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Smethwick is a town adjacent to Birmingham and West Bromwich, Originally the area was an Urban District in the county of Staffordshire, but since 1974 has been part of the metropolitan borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands county.
Smethwick is served by trains on both the LMS and GWR lines from Birmingham New Street railway station and Birmingham Snow Hill station respectively, serving Wolverhampton and Worcester, with onward connections. A new station replaced two older facilities, one on each line, in the 1990s.
1 History
Smethwick means "The settlement on the smooth land". Until the end of the 18th century it was an outlying hamlet of the south Staffordshire village of Harborne.
From the 18th century, three generations of canal were built through Smethwick, carrying coal and goods between the nearby Black CountryThe Black Country is an area of conurbation to the north and west of Birmingham in the English West Midlands, around the South Staffordshire coal field. Scope Places which comprise the Black Country include parts of the city of Wolverhampton, and the town and Birmingham.
- James BrindleyJames Brindley ( 1716- 1772) was an English Engineer. He was born in Thornsett, Derbyshire, and lived much of his life in Leek, Staffordshire. Brindley received little formal education and was practically illiterate, this however didn't stop him from beco built the first in 1769Events Baron Wolfgang von Kempelen exhibits the " Mechanical Turk", a chess-playing machine May 14 Charles III of Spain sends Spanish missionaries, who found California missions in San Diego, Santa Barbara, San Francisco and Monterey and begin the settlem
- his design was improved upon by John SmeatonJohn Smeaton ( 8 June 1724 28 October 1792) was a civil engineer indeed, he is often regarded as the 'Father of civil engineering responsible for the design of bridges, canals, harbour and lighthouse. He was also a more than capable mechanical engineer an in 1790Events January 8 George Washington gives the first State of the Union Address. January 30 The first boat specialized as a lifeboat is tested on the River Tyne. February 1 In New York City the Supreme Court of the United States convenes for the first time.
- Thomas TelfordThomas Telford ( August 9, 1757 September 2, 1834) was born in Westerkirk, Scotland. He was a stonemason, architect and civil engineer a noted road-, bridge- and canal- builder. Early career At the age of 14 he was apprenticed to a stonemason, and some of built a more direct, route, in deeper cutings and without locks, in 1829Events January 8 Hanging of body-selling murderer William Burke his associate William Hare, who testified against him, is released January 19 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust premieres March 4 Andrew Jackson succeeds John Quincy Adams as the President o.
Grade I listedIn the United Kingdom the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 requires the government to create lists of buildings that are to be specially protected as part of the national heritage. Buildings on these lists are referred to as lis Galton Bridge spans the canal and railway. When built, it was the longest single-span bridge in the world. Its name commemorates Samuel Galton.
Matthew Boulton and James Watt opened their Soho Foundry. In 1792, William Murdoch's cottage there was the first domestic residence in the world to have artificial lighting. The foundry was later home to weighing scale makers W & T Avery .
The world's oldest working engine, made by Boulton and Watt, the Smethwick Engine originally stood near Bridge Street, Smethwick. It is now at at Millennium Point, in Birmingham.
Other former industry included railway rolling stock manufacture, at the Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company factory; screws and other fastenings from Guest Keen and Nettlefolds, engines and from Tangye , and various products from Chances Glasswork, including lighthouse lenses and the glazing for the Crystal Palace.
The Ruskin Pottery Studio, named in honour of the artist John Ruskin, was in Oldbury Road. Many English churches have stained glass windows made at Hardman Studios in Lightwoods House , or, before that, buy the Camm family.
Former Prime Minster John Major's parents married there while they were on tour with a music hall variety act. Actor Julie Walters and comedian Frank Skinner are both from Smethwick.
In 1966, Smethwick ceased to be a single County Borough and was absorbed into the new County Borough of Warley in Worcestershire.
