Wombourne

Infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Wombourne
static_

static_image_caption=Wombourne Civic Offices
latitude= 52.530223
longitude= -2.185692
population = 13,691 (2001 Census)
shire_district= South Staffordshire
region= West Midlands
shire_county = Staffordshire
constituency_westminster=
post_town= Wolverhampton
postcode_district = WV5
postcode_area= WV
dial_code= 01902
os_grid_reference= SO873928

Wombourne (previously spelt Wombourn until around the early 20th Century) is a very large village (sometimes claimed to be the largest village in England) and civil parish located in the district of South Staffordshire, in the county of Staffordshire, 6km (4 miles) south-west of Wolverhampton. Local affairs are run by a parish council. At the 2001 census it had a population of 13,691. It is just outside the West Midlands metropolitan county, and only narrowly outside the West Midlands conurbation, so it is an urban fringe.

Amenities

Wombourne has become a popular place to live and many new houses have been built in recent years. The most notable new development being the Bratch Meadows Estate.The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal runs north-south through the western side of the village and [http://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=13246 Bratch Locks] are located just to the north. Another popular local spot is the South Staffordshire Railway Walk which follows the path of a now disused railway which was in use in the 1950's and 60's mainly as a goods railway, but also as a passenger line for a few years. Wombourne village green, which resembles an archetypal picturesque 'English Village' as it is in the centre of the village adjacent to the church, regularly plays host to local cricket matches.

chools

Parents can send their children to any of four primary schools and one special school in the village:

* [http://www.blakeleyheath.staffs.sch.uk Blakeley Heath Primary School] (Sytch Lane)
* [http://www.st-benedictbiscop.staffs.sch.uk St Benedict Biscop C.E. Primary School] (School Road)
* [http://www.st-bernadettes.staffs.sch.uk St Bernadette's RC Primary School] (Lindale Drive)
* [http://www.westfield.staffs.sch.uk Westfield Primary School] (Ounsdale Road)
* [http://www.axcis.co.uk/21585.html Cherry Trees Special School] (Giggety Lane)

Wombourne also has one large comprehensive school:

*Ounsdale High School (Ounsdale Road)

Politics

Wombourne's Member of Parliament is Sir Patrick Cormack representing the Conservative Party.

Churches

Wombourne is home to several Christian churches of varying denominations.

* [http://www.stbenedictbiscop.org.uk St Benedict Biscop] situated in Church Road
* [http://www.stbenedictbiscop.org.uk Venerable Bede] situated in Giggetty Lane

Transport

National Express West Midlands bus routes 254, 255 and 256 serve Wombourne along with Staffordshire CC sponsored route 584 (operated by Choice Travel. There used to be a rail line but this closed in 1907. Also this area is near the main A449 road.

Around Wombourne

Sainsbury's supermarket bid has been accepted to create the village's first supermarket. They beat Tesco who was also trying to create the supermarket just yards from sainsburys. However Tesco is refusing to give up trying and is still trying to submit plans.

Local sports pub the Pool Bar is in talks over a sponsorship deal with the local cricket club. The Pool Bar is set to use its new found celebrtiy status, after being the local pub to celebrities such as Mark Rhodes and Nick Smith.

Guy Sharpe, head of boxing promotions firm SharpeShooter Entertainment has been sighted in and around Wombourne on several occasions.

Wombourne has recently elected its first mayor, notorious homosexual Labour party contender Ben Woodall was voted in with his right hand man and partner Andrew Roberts as head of transport. Fans favourite Nick Chalmers lost out to Woodall in a tightly fought battle.

Further reading

* May Griffiths. "Around Pattingham & Wombourne in Old Photographs". 1992
* May Griffiths. "Wombourne What Was". 1990

External links

* [http://www.wombourne.net Wombourne.net] Local Website for Wombourne
* [http://www.ounsdale.staffs.sch.uk Ounsdale High School Official Website]
* [http://www.blakeleyheath.staffs.sch.uk Blakeley Heath Primary School]
* [http://www.stbenedictbiscop.org.uk St Benedict Biscop] Churches of St Benedict Biscop & the Venerable Bede
* [http://www.st-benedictbiscop.staffs.sch.uk St Benedict Biscop C.E. Primary School]
* [http://www.wombrookblog.co.uk Wom Brook Blog] Friends of Wom Brook weblog
* [http://www.dynamike.net/thebratch/index.htm Friends of the Bratch]
* [http://www.wombournecarnival.co.uk Wombourne Carnival]
* [http://www.staffordshire.police.uk/wombourne.htm Wombourne LPU]