Wightwick Manor

The city of Wolverhampton is located in the West Midlands and is home to a number of attractions including the beautiful Wightwick Manor and Gardens and the stunning West Park.  With an exciting array of sporting venues including the Wolverhampton Racecourse and Molineux Stadium the home ground of Wolverhampton Wonderers F.C., there is plenty to choose from for those on a city break to the historic city.

Historic Wolverhampton
The origins of Wolverhampton date back to 985 when the town was founded by Lady Wulfrun, grandaughter of King Ethelred I, following the charter grant of 10 hides of land which took the name of Heantune, hence Wulfrunheantune which later became Wolverhampton.

From a market town that enjoyed a thriving woollen trade in the 14th and 15th century and having recovered from 2 devastating fires in 1590 and 1696, the area grew significantly at the time of the Industrial Revolution and played a key role in the mining of coal, iron ore and limestone.  The area’s success led to the development of numerous production plants in the steel and automotive industries which the West Midlands became renowned for, and in more recent years the city has also attracted organisations from the service, aerospace and engineering sectors.

In 1866 Queen Victoria travelled to Wolverhampton in order to unveil the statue of Prince Albert on horseback which is located in Queen Street, originally called High Green until it was renamed in honour of the Queen.

One of Wolverhampton’s finest attractions is Wightwick Manor, built in Victorian times by local industrialist Theodore Mander which today is owned by the National Trust.  Wightwick features many original designs by William Morris in the form of wallpapers and fabrics, heavily influenced by the Arts and Crafts Movement.  Set in beautiful gardens the Grade I Listed building sits alongside numerous outbuildings including stables and workshops and shops selling antique books and pottery are also found in the grounds.

Popular Culture
Wolverhampton is an historic and cultural city, and has also been a focus in popular culture.

Films & TV
For the Love of Ella was written and co-produced by Simon Golding and is due to be released in November this year.  Ewen Macintosh, Lucy Drive and Daniel Peacock star in the comedy alongside Melanie Sykes, Alex Reid and Bobby Ball, filmed on various locations including Wolverhampton.

The Man in the Sky (1957) starred Jack Hawkins and Elizabeth Sellers with this thrilling drama following the life of Test Pilot John Mitchell as he strives to make a better life for his family, filming for which took place in Wolverhampton.

Toast (2010) Ken Stott, Helena Bonham Carter and Freddie Highmore star in this adaptation of Nigel Slater’s memoirs which is set in Wolverhampton in the 1960’s when Slater was just a boy, following the sad loss of his mother we learn more about Slater and how he developed his love of food and cooking.

Social Media
Additional information on Wolverhampton can be found on its official website Wolverhampton City Council as well as its Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts.

Famous Faces
Sir Charles William Hayward was born in Wolverhampton on 3 September 1892, the renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist who was awarded the Freedom of the City of London where he founded Electric & General Industrial Trusts Ltd which later became the Firth Cleveland Group. Hayward also set up the Hayward Foundation which donated millions to charity.

Successful singer songwriter Beverley Knight was born in Wolverhampton on the 22 March 1973, whose many hit singles include Greatest Day and Come as You Are.  Knight received an MBE in 2007 for her contribution to British Music and in recognition of her extensive charity work.

Liam Payne shot to fame during 2010’s X Factor when One Direction was formed and marked the start of a journey that would see global success for the band.  Payne was born in Wolverhampton on the 29th August 1993.

Landmarks

Lady Wulfrun

Statue of Lady Wulfrun at St Peter’s Collegiate Church
Charles Wheeler was the sculptor responsible for the impressive statue of Lady Wulfrun which can be found on the steps of St Peter’s Collegiate Church and was erected in 1974.  The statues depicts Lady Wulfrun holding the Charter which granted the land and led to the founding of Wolverhampton.

The Old Town Hall
Located on North Street the Old Town Hall in Wolverhampton was designed by Ernest Bates and home to the Town Council prior to their move to the Civic Centre.  The striking Town Hall was opened in 1871 with its architectural styling heavily influence by the New Louvre in Paris and was later converted to house the Magistrates Court.

Wolverhampton Art Gallery
The Wolverhampton Art Gallery opened in May 1884 with its detailed and impressive design the work of Julius Chatwin.  The Gallery today houses over 20,000 exhibits in its many collections including acclaimed works such as Peace and Plenty Binding the Arrows of War by Abraham Janssens and local artists work also featured including George Phoenix and John Fullwood.  From pop art to Eastern weapons and examples of ceramics and glass and toys there is something for everyone in the Gallery’s extensive collection.

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Skyline view of the city of Coventry

Coventry is located in the West Midlands, close to Birmingham and is the 11th largest city in the UK.  Visitors to the city can enjoy such historic attractions as its famous Cathedral and St Mary’s Guildhall, and explore its many museums, including the Coventry Transport Museum which details the key role played by Coventry in the British motor industry.  Coombe Country Park provides a beautiful location with lakes, woodland and gardens in the 500 acre site, perfect for a relaxing day out.

