Though services to Stourbridge Junction, Worcester Shrub Hill, Worcester Foregate Street, Birmingham Snow Hill and Birmingham Moor Street call at The Hawthorns railway station. There was previously a railway station on Newton Road, which was located a mile away from the town centre; it was on the Grand Junction Railway that ran from Birmingham New Street to Stafford via Wolverhampton High Level and Walsall. This station closed in 1945 and, although it moved twice between 1863 and 1902, only the line remains in use for the services from Walsall to Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Liverpool Lime Street.
The town's primary economy developed into engineering, manufacturing and the automotive industry through the early 20th century. [6] During the Second World War, West Bromwich experienced bombing from the German Luftwaffe. [7][8] It also suffered heavily during recessions in the mid 1970s, early 1980s and late 2000s. [9] The town is known for its football club West Bromwich Albion, who have played in the town since the club's formation in 1878. [10] It is also home to parts of Sandwell Valley Country Park and Sandwell Valley RSPB nature reserve. [11] History[edit] Origin and etymology[edit] West Bromwich was first mentioned as Bromwic ('broom village') in the Domesday Book of 1086.
It was believed to have been connected to religious violence in India that was spreading into communities in Britain. [31] In 1875, being locked out of a packed Evangelist meeting in Birmingham caused John Blackham of Ebenezer Congregational Church to start the Pleasant Sunday Afternoon Movement. [32] Transport[edit] Railway[edit] West Bromwich railway station was opened by the Great Western Railway on its route between Birmingham Snow Hill and Wolverhampton Low Level on 14 November 1854. The trackbed of that line is now served by the West Midlands Metro light rail (tram) system with West Bromwich having seven tram stops: The Hawthorns, Kenrick Park, Trinity Way, West Bromwich Central, Lodge Road West Bromwich Town Hall, Dartmouth Street and Dudley Street Guns Village. The nearest main-line railway station is now Sandwell & Dudley railway station, approximately 1 mile (2 km) away in Oldbury town centre.
John Wesley preached there twice in the late 1700s. Reuben Farley gave it to the town as a museum, with the formal opening on 25 July 1898. In 1949 it was protected as a Grade II* Listed Building. The lakes and pools within Sandwell Valley are home to a wide range of water fowl and also play host to migrating birds. In August 2009, The Public arts centre designed by architect Will Alsop fully opened. By 2013, the venue was attracting nearly 400, 000 visitors a year and was bringing leading national and international artists to the town. Originally beset by problems before opening, in May 2013, it was revealed that Sandwell Council were considering borrowing a substantial amount of money to repurpose the £70 million building and lease it to Sandwell College to provide a new sixth form centre to complement the recently opened Central Campus in the town.
Roads[edit] The M5 motorway between the West Midlands and the West Country and its junction with the M6 motorway passes through the town, making West Bromwich at the hub of Britain's motorway network. Improvements were made at the A41 junction by West Bromwich town centre after a £25 million project grant was awarded to the area to cut congestion for commuters. The junction, which is where The Expressway meets All Saints Way (A4031), currently carries over 60, 000 vehicles a day and is close to junction 1 of the M5.
Birmingham City vs West Bromwich Albion live score, H2H