Handsworth(grid referenceSP035905) is an inner-city area ofBirminghamin the county of theWest Midlands,England. Historically inStaffordshire,Handsworth lies just outsideBirmingham City Centreand near the town ofSmethwick.In 2021 the ward had a population of 11,820.
| Handsworth | |
|---|---|
 Soho Road | |
  Handsworth Location within theWest Midlands | |
| Population | 11,820 (2021 census)[1] |
| Language | English |
| OS grid reference | SP 040 896 |
| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BIRMINGHAM |
| Postcode district | B20/B21 |
| Dialling code | 0121 |
History
edit
The nameHandsworthoriginates from itsSaxonowner Hondes and theOld Englishwordweorthing,meaning farm or estate. It was recorded in theDomesday Surveyof 1086, as a holding ofWilliam Fitz-Ansculf,the Lord of Dudley, although at that time it would only have been a very small village surrounded by farmland and extensive woodland. One of the oldest buildings in Handsworth is theOld Town Hallwhich dates from 1460.[2]
Historically in the county ofStaffordshire,[3]it remained a small village from the 13th century to the 18th century. Accommodation was built for factory workers, the village quickly grew, and in 1851, more than 6,000 people were living in the township. In that year, work began to buildSt James' Church.LaterSt Michael's Churchwas built as a daughter church to St James'. In thecensus of 1881,the town was recorded as having approx. 32,000 residents. By the census of 1911, this had more than doubled to 68,610. TheCouncil House,in Soho Road, now used as a public library and college campus, was completed in 1879.[4]
The development of the built environment was sporadic and many of Handsworth's streets display a mixture of architectural types and periods – among them some of the finest Victorian buildings in the city. Handsworth has twogrammar schools–Handsworth Grammar SchoolandKing Edward VI Handsworth School(for girls).St Andrew's Churchis a listed building in Oxhill Road which also held Sunday school classes in a small building on the corner of Oxhill Road and Church Lane. It also containsHandsworth Park,which in 2006 underwent a major restoration, the vibrant shopping area of Soho Road andSt. Mary's Churchcontaining the remains of the founders of theIndustrial Revolution- Watt, Murdoch and Boulton. The 1901Red Lionpublic house wasgrade II* listedin 1985, but has been empty since 2008 and is considered "at risk".[5]
In 1894 Handsworth became anurban district,on 9 November 1911 the urban district was abolished and merged with theCounty Borough of Birmingham[6]and Handsworth parish was transferred from Staffordshire toWarwickshire.[3]In 1921 thecivil parishhad a population of 75,145.[7]On 1 October 1930 the parish was abolished and merged with Birmingham.[8]
Birmingham historian Dr.Carl Chinnnoted that during theSecond World Warthe boundary between Handsworth and the outlying suburb ofHandsworth Woodmarked the line between being safe and unsafe from bombing, with Handsworth Wood being an official evacuation zone, despite being at least ten miles away from any countryside that might now qualify as "green belt" land, and being on the periphery of many "high risk" areas.[9]During the Second World War,West Indianshad arrived as part of thecolonialwar effort, where they worked in Birminghammunitionsfactories. In thepost-warperiod, a rebuilding programme required much unskilled labour and Birmingham'sindustrialbase expanded, significantly increasing the demand for both skilled and unskilled workers. During this time, there was direct recruitment for workers from theCaribbeanand the area became a centre for Birmingham'sAfro-Caribbean community.
A tram depot was erected near Birmingham Road, next to the border withWest Bromwich,during the 1880s, and remained in use until the tram service ended in 1939. Although it has since been demolished, a replica of the depot was created later in the 20th century at theBlack Country Living MuseuminDudley.[10]
Boulton and Watt
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Matthew Boulton'sSoho Manufactorywas set up on the northern edge of Handsworth, on Handsworth Heath. It operated from 1766 to 1848, and was demolished in 1863. Boulton commissionedSamuel Wyattto design his nearby houseSoho House,which is now a museum.
In 1790,Heathfield Hall,also designed by Wyatt, was built for Boulton's business partner, the engineerJames Watt.Watt died in the house in 1819, and was buried at nearbySt Mary's Church.In the 1880s engineerGeorge Tangyebought the hall and lived there until his death in 1920. From 1927 the hall was demolished and the lands redeveloped.[11][12]What was the Heathfield Estate is now the land that comprises West Drive and North Drive. Watt's workshop from the house was dismantled and rebuilt in theScience Museum,London.
Civil unrest, social issues and community
editAriot occurred in 1981,during which similar riots took place inBrixton(London),Chapeltown(Leeds), andToxteth(Liverpool). The 'sus' law (Vagrancy Act 1824) saw black youths being disproportionately stopped, searched and arrested by the police, on the grounds of mere 'suspicion' of possible illegal activity; this, along with high unemployment and social alienation, was a key element of the backdrop to the 1981 riots. The subsequentScarman report(1981) concluded that the riots were "essentially an outburst of anger and resentment by young black people against the police". A similar social backdrop of tensions and hostility towards the police existed during the rioting of September 1985 (which lasted for two days, beginning in Lozells Road, Lozells, and spreading into Handsworth) to which this unrest was ascribed.
