Aldridge
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Aldridge | ||
---|---|---|
Metropolitan county | ||
Region | ||
Country | England | |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom | |
Areas of the town (2011 census BUASD) | List
| |
Post town | WALSALL | |
Postcode district | WS9 | |
Dialling code | 01543, 01922 | |
Police | West Midlands | |
Fire | West Midlands | |
Ambulance | West Midlands | |
UK Parliament | ||
Aldridge is a town and
History
The name "Aldridge" is derived from the Anglo-Saxon alr or alre + wīc meaning 'alder (tree) + village'.[3] Another suggestion is that the name "Aldridge" means "outlying farm among alder-trees", from the Old English alor and wīc.[4] It was recorded as Alrewic in the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was valued at 15 shillings and had a population of seven households; the Lord was Robert (d'Oilly) and the tenant-in-chief was William son of Ansculf.[3][5] The name was recorded as Alrewich and Allerwych in the 12th century.[3]
Aldridge began as a small agricultural settlement, with farming being the most common occupation up until the 19th century.
In the 1800s, Aldridge became an industrial town with
During the 20th century, modern shops were built in the centre of Aldridge, as well as council buildings. During the
Aldridge became an
The urban district of Aldridge merged with Brownhills in 1966 to form Aldridge-Brownhills, and then became part of an expanded Metropolitan Borough of Walsall in 1974.
Demography
There were 39,463 usual residents as at Census day 2011. Of these, 99.7% lived in households and 0.3% lived in communal establishments. The average (mean) age of residents was 43.4 years. In total there were 17,317 household spaces. Of these, 16,922 (97.7%) had at least one usual resident and 395 (2.3%) had no usual residents.[7]
Politics
The Aldridge-Brownhills constituency is a safe seat for the Conservative Party. As of 2021[update], the current Member of Parliament (MP) is Wendy Morton, who was first elected at the 2015 general election. Her predecessor Sir Richard Shepherd had held the seat since 1979.[8][9]
Aldridge is made up of two council wards: Aldridge Central & South, Aldridge North & Walsall Wood. There are three Conservative Councillors for Aldridge Central & South: Pard Kaur, Bobby Bains and Tim Wilson. Aldridge North & Walsall Wood is also covered by three Conservative councillors: Keith Sears, Anthony Harris and Gary Clarke.[10]
Education
Aldridge has a number of primary and secondary schools. The primary schools are Cooper and Jordan (CE), Leighswood, St Mary of the Angels (Catholic) and Whetstone Field (Redhouse primary school was closed in the summer of 2006.[11]). The secondary schools are Aldridge School and St Francis of Assisi Catholic College.
Industry and commerce
In Aldridge there are a number of factories with several large industrial estates in the area. Some of the most notable factories include the large
Most of the town's shops are located either on High Street, Anchor Road, or in the shopping area known as "The Parade". Well-known shops here include
Transport
Aldridge is served by local bus services. Many of the buses in Aldridge were renumbered in April 2010 as part of National Express West Midlands' attempt to simplify bus services in and around the Walsall area. Bus operators operating services through Aldridge are Diamond West Midlands, Chaserider (replaced Select Bus Services from 23 July 2023) and National Express West Midlands. Services operated are to Walsall, Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield, Brownhills and Lichfield.
Sports, recreation and entertainment
Aldridge has a cricket and hockey club called "The Stick and Wicket", located on the green behind the parish church,
Aldridge Sailing Club was formed in 1967 and is RYA affiliated.
Aldridge Rugby Football Club was formed in 1998 from an amalgamation of two established rugby clubs based in Birmingham: Witton and Old Centrals. The club is based on the former Old Centrals sports ground at Bourne Vale in Aldridge and plays in Midlands 5 West (North), fielding three senior sides.
Aldridge Compass Suites (based at the Masonic Hall on the Green) is a venue for wedding receptions, christenings and other functions.
The Aldridge Youth Theatre was officially opened by the actor Bernard Hepton and is located on Noddy Park Road. It is run by a group of volunteers and puts on a variety of plays throughout the year. A pantomime is usually staged in January.
425 (Aldridge) Squadron, part of Staffordshire Wing of the
The 36th Walsall 1st Aldridge scout group is located on Middlemore Lane, opposite Anchor Meadow, and runs Beaver, Cub, Scout and Explorer sections for boys aged 6 and upwards. The beavers are aged 6–8, cubs are aged 8–10/11, scouts are aged 11–14 and explorers are aged 14–18.
The Methodist church is used by 1st Aldridge Girl guides as well as two brownie groups and a rainbow group. The rainbows group is for girls aged 5–7, the brownies for girls aged 7–10, and guides aged 10–14. Older girls also take part and are known as the senior section.
St. Mary's Parish Church has one of the largest church youth groups in the area.[citation needed] Around 90 young people, between the ages of 13 and 18, attend the group. The group also hosts an annual summer camp in Wales (in recent years attracting over 100 teenagers), as well as a weekend away in February.
The 33rd Walsall Scout group is based at Aldridge Methodist Church and holds Beavers, Cubs and scouts for boys and girls aged 6–14.
The 49th Walsall Scout Group is the third Scout Group in Aldridge based at St Thomas's Church at the bottom of St Thomas Close, on the estate just off Lazy Hill Road and Greenwood Road. It also caters for boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 18.
Suburbs
Suburbs and villages of the town include: Castlefort (Part), Walsall Wood (Part), Leighswood.
Notable residents
Military
Military honours
Charles George Bonner VC, DSC, born in Aldridge, was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Bonner Grove, a neighbourhood of social housing flats and privately owned houses, remembers his name.
Sports men and women
Charles Holland was a road bicycle racer, and one of the first two Britons to ride the Tour de France. Rode in Olympic Games: Los Angeles 1932 and Berlin 1936.[citation needed]
Colin Charvis, former captain of the Wales national rugby union team, went to the Redhouse School in Aldridge.[16]
Swimmer
References
- Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
- ^ "Aldridge (West Midlands, West Midlands, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map, Location, Weather and Web Information". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
- ^ a b c Duigan, W. H. (1902). Notes on Staffordshire Place Names. London: Henry Frowde, Oxford University Press. p. 3.
- OCLC 6964610.
- ^ Powell-Smith, Anna. "Aldridge | Domesday Book". Open Domesday. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ "About Aldridge". Aldridge Local History Society. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ "Custom report - Nomis - Official Labour Market Statistics".
- ^ "British Parliamentary Election results 1997-: English Boroughs part 1". Election.demon.co.uk. 1 March 1995. Archived from the original on 3 May 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ "United Kingdom Parliamentary Election results 1983-97: English Boroughs part 1". Election.demon.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 August 2000. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ "CMIS > Councillors". cmispublic.walsall.gov.uk. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Movement for Growth: The West Midlands Strategic Transport Plan Summary" (PDF). wmca.org.uk. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ^ "Plans to give Aldridge its own railway station move forward with £400k land deal". www.wmca.org.uk. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ^ "Aldridge & Walsall Hockey Club | Friendly club based in the West Midlands". Aldridge & Walsall Hockey Club.
- ^ "Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach GBE KCB ADC DL". GOV.UK.
- ^ "Former Wales rugby captain Colin Charvis returned to his Walsall roots". Birmingham Mail.
- ^ Davies, Gareth A (15 September 2008). "Eleanor Simmonds claims two gold swimming medals at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing - Paralympics". Telegraph. Archived from the original on 3 June 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
External links
- Walsall council local history Archived 23 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- Even more local history Archived 24 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- Aldridge: historical and genealogical information at GENUKI.
- Aldridge in the Domesday Book