Perton

For other uses, seePerton (disambiguation).

Perton
Perton Shopping Centre
Perton Location withinStaffordshire
Population	9,299 (2021)
OS grid reference	SO862993
District	South Staffordshire
Shire county	Staffordshire
Region	West Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Wolverhampton
Postcode district	WV6
Dialling code	01902
Police	Staffordshire
Fire	Staffordshire
Ambulance	West Midlands

Pertonis a large estate andcivil parishlocated in theSouth Staffordshire District,Staffordshire,England. It lies 3 miles to the south ofCodsalland 4 miles west ofWolverhampton,where part of the estate is conjoined to the estate ofTettenhall.The name Perton is derived from 'Pear Town' due to the number of pear trees that once grew there.

Overview

Perton

The only direct road connection between Perton and Wolverhampton is for the use of buses and emergency vehicles only; private vehicles must travel north or south from Perton and use theA41orA454.

The main road in Perton is The Parkway; this name is given to a 2.25 mile long circular road as well as the two spurs which link it to the main road network. At the centre of the estate lies a shopping centre containing aSainsbury'ssupermarket and a number of other shops including a butchers, home and motor store, pharmacy barbers, women's hair salon, vets, Morrisons convenience, building society two charity shops, cafe, chip shop, Indian takeaway, dentist, doctors surgeries, library, as well as aninterdenominationalchurch and Lakeside Community Church meeting in the Civic Centre. Perton has three schools: PertonFirst School,Perton Primary Academy and PertonMiddle School.

Old Perton

Old Perton, also known as Perton Ridge, consists of large houses and a farm; it is located to the south of the modern estate on the road toPattingham,called Pattingham Road.

History

Old Perton

The original Perton lay upon the slopes of Perton ridge down to the Bridgnorth road. 'Perton' derived its name from 'Pear Town' in reference to a particular type of pear which grows in the area. The original manor was owned byEdward the Confessorand then by theAbbot of Westminster.The abbey held Perton manor until 1162 when it was transferred to the monarch who in turn gave it to Lord William Perton.

In 1260 a warren was set up for the rashing of rabbits and the manor was held by John de Perton, heir to William, in return for eight days knightly service to the King of England in his wars against the Welsh.

In 1523 it was sold to James Leveson, a merchant fromWolverhampton,and it eventually passed down toRichard Leveson,a sailor, who served aboard theArk Royalin the English Navy and who fought against theSpanish Armada.He became a commander and in 1596 was knighted after playing a leading role in the Navy's attack onCadiz.After many subsequent attacks against Spain he was appointed Vice Admiral of England in 1604.

Perton once again changed hands when Sir Walter Wrottesley purchased Perton manor fromRichard Sackville, 5th Earl of Dorsetin 1662. It then remained in the Wrottesley family estate along with many farms until it was sold in the 1960s.

New Perton

During World War I, Fern Fields was used as a relief landing ground for No 38 (Home Defence) Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. In the period between the First and Second World Wars the site was used forbarnstorming.On 22 June 1929 a famous aviation barnstormer namedAlan Cobhamwent to Perton trying to persuade local dignitaries that they should all have their own local airfields by making speeches and taking the mayors and officials ofWalsall,Wednesbury,Wolverhampton,andStourbridgefor flights in hisDH-61 Giant Moth(a ten-seater enclosed cabin aeroplane).

Shortly after the start of the second world war construction ofRAF Pertonbegan in the usual RAF triangular pattern, two of 1,100 yards and one of 1,400 yards, using ash fromLower Gornaland stone fromOldburyas a fighter station. However RAF Perton did not become a fighter station and instead served as a relief aerodrome for training pilots of other RAF stations – the Princess Irene Brigade of the Dutch Army trained at RAF Perton and later took part in the liberation of their country.

In 1947 RAF Perton was abandoned and given to the Agricultural Land Commission with the Dutch camp becoming a refuge camp for Polish, Latvians and Lithuanians until 1950 when it was converted to housing and occupied until 1962.

The name Perton now refers to this newer settlement with the old Perton being known as Old Perton or Perton Ridge. The only reminders of Perton's history is a Memorial in honour of all who trained at RAF Perton – many of whom gave their lives during the war – and remnants of air raid shelters which can still be found in the surrounding woodland.

In 1987, there were plans for Wolverhampton council to absorb Perton and a number of nearby villages. However, these plans were highly controversial and ultimately never took place. One Perton councillor claimed that the people of Perton were against such a move as they were "keen to get away from Wolverhampton's bad image".