After the 1985 riots and a change in perception of British sub-urban integration, community relations were reviewed. Local government worked to improve community relations as a way of managing both racial and cultural differences. Encouragement was provided by arts organisations such as West Midlands Ethnic Minority Arts Service; its director,Pogus Caesar,photographed the riots, andBlack Audio Film Collectiveproduced the 1986 filmHandsworth Songs.
There was further unrest in 1991 and 2005; with a fatality occurring during the 2005 riot.[13]The2011 England riotsalso spread to the Handsworth area.
The Guardian's online article "Riots don't happen without a reason" (August 2011) seeks to explore the context and histories of these inner-city riots, since the 1980s; emphasising the need for improvements in the relationship between the community and the police.[14]
In the 2010s neighbourhood schemes and developments have helped to improve the area. Businesses in the area, particularly on Soho Road have contributed towards schemes in partnership with council. Soho Road, Holyhead Road & Soho Hill is within a Business Improvement District (BID) area.
A number of initiatives promoting community cohesion exist within this multicultural community. TheHandsworth Community Choirboasts a blend of singers from the area.[15]TheHandsworth Park Community Gardenopened in July 2017. The community website ‘Inside Handsworth’, shares community news, events and stories.
Musical legacy
editHandsworth has produced some notable popular musical acts:Steel Pulse(whose firststudio albumHandsworth Revolutionis named after the area),Joan Armatrading,Pato Banton,Benjamin Zephaniah,Swami,Apache Indian,Ruby TurnerandBhangragroupB21.In addition, hard rock bandBlack Sabbath's lead guitarist and songwriterTony Iommi,Steve Winwood,pop singerJameliaandprogressive rockdrummerCarl Palmerwere born in Handsworth.
ThetenorWebster Boothwas born in Handsworth in 1902, and began his singing career as a child chorister at the local parish church ofSt. Mary's.Together with his duettist wifeAnne Ziegler,he became a mainstay ofWest End musicalsandWorld War IImusical films. ABBCShowbiz Hall of Fame article described him as "possessing one of the finest English tenor voices of the twentieth century."[16]
Events
editHandsworth Parkhas hosted numerous events: TheBirmingham Tattoo,TheBirmingham Festival(both originally called Handsworth- rather than Birmingham). TheHandsworth Carnivalgrew out of the Flower Show and Carnival; Caribbean-style carnivals began in Handsworth Park, in 1984, with a street procession via Holyhead Road. In 1994 the carnival was held in Handsworth Park for the last time. The following year it was moved from the park out onto the streets of Handsworth, since which time it has been known as theBirmingham International Carnival.In 1999, it was again held in a park, but this time inPerry Park.
Education
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Among education providers is the Rookery School, a 100-year-old mixed state primary school, still housed largely in its original buildings.[17][18]These were opened in 1899[19]to the designs of the architectEdward Holmes.
Secondary schools includeHandsworth Wood Girls' Academy,Holyhead School,St John Wall Catholic School,also, selective state schools such asKing Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for BoysandKing Edward VI Handsworth School(girls).
Notable people
edit- Joan Armatrading(born 1950), singer-songwriter and musician, grew up in the Brookfields area, now part of Handsworth. She attended Canterbury Cross School
- Francis Asbury,born in Handsworth, bishop of theMethodist Episcopal Church[20]
- Pato Banton,reggae singer
- Henry Barber,Birmingham businessman whose bequest founded theBarber Institute of Fine Arts
- Matthew Boulton(1728–1809), lived inSoho House,buried at St Mary's Church
- Harry Samuel Bickerton Brindley,engineer and businessman
- Ian Emes,animator and film director
- Roy Fisher(1930-2017), poet and jazz pianist
- Bert Freeman(1885–1955), England international footballer was born in Handsworth
- Kash Gill,retired British professional kickboxer and former four-time world champion
- Anne Heywood(1931-2023), actress prolific in films and TV, was born in Handsworth
- David Hinds(born 1956), lead singer of reggae groupSteel Pulse,grew up in Handsworth
- Mr Hudson,singer
- Apache Indian,dancehall artist
- Tony Iommi,guitarist and founding member ofheavy metalbandBlack Sabbath,was born in Handsworth[21]
- Jamelia(born 1981), singer-songwriter
- Bunny Johnson,former British Heavyweight boxing champion
- Bitty McLean,reggae singer
- M1llionz(born 1998), rapper
- Darren Moore,footballer
- Jimmy Moore,England international footballer was born in Handsworth
- Bill Morrismigrated to Handsworth from Jamaica. He later led the TGWU and after retirement was enabled as Baron Morris of Handsworth.
- William Murdoch(1754–1839), inventor, developed the use ofcoal gasfor illumination and a pioneer in the development of steam-power.
- Carl Palmer(born 1950) drummer and percussionist. with bands includingThe Crazy World of Arthur Brown,Atomic Rooster,Emerson, Lake & Palmer,andAsia.
