Sandwell
Explore hidden histories, historic photos, and things you never knew about Sandwell from the collections and archives of Historic England.
Discover your local listed buildings and places
Introducing some of Sandwell's most historic sites, included in the National Heritage List for England. Some of these captions have been summarised by AI. Click through for the official List entry.
Dartmouth Park
West Bromwich
Dartmouth Park, designed by John Maclean in 1876, features historical elements like a war memorial and bandstand, proximally located to West Bromwich's town centre.
The Boat Gauging House, Tipton Canal Basin (Off Factory R…
Tipton
A boat gauging house built in 1873 for the Birmingham Navigation Company. Read the official list entry to find out more.
The Wernley
Oldbury
A public house in the Jacobean revival style, built 1933-4, by Edwin F. Reynolds of Wood, Kendrick and Reynolds for Mitchells and Butler Ltd. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Victoria Park, Tipton
Tipton
Victoria Park in Tipton, designed by William Barron and Sons, opened in 1901 featuring a lake, cricket ground, and historic structures, reflecting its late 19th-century public park heritage.
Church of St Martin and St Paul
Tipton
A church of 1837-38, designed in a Commissioners' Gothic style by Robert Ebbles. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Horse and Jockey
Wednesbury
Public house, formerly hotel, 1899, by Wood and Kendrick for Mitchells and Butlers. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Clock Tower in Wednesbury Market Place
Wednesbury
A clock tower built in 1911 to commemorate the coronation of George V to designs by Charles William Davies Joynson (1862-1943). Read the official list entry to find out more.
Church of St Peter
West Bromwich
A parish church, built in 1857-8 to the designs of Thomas Johnson of Lichfield, with some late-C20 restoration following an arson attack in 1966.
Oldbury Cenotaph
Oldbury
First World War memorial, unveiled 1926, with later additions for the Second World War. Read the official list entry to find out more.
The Navigation
Oldbury
A road and canal side public house, in the Tudor-Revival style, built in 1931 by Percy J. Clark of Scott & Clark. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Oak House
West Bromwich
A house built around the year 1600. Read the official list entry to find out more.
War memorial outside St Giles' Church, Rowley Regis
Rowley Regis
First World War memorial, 1920. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Bearwood War Memorial
Birmingham
War memorial erected in 1922. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady and St Hubert
Oldbury
A Roman Catholic parish church, 1934. Designed by George Drysdale in an Early-Christian basilican style and built by Whittall & Son of Birmingham.
Langley War Memorial
Oldbury
First World War memorial, 1924. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Rood End War Memorial
Oldbury
First World War memorial, 1921. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Tipton War Memorial
Tipton
A borough war memorial, sited in Victoria Park, of c1921. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel and St …
Smethwick
A Roman Catholic parish church, 1933-4. Designed by Philip Chatwin in the neo-Georgian style and built by Maddox & Walford of Gravelly Hill.
Guest Keen and Nettlefolds (GKN) War Memorial
Smethwick
War memorial. Unveiled 1924, to the designs of the architects Messrs Osborn, Pemberton and White and sculptor Albert Toft. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Gatehouse and Adjoining Office Buildings at Soho Foundry
Smethwick
A gatehouse and office building designed by Buckland and Heywood for the Avery Company and built in 1925.
Sandwell through time
This timeline shows the first period of use for buildings and places on the National Heritage List for England, just one of the details recorded for every list entry. Click around to see how Sandwell changes over time.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Aerial photos of Sandwell
Aerial photography helps reveal secrets of England's changing landscapes that are impossible to see from the ground.
Smethwick
The W. and T. Avery Ltd Soho Foundry, Smethwick, 1936
Soho
The Mond Nickel Co Ltd Works and environs at Merry Hill, Soho, 1947
Smethwick
The Kingston Metal Works and adjacent industrial works, Smethwick, 1934
Smethwick
The Incandescent Heat Company Works on Cornwall Road and adjacent factories, Smethwick, 1948
Smethwick
The Chance Brothers Glassworks and environs, Smethwick, 1936
Smethwick
The Chance Brothers and Co Glass Works, Smethwick, 1949
Cradley Heath
The Crown Engineering Works, Cradley Heath, 1952
Cradley Heath
The Crown Engineering Works, Cradley Heath, 1952
Blackheath
The town, Blackheath, 1939
Blackheath
The Hayes Works (Spades, Shovels & Forks), High Street and environs, Blackheath, 1948
Sandwell in the Historic England Archive
The Historic England Archive cares for over 15 million images, dating from the 1850s to the present day. Discover stunning images of Sandwell's past.
Eric de Mare
Langley, Oldbury, Sandwell
Date created: 1956
General view of the Langley Maltings looking across the canal.
