Wednesbury in historic gazetteers

Gazetteer of the British Isles (Edinburgh: Bartholomew, 1887). John Bartholomew

Wednesbury, parl. bor., market town, and par., Staffordshire, in SE. of co., 8 miles NW. of Birmingham by rail - parl. bor. (comprising the parishes of Darlaston, Tipton, and Wednesbury), 5621 ac., pop. 68,142; town and par., 2124 ac., pop. 24,566; 3 Banks, 2 newspapers. Market-days, Friday and Saturday. Wednesbury had a castle of 10th century, but the present town is almost wholly modern. It is situated in the South Staffordshire coalfield, and is one of the great iron towns of the Black Country, with mfrs. of railway carriages, steam and water pipes, gun locks, coach springs, hinges, screws, nails, and every kind of wrought-iron work. The ancient church of St Bartholomew crowns the former castle hill at the northern extremity of the town. A free library and public baths were opened in 1878. Wednesbury was made a parliamentary borough in 1867; it returns 1 member; its parliamentary limits were reduced in 1885 by the formation of the new parliamentary borough of West Bromwich.