Pendeford
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Pendeford | |
  Pendeford shown within the West Midlands |
|
| Population | 4,356 (2001 Census) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| - London | 145.15 |
| Metropolitan borough | Wolverhampton |
| Metropolitan county | West Midlands |
| Region | West Midlands |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WOLVERHAMPTON |
| Postcode district | WV9 |
| Dialling code | 01902 |
| Police | West Midlands |
| Fire | West Midlands |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| European Parliament | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament | Wolverhampton |
| List of places: UK • England • West Midlands | |
Pendeford is a suburb of Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England. It is situated NNW of the city centre, adjacent to the border with Staffordshire, within the Oxley ward of Wolverhampton City Council.
Contents |
[edit] Housing
Most of the area is a housing estate built in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. The newest part of Pendeford being known as Richmond Park which was completed in the late 1990s with Pendeford Rise being completed in the early 1990s. All of the estate has been built on the site of the former Wolverhampton Aerodrome and the Boulton Paul Ltd aircraft factory.
[edit] Shopping and amenities
Pendeford also has a large Morrisons (previously Safeway (UK)) supermarket, several smaller shops which include Choices Movie Rental (now closed), Elle Louise clothes store, Sallys beauty accessories, Home and Motorsave and Martins (previously Dillons and before that Preedy). On the same site there is also a Pub called the Pendulum. Also in Pendeford there is a Priory Green Community Centre, Library, Health Centre, Oasis Cafe, Church/School, Mandella Nursing Home and Cresswell Court Residential Home.
There's also a small 'shopping centre' on Dovecotes Estate named The Haymarket, with a Premier Store named Pendeford Superstore (previously Spar), there's a Chinese, fish & chip shop (Pendeford Fish Bar) and a chicken factory (Dovecote's Poultry), there was once a newsagents, bookmakers, bakery and more but these have long closed. The Haymarket is due redevelopment with talk of demolition and a complete rebuild.
[edit] Education
There are two primary schools in Pendeford and one nearby. They are St. Pauls C of E and Priory Green Primary School. St. Pauls doubles as the local church and is also home to the Oasis Cafe. Dovecotes Primary School is loacted within the neighbouring estate of Dovecotes. There are pupils from Pendeford who also attend this school. There is also a High School that goes by the name of Pendeford High School, however this is located in Fordhouses. Nearby there is Aldersley High School where a majority of the pupils who attend are from Pendeford and Dovecotes. This is situated on Barnhurst Lane. Aldersley High School is however in Codsall and not in Aldersley as it is named.
[edit] Transport links
Autherley Junction to the south of Pendeford is the junction of the Shropshire Union Canal and the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. These canals border Pendeford and other local housing estates including Oxley, Fordhouses, and Dovecotes. Within 1 mile of Pendeford there is access to the M54 motorway at Junction 2. Pendeford also has good bus links with the City Centre and other parts or the City. The routes that service Pendeford are the 504, 505, 506 and 507.
[edit] Recreation
Recreation has been a key part of Pendeford for many years and it is now developing further for the benefit of everyone in and around the area.
[edit] St. John Ambulance
Pendeford is also home to a division of St. John Ambulance known as Woodland Badgers (5-10 year olds) and Priory Green Quadrilateral (10yrs+) who teach First Aid to volunteer members.
[edit] Playgrounds
In Pendeford there is a number of small children's playgrounds, the oldest being the one at then end of Howland Close near to the Mirage Youth Centre. This park is known to many as the spider park as it has a large metal spider that is a climbing frame.
[edit] Mirage Youth Centre
Also in Howland Close is The Mirage Youth Centre (Mirage). The Mirage opened in 1992 and has been helping develop young people in Pendeford since then.
[edit] Ball Park
In the early 2000s there was a ball park/sports court opened by ex Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. player Steve Bull and Wolverhampton hockey professional Rachael Heyhoe-Flint. In 2006 the site was fitted with flood lighting to allow the site to be used for recreation after dark
[edit] Pendeford Mill Nature Reserve
Just outside Pendeford there is a nature reserve which is known as Pendeford Mill Nature Reserve. The reserve dates back to the 13th century and provides a stable and protected habitat for wildlife.
[edit] Claims to fame
Pendeford for many years has been the home to Olympic athlete Denise Lewis after she and her family moved here from West Bromwich.
[edit] Business links
Within Pendeford there is a Business Park which is accessible through The Overstand from the Wobaston Road. Tenants include Birmingham Midshires, Canon, KJM Beauty Products, Mowlem, and Westbury Homes. The Park is adjacent to the 'i54' major investment site.
[edit] i54 Wobaston Road
The 90 hectare i54 site to the north west of the city seeks to attract a single high quality manufacturing facility along with a range of prestigious offices, research facilities and a hotel.
[edit] Turner Sports Cars
In 1956 Turner Sports Cars moved to its final location in Pendeford at Pendeford Airport. After moving here from 32 Merridale Street. Car production continued through until early 1966 at the site in Pendeford when the doors were closed.
[edit] Birmingham Midshires
Birmingham Midshires moved the head headquarteres to Pendeford Business Park in the mid 1990s. It previsouly had an office in Cardiff, South Wales, but the operations from this office were moved to Pendeford to make way for a Halifax Building Society office.
[edit] History
Pendeford's history dates back to at least 11th century, a record about it exists in William the Conqueror's Domesday Book.
Dovecotes was also part of Pendeford, as was Aldersley.
[edit] The Brook
The area also has a small brook running through it, but its original position has moved. The majority of the brook runs underground. It does come above ground next to the subway which goes underneath Blaydon Road. It then carries on for around quarter of a mile before disappearing back underground next to Marholm Close.
[edit] Pendeford Airport
Much of the area was an airfield during the second world war, and Boulton Paul Aircraft built many war planes here. The airfield was used for private and training aircraft from the late 1940s until at least 1966. A memorial to the airfield can be seen on the walls of the newest estate within Pendeford. The only remaining part of the airfield can been seen at the top of the field which now belongs to Upper Pendeford Farm. This is an old World War 2 air raid shelter. Up until 2003 the inside was still accessible but it has been closed off for safety reasons.
[edit] 18th Birthday Party
To celebrate the 18th birthday of Pendeford a committee was setup called P.A.R.T.Y who worked alongside the Mirage Youth Centre. They organsied an 18th birthday party which pulled in various different organisations and ethnic backgrounds and brought them all together as one to celebrate the occasion. The party took place on Saturday 18 May 1996. Volunteers that took part received a letter of thanks from the then Wolverhampton Metropolitan Borough Council talking about the success of the occasion and said "we now look forward to the 21st Birthday Party!". This was due in 1999 but never happened.
[edit] Flooding of 1999
On Monday 5 July 1999 the Wolverhampton area was hit by storms which included a twister. This caused torrential flooding across Pendeford with water reaching depths of 5 feet in places. Just as families were recovering from the "twister" storms, some faced second insurance claims for new damage to their properties when after a second storm hit on Sunday 1 August. Residents were ferried to safety on inflatable rafts by firemen as flood water up to 4 feet deep from torrential rain swept into their homes. Temporary accommodation was made available at Pendeford High School.
[edit] External links
- History of Pendeford
- Priory Green St. John Ambulance
- i54 Wobaston Road
- Pendeford Mill Nature Reserve
- Turner Sports Cars
- What's so great about Pendeford?
- Map sources for Pendeford
[edit] References
- BBC - Black Country Attractions - Pendeford Mill Nature Reserve
- Turner Sports Cars
- BBC News | UK | Storms bring further flood fears
- Highbeam Report from The Birmingham Post
