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Coordinates: 52°35′42″N 2°07′01″W / 52.595°N 2.117°W / 52.595; -2.117
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'''Springfield''' is an area of [[Wolverhampton]] in the [[United Kingdom]] immediately north east of the city centre. It has undergone major redevelopment by The [[University of Wolverhampton]]. It is now Europe’s largest construction centre of excellence and home to an architecture and built environment super-campus, which also includes the newly built Brownfield Institute. It is included within the [[Ward (electoral subdivision)|ward]] of [[Heath Town]].
'''Springfield''' is an area of [[Wolverhampton]] in the [[United Kingdom]] immediately north east of the city centre. It has undergone major redevelopment by The [[University of Wolverhampton]]. It is now Europe’s largest construction centre of excellence and home to an architecture and built environment super-campus, which also includes the newly built Brownfield Institute. It is included within the [[Ward (electoral subdivision)|ward]] of [[Heath Town]].


==Geography==
Springfield is divided from Wolverhampton city centre by the [[A4150]] ring road St Patricks, the [[BCN Main Line|Birmingham Canal Navigations Main Line]] and the [[Wolverhampton–Shrewsbury line|Wolverhampton–Shrewsbury]] and [[Rugby–Birmingham–Stafford line|Rugby–Birmingham–Stafford]] railway lines. It lies between the [[A460 road|A460]] Cannock Road and the [[A4124 road|A4124]] Wednesfield Road, and to the east borders [[Heath Town]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Quigley |first1=Paul |title=Heathfield Park Neighbourhood Plan. Historic Characterisation Study. 12.0 Springfield Character Zone |url=https://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/sites/default/files/pdf/HEATHFIELDPK_CHARACTERSTUDY_v2-2.pdf |website=wolverhampton.gov.uk |access-date=7 December 2023 |page=58 |date=June 2013}}</ref>
== History ==
== History ==
[[Wolverhampton Low Level railway station]] was opened in 1854 and Springfield was one of the first areas of Wolverhampton east of the [[Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway|Oxford, Worcester & Wolverhampton railway]] line to be developed. By 1860 terraced housing had been built on the extant Culwell Street, Bridge Street (now renamed Culwell Street) and Field Street, along with Bagnal Street, Junction Street and Spring Street, all three of which disappeared in the 1960s following redevelopment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Parker |first=Bev |title=The History of St. Stephen's Church. - 1. Springfield |url=http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/articles/StStephens2/Springfield.htm |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=www.historywebsite.co.uk}}</ref> In 1878, Wolverhampton Council using provisions in the [[Artisans' and Labourers' Dwellings Improvement Act 1875]] bought land and laid out streets and sewars for a planned 290 houses for people displaced from slum clearances in the town centre.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Barnsby |first=George J. |title=A History of Housing in Wolverhampton, 1750 to 1975 |publisher=Integrated Publishing Services |year=1976 |isbn=9780905679006 |page=18}}</ref>
[[Wolverhampton Low Level railway station]] was opened in 1854 and Springfield was one of the first areas of Wolverhampton east of the [[Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway|Oxford, Worcester & Wolverhampton railway]] line to be developed. By 1860 terraced housing had been built on the extant Culwell Street, Bridge Street (now renamed Culwell Street) and Field Street, along with Bagnal Street, Junction Street and Spring Street, all three of which disappeared in the 1960s following redevelopment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Parker |first=Bev |title=The History of St. Stephen's Church. - 1. Springfield |url=http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/articles/StStephens2/Springfield.htm |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=www.historywebsite.co.uk}}</ref> In 1878, Wolverhampton Council using provisions in the [[Artisans' and Labourers' Dwellings Improvement Act 1875]] bought land and laid out streets and sewars for a planned 290 houses for people displaced from slum clearances in the town centre.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Barnsby |first=George J. |title=A History of Housing in Wolverhampton, 1750 to 1975 |publisher=Integrated Publishing Services |year=1976 |isbn=9780905679006 |page=18}}</ref>

Revision as of 22:25, 7 December 2023

Springfield is an area of Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom immediately north east of the city centre. It has undergone major redevelopment by The University of Wolverhampton. It is now Europe’s largest construction centre of excellence and home to an architecture and built environment super-campus, which also includes the newly built Brownfield Institute. It is included within the ward of Heath Town.

