Wednesbury is situated in Sandwell. It is close
to Walsall and has easy access to the Black Country
route and the main road network. This part of
the Black Country is well known for its engineering
history and its contribution to the Industrial
revolution. There have been settlements at Wednesbury
for hundreds of years and it is one of the oldest
areas in Sandwell. The first mention of Wednesbury was recorded
at the time of the Anglo Saxon invasions. Wodnesbyri is the first known spelling
and is also found in the Domesday book as Wadnesberie. Woden was the Saxon God of
War and the word beorg means fort.
Wednesbury became an important fortification in the Kingdom of Mercia. It is known to have achieved independence from the Anglo Saxon kingdoms in A.D. 625.
Records show that two battles were fought with Danish invaders in A.D. 910 at Tettenhall near Wolverhampton and at Wednesfield. A series of fortifications were built by Ethelfleda, the daughter of Alfred the Great and Lady of Mercia to provide more adequate defence against this incursions.
The Domesday Book of 1086 details the following extract about Wednesbury:
"The King retains Wadnesberie with the appurtenances". Wednesbury at that time included Bloxwich and Shelfield near Walsall. During the reign of Henry II, the Manor of Wednesbury passed from Crown ownership to a Simon de Heronville.
Mediaeval Wednesbury was very small, and its inhabitants would appear to have been farmers and farm workers. However, in 1315 coal had already been discovered and was being worked. Nail making was also in progress during these times.
William Paget was born in Wednesbury in 1505, the son of a nail maker. He is noted as having risen to the position of Secretary of State, a Knight of the Garter and an Ambassador. He was one of executors of the will of Henry VIII.
Wednesbury suffered during the Civil War during to rivalry between various factions. In 1744 records show
that John Wesley was assaulted during the Shrove-tide riots of that year. This was a historic event in the history of Wesleyanism. John Wesley was the 18th century evangelist and often preached in the High Bullen area.
