The city of Wolverhampton was founded in 985AD. The Saxon King Aethelred made a grant of lands at Heantune (Wolverhampton) to the town’s benefactoress Lady Wulfruna.
The lands covered Bilsatena (Bilston), Seeges League (Sedgley) and Tresel (Trysull).
Nine years after the original grant 994AD Lady Wulfruna endowed a minster church which stood on the present site of St Peters.
The Domesday book records the name Hantone and shows this area was held by the Cannons of Hantone from Samson of Bayeaux.
On 4th February 1258 Henry III granted a charter for a market and fair to the Lord of the Manor Giles de Erdington.
This was for a weekly market on Wednesday’s and an annual fair.
Over the next two hundred years the lands of Hantone changed ownership many times. Including: The Prior of St Mary’s Worcester, The Bishop of Salisbury and The Bishop of Chester.
Bilston’s Greyhound and Punchbowl Inn dates from 1450 and was originally built as a Manor House
Earliest record of Coal mining in the area 1273 at Sedgley.
1512 Grammar School founded built in St Johns Street then demolished, a new one built in1714 also demolished.
Thomas Smart and John Holyhead of Rowely Regis charged and executed in 1606 for sheltering Gunpowder plot renegades. At Queen Square.
Great fire in 1590 began in Barn Street and lasted for five days.
Great fire of 1696 again began in Barn Street
Town Hall completed in 1703
1709 Abraham Darby succeeded in turning Coal to coke for iron smelting
Charity School built 1710
Wolverhampton is known for the production of locks and keys as early as 1603, the best known local firm being Charles and Jeremiah Chubb.
Molineux House built in 1774 for £700.
1862 two balloonists Dr James Glaisher and Henry Tracy Coxwell rose approx 5 miles into the air.
In 1889 the Molineux Hotel as it had become known became the headquarters of the Wolverhampton Wanderers football Club.
1770 the trade directory listed 30 toy (toy meaning small fashion article or trinket) makers in the town
Another important industry in the town was ‘Japanning’ (making enamel for various objects) from the 18th century.
As a result in 1703 a fire engine was purchased with it went 24 buckets of water.
Thatched roofing was banned in 1814.
Wolverhampton was known for the manufacture of steel buckles and sword hilts as early as the late 17th century.
By 1750 population 7,500 approx.
The first canal opened in 1772
1801 (first census) population about 12,000
Gas lights in town from 1821
1821 a dispensary opened where the poor could obtain free medicenes.
First Railways 1837
1832 Cholera outbreak over 700 died in Bilston.
1832 Cholera outbreak in Wolverhampton 193 died.
1840 Bilston Police Station built with a moat . The only Police Station in the Country to have one.
1841 population approx 20,000.
1848 Wolverhapton granted a charter and officially became a borough consisting of a mayor thirty six councillors and twelve aldermen
1849 Cholera outbreak.
Market Hall 1853
Queen Victoria visited in 1866
Beatties began as a corner shop in 1877
Parks opened West Park 1881 and then East Park 1896
Art Gallery 1884
Theatre 1894
Library 1897
1918 Influenza outbreak 216 died.
First Automatic Traffic lights in Britain 1927
Mander centre opened 1968
Wulfrun centre opened 1968
Made a City by the Queen on 31st January 2001
Current population 239,000 approx.
With the best of intention all of the above information is true, correct and given in good faith, however, we cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions contained within the above.
Equally we recommend that should you need or want to find out more you should conduct more detailed independant research.
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