Research Article
A Brief History of Smethwick
Smethwick’s history is a story of extraordinary change. Once a comparatively small settlement on the edge of Birmingham, it became one of the most important industrial towns of…
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Start with these introductory stories, then explore films, research, places and archive material from across Smethwick.
Research Article
How Industry Transformed Smethwick
Few forces changed Smethwick as dramatically as industry. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, canals, factories, engineering works and glassmaking transformed the area from a relatively small settlement…
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More from Smethwick
Episode
Smethwick High Street: The Lost Cinemas, Pubs & Shops | Part 1
Smethwick High Street has been at the heart of the town for generations, but the street we see today is very different from the one remembered by earlier…
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West Smethwick Park
West Smethwick Park has served generations of local residents since the late Victorian period. This research brings together the history behind the park, its lost features, memorials, waterways…
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Episode
The Lost Tower Blocks of Smethwick – The Story of Boulton Place Estate
For many people who grew up in Smethwick during the 1960s, 70s and 80s, the skyline was dominated by the unmistakable tower blocks of Boulton Place and Murdoch…
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James Timmins Chance – A Complete Biography
James Timmins Chance played an important role in the history of Chance Brothers and Victorian Smethwick. This biography explores his life, family, industrial career and contribution to one of the…
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Episode
The Lost County Boundary Stream | Hidden Waterway Beneath West Smethwick
For generations, a forgotten stream quietly flowed through the heart of West Smethwick, forming part of the historic boundary between Staffordshire and Worcestershire. Today, much of this once-important…
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Project
The Lost County Boundary Stream
Tracing the historic watercourse from West Smethwick Park towards Oldbury and the River Tame.
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Episode
The Man Who Changed Smethwick – Exploring the History of West Smethwick Park
West Smethwick Park is one of the oldest and most beautiful public parks in the Black Country, yet many visitors are unaware of the remarkable story behind its…
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