Highley

Highley
Severn Centre
Highley Location withinShropshire
Population	3,605 (2011)
OS grid reference	SO741834
Civil parish	Highley
Unitary authority	Shropshire
Ceremonial county	Shropshire
Region	West Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BRIDGNORTH
Postcode district	WV16
Dialling code	01746
Police	West Mercia
Fire	Shropshire
Ambulance	West Midlands
UK Parliament	Ludlow

Highleyis a large village inShropshire,England,on the west bank of theRiver Severnand 7 miles south east ofBridgnorth,the closest cities beingWolverhamptonandBirmingham.

History

Highley began as a rural farming community, including an entry in theDomesday Book,later becoming a significant area for stone quarrying which provided some of the stone forWorcester Cathedral.Coal mining began in the area in theMiddle Ages,but in the late 19th century the village was revolutionised by coal mining with large-scale operations beginning in 1878. A period of intense housebuilding also followed, giving Highley its distinctive red-brick terraced miners' houses. In the 1930s, the mine was extended to the neighbouring village ofAlveleyacross the River Severn and a tunnel and bridge constructed between the two. There are also historical bridging points at Bridgnorth to the north andBewdleyto the south, and inHampton Loadea private bridge used by the emergency services.

The mine closed in 1969 due to subsidence and waterlogging. The bridge remained open to bridleway traffic only, due to subsidence from the steep valley sides. The mine area on the Alveley (east) side was converted into an industrial estate as coal mining ceased, and subsequently landscaped into theSevern Valley Country Parkin the late 1980s. Initially this was as an exercise to use trees to shore up the coal spoils, and later as a tourist destination which now includes public artwork and a sculpture trail, the Seam Pavement Trail.

The trail is a series of seven bronze plaques depicting Highley's past and incorporates the designs ofWest Midlandsartist Saranjit Birdi. He included many miner's nicknames into the artwork, gleaned from archive information and research within the local community. Nicknames of the miners, such as Dick the Devil, Joyful Clappers, Cider Biscuit, Flaming Heck and others, are incorporated into the work. Birdi calls it "a seam through time", echoing the skilfully mined coal seams being laid down and later extracted over time. One plaque, Plough and Lady, depicts LadyGodiva,who owned Highley Manor in the 11th century. Birdi is also responsible for another sculpture, A Song of Steam, atHighley station.

In 2000, the bridge was declared unsafe and a new footbridge constructed (completed 2006).

Highley was the village where 17-year-old murder victimLesley Whittlelived, and from which she wasabductedbyDonald Neilson,the Black Panther, in 1975. Lesley, the daughter of coach firm owner George Whittle (1905–1970), was taken from her home on 13 January 1975 and found dead on an underground ledge beneathBathpool ParknearKidsgrove,Staffordshire, on 7 March that year. Neilson was found guilty of murdering Lesley Whittle and three other people (as well as wounding aDudleysecurity guard, who later died having never fully recovered from his injuries) at his trial in the summer of 1976, and sentenced tolife imprisonment.

Further information on the New England former village historic site:New England Countryside Sites

Transport

Highley has two stops on theSevern Valley Railway,at Highley Station and Country Park Halt.

The main railway stop is a substantial sandstone Victorian railway station. The station is also home to a museum of village life, housed within a vintage post office sorting carriage and home of the Engine Shed which houses a collection of heritage locomotives, a gift shop and a café. Down a small flight of steps from Highley railway station is the Ship Inn Public House, and from there a public footpath leads back to the Country Park and to theSevern Waywaymarked walk.

The other stop is an unmanned request halt near the bridge for the Country Park. Passengers wishing to board the train at the halt stop the train by holding out their hand, as if hailing a bus, and those wishing to alight are advised to speak to the guard of the train before it leaves the previous station.

There is also bus service through the village, operated byDiamond West Midlands.The 125[1]bus service operates Mondays to Saturdays, fromBridgnorthtoStourbridge.

In January 2020 it was reported that the GP surgery in the village was having trouble recruiting locum doctors because of potholes on the way in to the surgery on Bridgnorth Road.In November 2022 the current providers of NHS services to the community at Highley Medical Centre announced they would be ending their contract there in March 2023, consultation is currently ongoing to secure new providers at the location.

Culture and community

Highley houses the Severn Centre, a sports and leisure complex complete with heatedlido(open-air swimming pool) that also includes the local library, football ground and cricket pitch. (Latter frequently used to exercise dogs despite dogs being banned.) There is also aCountry Park,the sculpture trail plus several restaurants and pubs. A Steam Heritage Centre has been proposed.

Highley Colliery Brass Band

The Highley Colliery Brass Band is a localbrass bandwhich existed from the turn of the 19th Century until the closure of thecollieryin 1969. It reformed in 1993 when a handful of brass band musicians met at the Bache Public House in Highley.The band adopted regular rehearsals, meeting every Wednesday and Sunday night at the Bache Arms. Member numbers grew, and under the baton of Ray Millichamp the Band began performances under the name of Highley Band. In 2000 to coincide with the new uniform, the band adopted the now familiar Pit Head Wheel emblem and renamed the band to Highley Colliery Band, to reflect the mining heritage of its home village.

The band sees itself as a social group as well as a musical organisation. The band has members of all ages, young and old. The younger members especially are encouraged to take their music grades, and endeavours to enhance every player's musical ability and enjoyment. The band performs at fetes, parks and concerts throughout the country. The band used to rehearse at the Castle Inn until it closed every Wednesday and Sunday.

Notable people

• Aubrey Scriven(1904 in Highley – c.1988) an English professional footballer, he made over 200 pro appearances forBirmingham,Bradford CityandBristol City
• Gerry Hitchens(1934–1983), footballer, notably forAston VillaandEngland international,was miner at Highley colliery
• Stan Jones(born 1938) footballer, mainlyWalsallandWBA
• Colin Hemsley(born 1949 in Highley) an English former cricketer, he played forShropshire
• David Tristram(born 1957) an English comic playwright, he lives in Highley
• Mark Humphries(born 1965 in Highley) a former English cricketer, he played forStaffordshire

See also

• Listed buildings in Highley

External links

• Highley Colliery Band Site
• Highley Village Site
• Village website
• The Severn Centre
• The Engine House
• Highley Station Site
• Highley RFCArchived2 September 2017 at theWayback Machine