Clayhanger, Staffordshire
| Clayhanger | |
| Staffordshire | |
|---|---|
| |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SK042046 |
| Location: | 52°37’29"N, 1°55’48"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | Walsall |
| Postcode: | WS8, WS9 |
| Dialling code: | 01543 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Walsall |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Aldridge-Brownhills |
Clayhanger is a vilage which has become little more than a residential area of Brownhills in Staffordshire, albeing separated by geography from being completely contiguous with the conurbation founded upon the Black Country.
The village is to be found about five miles north of Walsall.
History
Clayhanger was mentioned in the lands of the Earl of Stafford in 1391.
Many of the houses in the area are privately owned and were built from 1995-2005 with the sale of various farm land at opposite sides of the village. For instance, the 'Swingbridge Park' development built by Maunders (then Westbury following the purchase of the former) was built on Victorian Foot & Mouth burial grounds. The same development promised a public house on the former Swingbridge Farm site on Northfields Way, but the project was never given planning permission. The village remains 'dry' and without any public house.
The Bridge Street entrance is also home to Clayhanger Common. The common was originally home to a council run waste disposal site from the 1950s up until the early 1980s. This has a bad effect on the village to the point in 1975 residents were given rate reductions as compensation.
About the village
Clayhanger is known locally for being an island - you cannot get in or out with crossing water. The village historically was also subject to flooding, especially the old railway line, but its new developments have put a stop to this. The village is only accessible from two entrance points; one by way of Bridge Street, named for the old railway bridge that passed over the main road just by the now painted 'spot' traffic island, and by Clayhanger Lane, that still has the Railway bridge that was one part of the South Staffordshire Line. The line itself is now used for walkers & cyclists.
Clayhanger has a range of local shops, including a long-established butchers' shop, a mini-market, chip shop and Chinese takeaway, the latter all built on the site of a derelict former factory on Clayhanger Lane.