Map sources for Willenhall at grid reference SO9698

Willenhall is a small town in the West Midlands of England, with a population of approximately 40,000. It is situated between Wolverhampton and Walsall, formerly in the county of Staffordshire. Most of the town is now a part of the Walsall Metropolitan Borough, although a small part is now contained within the City of Wolverhampton. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1802x2589, 189 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1802x2589, 189 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... The County of West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England, the United Kingdom, formed in 1974. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population - Total (mid-2004) - Density Ranked 1st UK 50. ... Wolverhampton is an industrial, commercial and university city and metropolitan borough in the English West Midlands, traditionally part of the county of Staffordshire. ... Map sources for Walsall at grid reference SP0198 Walsall Art Gallery Walsall is an industrial town in the West Midlands of England, it is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. ... Staffordshire (abbreviated Staffs) is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. ... Walsall is a metropolitan borough of the county of West Midlands, England. ... Wolverhampton is an industrial, commercial and university city and metropolitan borough in the English West Midlands, traditionally part of the county of Staffordshire. ...

Willenhall is famous for the manufacture of locks, and the UK's National Lock Museum is situated within the town. A lock is a mechanical fastening device which may be used on a door, vehicle, or container. ...

Lock making began as a 'cottage industry' with many families producing locks and parts for locks in sheds or outhouses at the rear of their homes. The men developed 'hump backs' through constant bending over work benches, filing etc. The town became known locally as 'Humpshire' and is still regarded with affection by many locals. As late as 1956 there were still local men who had humps. Some public houses even had holes in the wall behind the wooden bench seats to allow their patrons to sit comfortably with their hump in the hole. The last example of such a 'pub' was demolished in the early 1950's. Willenhall is still 'Humpshire' to many people.

The northern border of Willenhall has always been adjoining greenbelt land, although Willenhall has expanded so much in the last 100 years that its northern border has been moved by about two miles. This is mostly due to housing developments in the Short Heath and New Invention areas.