Churches

Perton has two active Christian churches:

• The Church at Perton[1],which meets at the church in Anders Square in the centre of Perton, and
• Lakeside Community Church Perton[2],which meets at 10.30 am in Perton Civic Centre.

Schools

Perton has three schools. They are:

• Perton First School (Manston Drive)
• Perton Primary Academy (Sandown Drive)
• Perton Middle School (Gainsborough Drive)

When students leave the first schools at the age of nine, the majority of them go on to study at Perton Middle School. However, some parents choose to send their children to schools in surrounding areas, such as Compton and Tettenhall. When the students finish at the middle school at the age of 13, the majority leave to study atCodsall Community High School,in the nearby village of Codsall. Some also venture up the courage in travelling down to Bridgnorth, to attend such schools as Oldbury Wells School and Endowed School, leaving Perton Middle in Year 6, due to the difference in tier systems.

The area around Perton and Codsall is one of the few areas of the country which still uses the three-tier system for schools (i.e. 5–9 first schools, 9–13 middle schools and 13-16/18 secondary schools).

Plans to build a secondary school in Perton during the 1980s never materialised.

Countryside and wildlife

Perton features many walks and areas of countryside.

Paths:

There is a path with a fairly level gradient from Perton centre and the big lake (upper lake) to the little lake (lower lake), which then continues over a hill to Bluebell Wood. The whole route is about 1059 yards (3177'), or 2118 yards (6354') there and back (excluding the two woods).

Bluebell Wood:

Bluebell Wood was developed from a previous wood around an ex-RAF station. It is an internationally important site for bluebells and has a number of paths running through it. It is rumoured that Bluebell Wood is the site of underground WWII bunkers.

There is another large wood across the Parkway [road] from Bluebell Wood, next to The Pear and Partridge.

The remains ofRAF Pertoncan be found in both woods due to the fact Perton was once an airfield.

Other:

There are small woods and grassy areas around the big lake (upper lake) next to Perton Centre.

Perton also has a pavilion located off Gainsborough Drive which has a car park, sports fields and a wood. Dippons Lane and a network of paths connects it to Bluebell Wood and its surrounding area. TheStaffordshire Wayruns within half a mile of Perton.

Flora and fauna

Mammal species found in the area includecommon noctule,Daubenton'sandpipistrellebats, foxes andbadgers.Both Perton lakes are great places to spot three species of bats. Noctules are often seen flying high above the upper lake at dusk, common pipistrelle just after dark, and Daubenton's bats later in the evening catching insects from the water surface.

Birds

These includegreat spotted woodpecker,green woodpecker,treecreeeper,nuthatch,fivetitspecies,sparrowhawk,buzzardand many finches includingchaffinch,greenfinch,goldfinchandbullfinch.In winter large flocks of goldfinches andsiskinscan be found around the village and in the surrounding countryside there areredwingandfieldfare.The woodlands contain many fine trees including oaks and ash. In the springlesser celandinecan in found in great profusion along the Penk and other damp places. In autumn a wide variety of fungi can be found includingpuffballs,King Alfred's cakesandcollared earthstars.

The two lakes and the area along the river Penk can holdmallard,tufted duck,mute swan,Canada goose,coot,moorhen,grey wagtail,grey heronandkingfisher.In addition occasional visits frompochard,great crested grebe,reed buntingandwater railexcite local birdwatchers.

Insects

During the summer months damselflies and dragonflies are present, whilst in the spring and summer butterflies includespeckled wood butterfly,meadow brown,ringlet,gatekeeper,orange tipand occasionallybrimstone.

Surrounding area

Baggeridge Country Park,Bratch Locks,Highgate Common,Himley HallandWombournewith itsrailway walksandWom Brook Walkare all within South Staffordshire and only up to 20-minute driving distance from Perton.

Notable people

Apart from the members of the aristocracy mentioned in theHistorysection above

• Cyril Sidlow(1915 – 2005 in Perton) a Welsh football goalkeeper, played for several clubs, includingWolves.
• Neil Cutler(born 1976 in Perton) a former football goalkeeper who made 207 pro appearances, now goalkeeping coach atAston Villa F.C.

See also

• Listed buildings in Perton

External links

• Map on Streetmap.co.uk
• Perton Multi Media News Channel
• Perton Parish Council
• Perton First School
• Perton Primary Academy
• Perton Middle School
• Codsall Community High School
• The Church At Perton
• Lakeside Community Church
• Perton and Codsall United FC website
• Wild about Perton website