John Laing Collection
Smethwick, Sandwell
Date created: Aug 1964
A photographic reproduction of a design drawing of Bearwood House, a multi-storey block of 'Sectra' flats in Smethwick
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Tipton, Sandwell
Date created: 1900 - 1920
GENERAL VIEW LOOKING TOWARDS THE LAKE
Eric de Mare
Langley, Oldbury, Sandwell
Date created: 1956
General view of Langley Maltings looking across the canal towards the kilns.
John Laing Collection
Smethwick, Sandwell
Date created: 18 May 1966
Looking up at Bearwood House, a multi-storey block of 'Sectra' flats
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Smethwick, Sandwell
Date created: 1900 - 1930
GENERAL VIEW SHOWING FIGURE ON BRIDGE BESIDE OLD THIMBLE MILL POOL
John Laing Collection
Smethwick, Sandwell
Date created: 18 May 1966
A view of Bearwood House, a multi-storey block of 'Sectra' flats, from the south-west
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Smethwick, Sandwell
Date created: 1900 - 1920
GENERAL VIEW OF THE FOUNTAIN
John Laing Collection
Smethwick, Sandwell
Date created: 02 Feb 1966
A young woman sitting in the lounge-diner of a flat at Bearwood House, waving to a friend outside
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Smethwick, Sandwell
Date created: 1904 - 1909
GENERAL VIEW ACROSS THE LAKE TOWARDS THE HOUSE
John Laing Collection
Smethwick, Sandwell
Date created: probably 1966
A view of Bearwood House, a multi-storey block of 'Sectra' flats, from the east
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Warley Woods, Smethwick, Sandwell
Date created: 1900 - 1930
VIEW SHOWING THE OLD TEMPLE
Stories about heritage in your local area
Historic England publishes news, blogs, research, videos, and podcasts celebrating England's rich heritage. Discover the stories we have about Sandwell.
5 Art Nouveau Buildings in England
Mentions Horse and Jockey
Explore some of England’s beautiful Art Nouveau buildings featuring flowing lines and floral designs.
New Funding to Celebrate Rural and Coastal Working-Class Heritage
Mentions Sandwell
Historic England is funding new projects to explore untold stories and celebrate the people and places at the heart of our history.
Research Reports Roundup May 2023
Mentions Sandwell
An overview of additions to our Research Reports Database in February to May 2023.
Captivating Sites Across England Listed During 2020
Mentions Horse and Jockey
Highlights from over 400 historic places which have been added to the National Heritage List for England in 2020.
Sandwell's social history through photos
Over 10,000 images from the Historic England Archive have been specially selected and re-captioned for teachers, students, and anyone who wants to learn more about their local area.
The Old Hall, Sandwell, West Midlands
Period: Medieval (Middle Ages) (1066 - 1484)
A Manor house built c1300 with 15th and 16th century additions and alterations.
The Old Hall, Sandwell, West Midlands
Smethwick new Pumping House, Smethwick, West Midlands
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
This pumping house replaced two earlier pumping stations on the Engine Arm of the Birmingham Canal. It was built in 1892.
Smethwick new Pumping House, Smethwick, West Midlands
Sewage Works, Dudley, West Midlands
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
This seemingly rather small sewage treatment works was constructed in 1895.
Sewage Works, Dudley, West Midlands
Pumping Engine House, Oldbury, West Midlands
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
This Pumping Engine house was built shortly after Oldbury Locks were opened in 1837.
Pumping Engine House, Oldbury, West Midlands
Oak House, Sandwell, West Midlands
Period: Tudor (1485 - 1602)
Oak House (now a museum) was built in the late 1500s, with the west wing said to be added c1600.
Oak House, Sandwell, West Midlands
Congreaves Brickworks, Cradley Heath, Oldbury, West Midlands
Period: Edwardian (1902 - 1913)
One of three early 20th-century beehive kilns at Congreaves Brickworks which were demolished in the 1980s.
Congreaves Brickworks, Cradley Heath, Oldbury, West Midlands
Chance's Glassworks, Machine Workshop, Spon Lane South, Smethwick, West Midlands
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
An interior view of a large workshop at the Chance Brothers' glass works, showing workers at various types of machinery used in the glassmaking and...
Chance's Glassworks, Machine Workshop, Spon Lane South, Smethwick, West Midlands
Central Public Library, Sandwell, West Midlands
Period: Edwardian (1902 - 1913)
This public library was built in 1907 by Stephen J Holliday of West Bromwich.
Central Public Library, Sandwell, West Midlands
Discover more
Ready for more local heritage? Take a look at these other places nearby
