bromwich, B70 8DY

The West Bromwich Municipal Secondary School was built in 1902 as the West Bromwich Institute at Lodge Road, funded by George Kenrick. The school was expanded several times, and later became a Grammar School in 1944. The actress Madeleine Carroll was a pupil here. The school moved to new buildings in Clarkes Lane in 1964. For a period from at least the 1990s to the early 2010s, the building was part of Sandwell College as the Hair Beauty and Holistic Centre. The college moved out in 2012 to a purpose built building on the West Bromwich Ringway. The building was empty until about 2018 when Ideal Travel Services took up a unit in the building.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Ryland Memorial School of Art

What is now the British Muslim School is at Lodge Road, West Bromwich, B70 8NX

This red brick building on Lodge Road in West Bromwich, was built as an Art school in 1902 by Wood & Kendrick of Birmingham. It had been part of Sandwell College, as the Ryland Building until the early 2010s (before the college moved to a modern building on the West Bromwich Ringway). Empty for a few years, by 2017 it had become the British Muslim School and Latifiah Fultali Complex.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

West Bromwich Town Hall

West Bromwich Town Hall is at High Street, West Bromwich, B70 8DJ. Corner with Lodge Road.

A town hall in West Bromwich from 1874 to 1875, on what was the Lodge Estate. It was the headquarters of the county borough of West Bromwich and remained the seat of local government after Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council was formed in 1974. However, the council moved to a modern facility in Oldbury in 1989. The building has been Grade II listed since 1987.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

West Bromwich Central Library

West Bromwich Central Library is at 316 High Street, West Bromwich, B70 8DZ

Originally a library was built into the town hall of West Bromwich of 1874-5. But a purpose built public library was built next door in 1907, by Stephen J Holliday, of red brick with yellow terracotta dressings. The building was a gift of Andrew Carnegie to the Borough. It has been a Grade II listed building since 1987, and is known as the Central Library, West Bromwich.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Kenrick & Jefferson Building

The Kenrick & Jefferson Building is at 1, Astle Park, High Street, West Bromwich, B70 8NS

Red brick and terracotta offices built on the West Bromwich High Street in 1883 for Kenrick & Jefferson. It was a Printing Works founded by John Arthur Kenrick and Frederick Jefferson. They bought the Free Press newspaper in 1878 to help promote Liberalism.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Lodge of Sandwell Hall

This remarkable survival might date to the early 18th century, it was the Lodge of Sandwell Hall. The remains of the hall are at Sandwell Valley Country Park (not far from the Sandwell Priory ruins). It is thought that William Smith designed this lodge. The M5 motorway was opened in stages between 1962 and 1972, and this lodge is a feature in West Bromwich for drivers around the Interchange. You can also see it from the top deck of the no 74 bus.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Oak House

Oak House Museum at Oak Road, West Bromwich, B70 8HJ. Also near Cambridge Street.

Oak House is in West Bromwich, is a half-timbered yeoman farmer's house built around 1620 with the rear built in the 1650s as the family wealth and status grew. It might also date to the late 16th century. It has been a museum since the end of the 19th century.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Factories

Allied Bakeries West Bromwich

Allied Bakeries West Bromwich is at Birmingham Road, West Bromwich, B71 4JH

Part of a network of bakeries across the UK, this is the Allied Bakeries located in West Bromwich, opposite The Hawthorns. Allied Bakeries was founded in 1935 when bakery entrepreneur Willard Garfield Weston set up Allied Bakeries and sister company Allied Mills. That group of mills and bakeries is the foundation of what was to become a great British business – Associated British Foods, a global PLC, still run by the Weston family.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Public Art

There is statues and sculptures to be found all over West Bromwich, especially around the Town Centre to enjoy.

