Wolverhampton

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• Subotica

History

A local tradition states that King Wulfhere of Mercia founded an abbey of St Mary at Wolverhampton in 659. Wolverhampton is recorded as being the site of a decisive battle between the unified Mercian Angles and West Saxons against the raiding Danes in 910, although sources are unclear as to whether the battle itself took place in Wednesfield or Tettenhall. Both places have since been incorporated into Wolverhampton. The Mercians and West Saxons claimed a decisive victory, and the field of Woden is recognised by numerous place names in Wednesfield. In 985, King Ethelred the Unready granted lands at a place referred to as to Lady Wulfrun by royal charter, and hence founding the settlement. St Mary's Church was founded in 966, later named St Peters. It is not known if The Wolverhampton Pillar predates that, but probably does. The Pillar is thought to be a Roman column taken from Wroxeter or Wall (Letocetum). In 994, a monastery was consecrated there in Wolverhampton for which Wulfrun granted land at Upper Arley in Worcestershire, Bilston, Willenhall, Wednesfield, Pelsall, Ogley Hay near Brownhills, Hilton near Wall, Hatherton, Kinvaston, Hilton near Wolverhampton and Featherstone. A statue of Lady Wulfrun, sculpted by Sir Charles Wheeler, can be seen on the stairs outside the church. Wolverhampton at this date is a large settlement of fifty households. In 1179, there is mention of a market held in the town, and, in 1204, it had come to the attention of King John that the town did not possess a Royal Charter for holding a market. This charter for a weekly market held on a Wednesday was eventually granted on 4 February 1258 by Henry III. and by the many small streets, especially in the city centre, called "Fold" , as well as Woolpack Street and Woolpack Alley. From…

Geography

Wolverhampton lies north-west of its larger near-neighbour Birmingham, and forms the second largest part of the West Midlands conurbation. To the north and west lies the Staffordshire and Shropshire countryside. Wolverhampton city centre falls outside of the area traditionally known as the Black Country, although some areas such as the town and former borough of Bilston and rds using the term to refer to the western part of the West Midlands, excluding Birmingham, Solihull and Coventry. Examples would be UK Government regional bodies such as the Black Country Development Corporation, under whose remit the city fell. The city lies upon the Midlands Plateau at above sea level. There are no major rivers within the city, although the rivers Penk and Tame rise in the city, as does Smestow Brook, a tributary of the Stour, and thence the Severn. This means that the city lies astride the main east–west watershed of England. The geology of the city is complex, with a combination of Triassic and Carboniferous geology; specifically Bunter and Keuper sandstone, and Upper and Middle Coal measures. There is an area of dolerite intrusions. Like the rest of central England, Wolverhampton's climate is oceanic (Köppen Cfb) and therefore quite temperate, with average maximum temperatures in July being around , and with the maximum daytime temperature in January being around . The Met Office's nearest observation station is at Penkridge, about north of the city. As with much of the locality, the majority of areas in Wolverhampton have names that are of Old English (Anglo-Saxon) origin, with a few exceptions such as Penn, (pre-English Brittonic place name) Parkfields, Park Village and Lanesfield. Localities in the City of Wolverhampton include: * Aldersley * All Saints * Ashmore…