Stow Heath is an area and ancient manor in the city of Wolverhampton, West Midlands, located in the east half of the city.
| Stow Heath | |
|---|---|
  Stow Heath Location within the West Midlands | |
| Population | 1,381 (Census 2001) |
| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Wolverhampton |
| Postcode district | WV |
| Dialling code | 01902 |
| Police | West Midlands |
| Fire | West Midlands |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
Place name and origins edit
The first known recording of the place name Stowheath was in c.1272 as Stowheth, from Old English stow - place of assembly / holy place and hæth - level, open, uncultivated land,[1] so 'the heath of a place called Stow'.[2]
An Earl Kenwulf of Stowheath was said to have fallen at the Battle of Tettenhall (910).[3] Stowheath was one of the two main royal manors in the Wolverhampton area. It included east Wolverhampton, Bilston and part of Willenhall, and was in the direct ownership of the King. The first lord of Stowheath manor was Robert Burnell in the 13th century, Lord Chancellor of England and Bishop of Bath and Wells.[4]
History edit
It is thought that the original manor house was built in Bilston in 1450, a John De Mollesley being the first incumbent. This building exists to this day, as The Greyhound and Punchbowl Inn pub.[5] A hill or tumulus is said to have existed in Stowheath on the Willenhall road, half a mile south west of Neachells, called Stowman's Hill.[6] Thought at various times to be a boundary marker between Wolverhampton, Willenhall, Bilston and Wednesfield,[7] or a low (burial mound). In Isaac Taylor's map of Wolverhampton (1750), the two manors of Deanery and Stowheath are named. In 1851 the manor was held by the Duke of Sutherland, and TW Gifford, Esq.[8] By the end of the 19th century, almost the whole of Stowheath Manor was held by local family, the Levesons.[9]
Today edit
Most of the area consists of 20th Century housing, including the Stowlawn and East Park estates. Stowlawn Primary School is also in the area, as are the pubs, the 'Happy Wanderer' the 'Cleveland Arms' and 'The Angel Inn'. The Stowheath Lane Kitchens delivered meals service is in Stowheath, next door to the Stowheath Garden Centre.
Demography edit
Almost a quarter of Stowheath's population (21.2%) are of Indian ethnicity, with the majority of the population (65.3%) classed as White British (English with a possible number of Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish). 60.2% of residents class their religion as Christian, followed by 13.4% as Hindu. 10.5% of Stowheath's population have no religion.[10]
References edit
- ^ "Heath Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster".
- ^ Horovitz, David (2005). The Place-Names of Staffordshire. ISBN 0-9550309-0-0.
- ^ Hackwood, Frederick WM (1908). The Annals of Willenhall. Whitehead Bros.
- ^ Upton, Chris (1998). A History of Wolverhampton. Phillimore & Co, Ltd. ISBN 978-1-86077-508-6.
- ^ http://www.staffordshirenewsletter.co.uk/News/The-Greyhound-Punchbowl-saved-for-posterity-by-Butlers.htm Staffordshire Newsletter - The Greyhound and Punchbowl saved for posterity (08/07/2010)
- ^ Plot, Robert (1686). The Natural History of Staffordshire.
- ^ Mander, Gerald P. Wolverhampton Antiquary Vol.II.
- ^ White, William (1851). History, Gazetteer and Directory of Staffordshire.
- ^ http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/history/farley/oldwlv.htm Farley, Keith (1985), Wolverhampton 985 - 1985
- ^ http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/5138E56F-28C8-48EC-85D9-CCAEFBDB587B/0/Stowheath.pdf 2001 Census