The War Memorial Park is the location of the annual Godiva Festival, and the impressive Ricoh Arena plays host to a wealth of events including concerts from top name performers.  With great retail facilities for those with a passion for shopping, the Belgrade Theatre and Plaza are also added to the endless list of Coventry’s attractions.

Historic Coventry
There were settlements in the area of Coventry as early as the Bronze Age, with the Romans later developing further sites with the location and environment ideal for rural settlements.

Following the devastation caused by the invasion of the Danes in 1016, the area came under the control of the Earl of Mercia, Leofric.  Famously married to Lady Godiva, the pair were responsible for founding the monastery which was built in 1043, on the site of St Osburga.  The legend of Lady Godiva tells of her tireless efforts to convince her husband to reduce the heavy taxes that the people of Coventry were made to pay.  The Earl is said to have commented that he would do so in the event that she would ride naked through the streets of Coventry, which she is said to have done.  However, it is hard to determine how much truth there is in this legendary tale.  What is known is that the Earl of Mercia was a powerful individual and together with Lady Godiva were generous religious supporters, making numerous donations throughout their lives.

The industrial history of Coventry began in the Middle Ages, with its important involvement in industries such as the cloth trade. Coventry would later become a focus for the manufacture of clocks and watches, as well as extensive manufacturing involvement in the areas of the machine tools, bicycles, aircraft and the automotive industry.  Coventry would be the chosen location for numerous automotive manufacturers including Rover, which was originally a bicycle company.

Given the industrial significance of Coventry, it became a target of sustained bombing during the war.  Extensive damage was caused across the city with thousands of homes and businesses destroyed.  Sadly on the 14 November 1940, the Cathedral was hit badly resulting in only the outer walls and spire remaining.  Today, these parts of the old cathedral remain in place, together with a new cathedral building which sits next to these poignant reminders of war.

Popular Culture
Coventry is a cultural and historic city, and as such has been a focus in popular culture.

Films & TV
Nativity! (2009) – starring Martin Freeman and Ashley Jensen, scenes from this comedy film were shot in Coventry Cathedral.

The Italian Job – (1969), Coventry featured in this legendary film starring Michael Caine, with the famous footage of the Minis driving through sewer pipes which appeared to be in Italy, actually shot in city.

The Bouncer and All in the Game – Both starring Ray Winstone, have featured Coventry as a film location.

TV programmes which have been filmed in Coventry include Doctor Who, Keeping up Appearances and The Shakespeare Code.

Books
The Weight of Water (January 2013), by Sarah Crossan, set in Coventry, this book tells the emotional tale of Kasienka and her mother, who are immigrants facing a new life in England.

Pale Moon Rider (1999), Marsha Canham’s Coventry based novel includes characters such as Tyrone Hart and Renee d’Anton in this thrilling love story.

Godiva (2008) Nerys Jones – this historic novel is set in Coventry and focusses on the heroine Godiva, wife of the Earl of Mercia, at the time of Edward the Confessor.

Social Media
Coventry has its own official tourism website, Visit Coventry as well as Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Famous Faces
Arthur Hutt – was born in Coventry 12 February 1889, Hutt was awarded the Victoria Cross for his brave efforts during the Battle of Passchendaele, when as a Private, Hutt took over the leadership of his platoon following numerous casualties, and his resulting action led to the surrender of over 40 enemy soldiers.

Nigel Hawthorne – born in Coventry on 5 April 1929, the BAFTA award winning actor, who starred in many tv, film and theatre productions was best known for the lead role in The Madness of King George as well as playing Sir Humphrey Appleby in Yes Minster.

Pete Waterman – DJ, record producer and member of Stock Aitken Waterman, was born in the Stoke Heath area of Coventry on 15 January 1947.

Tony Southgate – was born in Coventry on 25 May 1940.  During his career as an engineer and racing car designer, Southgate worked for many F1 teams, as well as designing Jaguar’s XJR-9 which was victorious at Le Mans and the Audi R8C.

Landmarks

The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum (left), and St Michael’s Cathedral

St Michael’s Cathedral
A popular landmark attracting thousands of visitors each year is St Michael’s Cathedral which is located in Priory Street.  Dating back to the 14th Century, the original Cathedral structure was badly damaged during bombing raids in the Second World War.  Work began to build a new Cathedral on the site next to the ruins in 1956, with the design by Basil Spence completed in 1962.

The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum
Free entry can be gained to this award winning museum, which offers a wealth of collections from natural history to archaeology and the visual arts, with a focus on Coventry’s social and industrial history all under one roof. This modern design construction is situated opposite St Michael’s in Jorden Well.

St Mary’s Guildhall
Located in Bayley Lane, St Mary’s Guildhall hosts an excellent collection of fine artworks in this amazing medieval guildhall.  The breath-taking architecture and beautiful stained glass windows offer a unique venue in which to explore Coventry’s history.  Admission is free to historic landmark.