Geography

Springfield is divided from Wolverhampton city centre by the A4150 ring road St Patricks, the Birmingham Canal Navigations Main Line and the Wolverhampton–Shrewsbury and Rugby–Birmingham–Stafford railway lines. It lies between the A460 Cannock Road and the A4124 Wednesfield Road, and to the east borders Heath Town.[1]

History

Wolverhampton Low Level railway station was opened in 1854 and Springfield was one of the first areas of Wolverhampton east of the Oxford, Worcester & Wolverhampton railway line to be developed. By 1860 terraced housing had been built on the extant Culwell Street, Bridge Street (now renamed Culwell Street) and Field Street, along with Bagnal Street, Junction Street and Spring Street, all three of which disappeared in the 1960s following redevelopment.[2] In 1878, Wolverhampton Council using provisions in the Artisans' and Labourers' Dwellings Improvement Act 1875 bought land and laid out streets and sewars for a planned 290 houses for people displaced from slum clearances in the town centre.[3]

Springfield Brewery

Springfield Brewery

The brewery opened in 1873, when the William Butler and Company needed bigger premises than their existing site in Priestfield. Springfield had an abundance of water, and the land had remained fairly undeveloped as the ground was quite marshy in places. The company acquired the seven-acre site, partly bordering Grimstone Street and built a new brewery with maltings, cooperage and stables. Production started at Springfield during the following year. With the new brewery located close to the canal and railway lines, the company could begin to trade outside of the local area. The good communications also made the acquisition of public houses in other areas a viable proposition. This opportunity was improved when the Great Western Railway extended a siding into the site which was continually expanding to cope with the success of the company. Between 1881 and 1883 a new brewing tower was constructed, enabling William Butler and Company to increase production from 400 to 1,500 barrels a week. One of the beers brewed was named Springfield Bitter. In 1960 Mitchell's and Butler's acquired the company and the Cape Hill brewery but kept the Springfield Brewery open. Brewing ceased in 1991 and thereafter the site was used simply as a distribution centre. In 2006 a fire destroyed much of the site.[4]

In 2014 plans were announced by the University of Wolverhampton and Wolverhampton City Council to redevelop the site for the new West Midlands Construction UTC (University Technical College), sponsored by the university and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). The university relocated its School of Architecture and the Built Environment to the site.[5]

Joshua Bigwood

Joshua Bigwood was an electrical engineering company founded in 1874. Its head office and works were on Wednesfield Road.[6] It was taken over in 1965 by B & S Massey.[7] Before its closure the company manufactured metal forming machinery and combustion equipment and had around 85 employees.[8] The premises closed in 1986 and the site was redeveloped with housing on an extended Field Street.

Government

Springfield is in Heath Town ward of the City of Wolverhampton and the parliamentary constituency of Wolverhampton North East.[9] It was formerly in the Wolverhampton ward of St Mary's and Wolverhampton East parliamentary constituency.

Landmarks

Victoria Hall

Victoria Hall, University of Wolverhampton - Europe's tallest modular building

Victoria Hall is a block of student accommodation with four tower blocks. The tallest block is 25 stories and is the tallest modular building in Europe.[10]

Planned developments

In July 2021 it was announced that the site of Wolverhampton Council's Culwell Street depot and office building is set to be redeveloped.[11] Funding from the West Midlands Combined Authority for the demolition of existing buildings and site clean-up was secured in November 2022. The development is part of a larger scheme named Brewers Yard.[12] Outline planning permission was granted in July 2023.[13]

Famous residents

Don Howe, the footballer and football manager, was born at Springfield in 1935.

References

  1. ^ Quigley, Paul (June 2013). "Heathfield Park Neighbourhood Plan. Historic Characterisation Study. 12.0 Springfield Character Zone" (PDF). wolverhampton.gov.uk. p. 58. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  2. ^ Parker, Bev. "The History of St. Stephen's Church. - 1. Springfield". www.historywebsite.co.uk. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  3. ^ Barnsby, George J. (1976). A History of Housing in Wolverhampton, 1750 to 1975. Integrated Publishing Services. p. 18. ISBN 9780905679006.
  4. ^ "William Butler". midlandspubs.co.uk. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  5. ^ "Former brewery site". wolverhampton.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  6. ^ Parker, Bev. "Joshua Bigwood & Son Limited". www.historywebsite.co.uk. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Company Affairs - Joshua Bigwood". Birmingham Post. No. 33, 396. 10 November 1965. p. 13. Retrieved 6 December 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ^ "Jobs axe to recue firm". Birmingham Evening Mail. 10 November 1965. p. 40. Retrieved 6 December 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ^ "Election Maps". www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Victoria Hall Wolverhampton". archprof.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 June 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  11. ^ Thandi, Gurdip (29 July 2021). "780 apartments plan for outdated buildings which are 'the pits'". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  12. ^ Jones, Tamlyn (5 November 2022). "£5m backing for Wolverhampton's Brewers Yard scheme". Business Live. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Outline planning application approved for transformational city living scheme". City Of Wolverhampton Council. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.

52°35′42″N 2°07′01″W / 52.595°N 2.117°W / 52.595; -2.117


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