 

Madeleine Carroll Memorial

A 2006-7 memorial to the actress Madeleine Carroll (1906-87), in the shape of a lollipop stick. It's located outside of The Public (now Central St Michael's Sixth Form College) on New Street in West Bromwich. The world famous actress was born in West Bromwich in 1906. She starred in Alfred Hitchock's 'The 39 Steps' amongst many other films. She also won awards for her humanitarian work during the Second World War.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Tony 'Bomber' Brown WBA statue

A bronze statue located at The Hawthorns football stadium, home of West Bromwich Albion. Tony Brown (born 1945) was WBA's highest goal scorer. The statue was sculpted by Jonathan Wylder and unveiled in November 2014. It was removed for cleaning in 2020 before it was returned in 2021. It can be seen from Birmingham Road through the Jeff Astle (1942 - 2002) gates.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Celebration WBA statue

The Three Degrees: Brendon Batson (born 1953), Laurie Cummingham (1956-89) and Cyrille Regis (1958-2018). Three former black football players for West Bromwich Albion during the 1970s and '80s. The bronze statue was unveiled in May 2019, sculpted by the artist Graham Ibbeson. Their appearance in top flight football, led to more black footballers being accepted in the game. Located in New Square shopping centre, West Bromwich.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Portrait bust of Phil Lynott

A portrait bust / bronze statue of the singer Phil Lynott (1949-86) unveiled in August 2021 on what would have been his 72nd birthday. He was a member of the band Thin Lizzy. It's located in New Square, West Bromwich behind Central St Michael's Sixth Form College (formerly The Public). It was sculpted by Luke Perry.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Cross in Hand

The sculpture called Cross in Hand was originally unveiled in October 1989. It previously stood at the entrance to the Duchess Parade, but was removed in 2012 to make way for improvements to the pedestrian High Street, carried out by Fitzgerald Civil Engineering Contractors. It was created by Chris Dunseath and is dedicated to John Wesley, preacher and religious reformer, who preached many times in the 18th century in West Bromwich, Wednesbury and Tipton. His biblical teaching resulted in a revival of the Christian Church and the founding of the Methodist movement. The hand and cross is a symbolic representation of his message being accepted by the people.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

 

I am the King of the Castle

A bronze sculpture of a Lion King sitting on top of a castle, which is on top of an elephant. It was unveiled originally on the 30th January 1990 by the then leader of Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, Councillor C. R. Davis. The sculptor was Laura Ford and it was name I am the King of the Castle. It was moved from an entrance of the Kings Square Shopping Centre in 2012 for repairs and restoration to this location in 2014 on the High Street in West Bromwich near St Michael Street and New Street.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Modern buildings

There is modern buildings to be found in West Bromwich, from the former Public to New Square shopping centre and Sandwell College.

Central St Michael's Sixth Form College

This building was originally a public arts venue called The Public, designed by Will Alsop. It was fully open by 2009, but it closed it's doors by late 2013 and was handed over to Sandwell College, where it became Central Sixth Sandwell College in 2014. By 2018 it was renamed to Central St Michael's Sixth Form College (following a merger between Sandwell College and Cadbury College). At the front is a memorial to the actress Madeleine Carroll (1906-87).Round the back is a portrait bust of Phil Lynott (1949-86) a member of the band Thin Lizzy. It was unveiled in 2021 on what would have been his 72nd birthday.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

 

Sport

West Bromwich is home of course to West Bromwich Albion Football Club, there is also other sports clubs nearby, who play cricket or bowls etc.

The Hawthorns - home of West Bromwich Albion

West Bromwich Albion has been located at The Hawthorns since 1900, the stadium is located on Birmingham Road, on the corner with Halfords Lane. It is here that you will find the 2014 statue of Tony 'Bomber' Brown, WBA's highest goal scorer!

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

West Bromwich Dartmouth Cricket Club

West Bromwich Dartmouth Cricket Club is at Birmingham Road, West Bromwich, B69 4EX

A cricket club founded in West Bromwich in 1834. They are a friendly, sociable and inclusive cricket club. The are close to The Hawthorns (West Bromwich Albion FC) and Sandwell Park Golf Club.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Transport

There is tram stops at The Hawthorns, Kenrick Park, Trinity Way, West Bromwich Central, Lodge Road West Bromwich Town Hall, Dartmouth Street, Dudley Street Guns Village and Black Lake in Zone 2.

Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Trains can also be caught from The Hawthorns between Birmingham Snow Hill and Smethwick Galton Bridge.

Bus routes pass through West Bromwich, via West Bromwich Bus Station.