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Birmingham is situated in the West Midlands, approximately 100 miles north of London, and is the second most populated city in Britain, with London being the first. The Domesday Book lists Birmingham as a small manor in 1086, valued at 20 shillings.  In 1889, Birmingham was granted city status.  Previously, the presence of an Anglican cathedral in a town was a prerequisite of gaining city status.  However, this connection with the Anglican diocese stopped when Birmingham, which didn’t have a cathedral at the time, was awarded city status due to the size of its population and its local government history. Some years later in 1905, St Philip’s parish church became a cathedral.

From Midlands Enlightenment to the Industrial Revolution
In the 18th century Birmingham gained international recognition with the Midlands Enlightenment part of the Age of Enlightenment. Out of this cultural and intellectual movement the likes of the Lunar Society of Birmingham was formed which included intellectuals, philosophers and industrialists many of whom had influence on an international level.  Ahead of their time, many of the members were involved in science, technology and economics, and worked together on theories with their American and European counterparts.  Birmingham became world renowned for innovation with the resulting significant developments across many scientific fields, as well as innovation in the areas of technology and medicine.

The Industrial Revolution which began around 1760 meant that the progress made in the above fields could be used to introduce new processes for production and manufacturing.  Machines were made to significantly improve efficiency and increase production.  The introduction of improved energy sources meant that coal replaced wood, and steam power was used more frequently.  Leading edge technology was introduced and Birmingham became recognised as a significant hub of manufacturing around the world. The network of canals that Birmingham is famous for, were also constructed in the late 1760’s and early 1770’s.  The canals enabled factories access to the coals mines and reservoirs as well as providing a transportation method for their products.

Cadbury
John Cadbury was born in 1802, and opened his first shop in 1824 in Birmingham. His grocery shop sold a variety of goods including coffee, tea, cocoa and drinking chocolate, and together with his brother Benjamin they moved the business forward. With a Royal Warrant awarded in 1854, the brothers supplied chocolate and cocoa to Queen Victoria.
In time Richard and George Cadbury, John’s sons, joined the business.  Following significant growth, an estate in Bournville was built to provide housing for Cadburys workers. In 1866, Cadbury Cocoa Essence was sold to the public for the first time.  Cadburys went on to offer a wide range of confectionary products, the Dairy Milk brand dates back to 1905, and remains hugely popular today.

Popular Culture
Birmingham is famous for the wide range of restaurants and cuisine it offers.  Known as the Balti Belt or Balti Triangle, following the invention of the Balti dish in Birmingham, it boasts a wide range of Asian restaurants together with many shops selling jewellery and fabrics. Michelin stars are in abundance with the restaurants such as Simpsons, Purnells and Turners.

Films & TV
Oscar Deutsch, born in Birmingham in 1893, was the founder of Odeon Cinemas with the first cinema being opened in Dudley in 1928.  By 1937, 250 Odeon cinemas were in operation throughout the UK.

Films shot in Birmingham include Turbulence (2011) and Tormented (2009).

With the BBC operating from 2 bases in Birmingham, many programmes have been filmed there.  Programmes such as Doctors are currently filmed in Birmingham, and it was also the home of programmes including Tiswas and Crossroads which were filmed many years ago.  There are many independent television production companies based in Birmingham responsible for shows such as Embarrassing Bodies and The Gadget Show.

Books
Annie Murray, whose mother was from the Midlands, has written many books set in Birmingham, these include Birmingham Rose, Birmingham Blitz, Water Gypsies and more recently, The Women of Lilac Street set in Birmingham in the 1920’s.

Social Media
Further information can be found about Birmingham through its official tourism website VisitBirmingham as well as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube accounts.

Famous Faces
Ozzy Osbourne – The Prince of Darkness himself was born in Birmingham on the 3rd December 1948.  Ozzy famed for his heavy metal music was part of the band Black Sabbath and also had a successful solo career.

Kenny Baker – Famous for playing R2D2 in the Star Wars movies, Kenny was born 24th August 1934, he has starred in many films including Timebandits, Flash Gordon and Labyrinth.
Neville Chamberlain – former Conservative Prime Minster from May 1937 until 1940, Arthur Neville Chamberlain was born March 18 1869, in Birmingham.

Tony Hancock – Born 12 May 1924, the comic genius actor Tony Hancock was born in Birmingham, a huge star both on radio and TV, programmes such as Hancocks Half Hour which featured the likes of Sid James and Kenneth Williams kept a nation entertained.

Landmarks
Selfridges and The Bullring – originally where the market was held in the middle ages, the bullring offers shoppers a fantastic experience, with the huge range of shops within the East and West Mall, with an underground passageway connected the two.  The addition of the iconic Selfridges building, the exterior of which is made up of aluminium discs on a background of blue, has come to be instantly recognisable and associated with Birmingham following its completion in 2003.

Soho House – The home of Matthew Boulton, a Lunar Society founder, this stately Georgian building was frequently used for the Lunar Society Meetings.  Today, it is home to the Sidereal Clock constructed by Matthew Boulton, as well as displays of silver and ormolu.

St Martins Church – is situated between the Bullring and market areas, this beautiful church was built in 1873, following the demolition of the previous church on the site which dated back to the 13th century, during which the tower and spire were preserved. The church has 16 bells and Revd. Canon Stewart W. Jones is the Rector.