- George Ramsay(1855–1926), Secretary/Manager ofAston Villain the most successful period of the club's history. Buried at St Mary's Church
- Tommy Roberts,professional footballer
- Malkit Singh,Punjabi folk singer
- Daniel Sturridge,professional footballer, attended St Mary's C of E Primary School
- John and Joan Taylor, founders ofGrosvenor Road Studios
- Albert Toft,sculptor
- Ruby Turner(born 1968), soul and R&B singer
- James Watt(1736-1819), inventor and mechanical engineer, buried atSt Mary's Church
- Caroline Watts(1868–1919), painter and illustrator
- Steve Winwood(born 1948), rock musician
- Benjamin Zephaniah(1958-2023), poet and writer, grew up in Handsworth
Transport
editTheBirmingham Canal Navigations Main Line Canal[22]passes through the area, as does the formerLondon, Midland & Scottish Railwaymain line between Birmingham andWolverhampton.TheWest Midlands Metrohas a stop atHandsworth Booth Street.The area is also served byNational Express West Midlandsbus services 11A, 11C, 16, 74 & 101.
References
edit- ^"Handsworth (Ward, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location".www.citypopulation.de.
- ^"Handsworth Old Town Hall".Birmingham Heritage Forum.Retrieved30 April2024.
- ^ab"The Parish Boundaries of Handsworth".Handsworth Historical Society. Archived fromthe originalon 15 September 2013.Retrieved3 September2013.
- ^Historic England."Public Library, Handsworth Council House and Job Preparation Unit (1221174)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved30 April2024.
- ^"Pubs in Peril".Historic Pub Interiors.Campaign for Real Ale.Retrieved21 December2015.
- ^"Relationships and changes Handsworth UD through time".A Vision of Britain through Time.Retrieved2 October2024.
- ^"Population statistics Handsworth CP/AP through time".A Vision of Britain through Time.Retrieved2 October2024.
- ^"Relationships and changes Handsworth CP/AP through time".A Vision of Britain through Time.Retrieved2 October2024.
- ^Carl Chinn,Brum Undaunted: Birmingham During the Blitz(1996), Birmingham Library Services
- ^"Tram depot - Black Country Living Museum - Britain's friendliest open air museum".Bclm.co.uk. Archived fromthe originalon 11 August 2010.Retrieved29 July2012.
- ^Everitt, Allen Edward."Heathfield Hall, Handsworth".Birmingham Reference Library.Retrieved5 June2010.
- ^"George Tangye".Retrieved5 June2010.
- ^Muir, Hugh; Butt, Riazat (24 October 2005)."A rumour, outrage and then a riot. How tension in a Birmingham suburb erupted".The Guardian.Retrieved12 December2012.
- ^"Riots don't happen without a reason | Kieran Connell".The Guardian.10 August 2011.
- ^"Home".Tonia Clark.
- ^"Anne Ziegler and Webster Booth".Showbiz Hall of Fame.BBC.Retrieved9 December2009.
- ^"Rookery School".Archived fromthe originalon 1 January 2010.
- ^Ofsted details for unique reference number 132138
- ^"New Board Schools for Handsworth".Birmingham Daily Post.England. 5 September 1899.Retrieved11 June2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896.Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.
- ^Iommi, Tony(8 November 2012). "Chapter 1: The birth of a Cub".Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath.Simon & Schuster Ltd.ISBN978-1849833219.
- ^"Waterway Gazetteer for Birmingham Canal Navigations (Old Main Line) – CanalPlanAC".Canalplan.org.uk. 31 December 2013.Retrieved7 January2014.
- Simon Baddeley (1997),The Founding of Handsworth Park 1882-1898,Birmingham University
- Carl Chinn(1996),Brum Undaunted: Birmingham During the Blitz,Birmingham Library Services
- Peter Drake (1998),Handsworth, Hockley, & Handsworth Wood,Tempus, Stroud, Glos.
- Allen E. Everitt (1876),Handsworth Church and its Surroundings,E.C. Osborne, Birmingham
- Frederick William Hackwood (1908),Handsworth: Old & New: A History of Birmingham's Staffordshire Suburb(re-published: A & B Books, Warley, West Midlands)
- John Morris Jones (1980),The Manor of Handsworth: An Introduction to its Historical Geography,with amendments by "Friends of Handsworth Old Town Hall", 1969. Handsworth Historical Society
- Handsworth General Purposes & other Committees -Minute Book 1880A,Handsworth Local Sanitary Board, Birmingham City Council, Central Library Archives (ref: BCH/AD 1/1/1)
- Handsworth & Birmingham newspaper cuttings collected and arranged by G. H. Osborne between approx. 1870 and 1900, Birmingham City Council, Central Library Archive (ref: L.f30.3)
- Victor J. Price (1992),Handsworth Remembered,Studley: Brewin Books
- Lord Scarman (1981), Scarman Inquiry into the Brixton Riots, April 1981: Lord Scarman's report
External links
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