Albion

Settlement in Staffordshire

England

Albion

The Billiard Hall Public House Wetherspoon pub on St Michael Street, West Bromwich. — The Billiard Hall Public House Credit: Ian S

Albion is a small village located in the county of Staffordshire, England. Situated approximately 5 miles southeast of the town of Burton upon Trent, Albion is nestled in the scenic countryside, surrounded by lush green fields and rolling hills.

The village is primarily residential, with a population of around 1,000 residents. The charming and peaceful atmosphere of Albion is one of its most notable features, making it an ideal place for those seeking a tranquil setting away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Albion boasts a rich history, with evidence of human occupation dating back to ancient times. The village is believed to have been established during the Roman period, and remnants of Roman settlements have been discovered in the area. The village's name, "Albion," has its roots in the ancient Celtic language, adding to its historical significance.

Despite its small size, Albion offers a range of amenities to its residents. There is a local primary school, providing education for children in the area. Additionally, the village has a parish church, a community center, and a few small businesses, including a convenience store and a pub. The surrounding countryside provides ample opportunities for outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and horseback riding.

Albion's close proximity to Burton upon Trent allows residents to access a wider range of services and amenities, including shopping centers, restaurants, and leisure facilities. The village is well-connected by road, with easy access to major routes, making it convenient for commuters and visitors alike.

Overall, Albion offers a peaceful and idyllic setting, combined with a rich history and access to nearby amenities, making it an attractive place to live or visit in Staffordshire.

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Albion Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 52.515595/-2.018388 or Grid Reference SO9890. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

The Billiard Hall Public House

Wetherspoon pub on St Michael Street, West Bromwich.

Ian S

West Bromwich Bus Station

Ian S

West Brom is just a great big onion

This striking onion dome tops a building being erected on Victoria Street in West Bromwich, photographed here on a very wet March afternoon. The structure looks like a gurdwara or Sikh temple, but is described on the map as a community centre for the nearby Guru Nanak gurdwara. On a visit to a gurdwara in Coventry I heard the guide describe the dome over the entrance as a symbolic crown, which confers honour on all who enter, regardless of worldly status (in contrast to the corrupt world that is 'just a great big onion' in the Marvin Gaye & Tammy Terrell song).

A J Paxton

Ryland Memorial School, Lodge Road, West Bromwich

This art school was erected in 1902 to designs by Wood & Kendrick of Birmingham. The style is Renaissance Revival, with an allegorical relief in the central bay over the coat of arms which in turn tops the porch with its ogee arch. The building is Grade II listed; see its entry on the Historic England site Link

. It is now a British Muslim School.

A J Paxton

Zapraszamy: We invite you to the Polish Shop

The Polish shop stands at the junction of Victoria Street and Price Street, near the West Bromwich Town Hall metro station.

A J Paxton

Lodge Road crosses the Metro line, West Bromwich

The Lodge Road bridge is viewed here from the Lodge Road West Bromwich Town Hall metro station. A tram from Wolverhampton is approaching the station. The metro trams have used this line from Wolverhampton to Birmingham since 1999. It follows the course of the former Birmingham to Wolverhampton Low Level Line that was built by the Great Western Railway (GWR) between 1851 and 1854, as part of the GWR's route from London Paddington to Birkenhead Woodside. Passenger services were withdrawn in 1972; see Wikipedia Link

A J Paxton

Wesley Methodist Church, High Street, West Bromwich

The church building dates from 1974; see also SP0091 : West Bromwich Methodist Church. It replaced a Wesley Chapel erected in 1835; see the Victoria County History of Staffordshire Link

. The striking cross in hand sculpture is by Chris Dunseath and is dedicated to John Wesley, the 18th century preacher and founder of the Methodist movement; he and his brother Charles, the hymn-writer, preached in West Bromwich from the early 1740s. The sculpture was erected in the High Street in 1989 and moved to its present site in 2013, as reported in the church newsletter Link

A J Paxton

Railway monument, West Bromwich

The monument stands between West Bromwich Ringway and the Metro tramway and the West Bromwich Central stop, situated on the old railway from Birmingham Snow Hill to Wolverhampton Low Level; see SP0091 : Lodge Road crosses the Metro line, West Bromwich.

A J Paxton

Detail of the Ryland Memorial School, West Bromwich

This art school was erected in 1902 to designs by Wood & Kendrick of Birmingham; for more information, see SP0091 : Ryland Memorial School, Lodge Road, West Bromwich, also its listing at the Historic England site Link

. The porch has an ogee arch, with a pair of double curves meeting at the apex. Above the porch, inscription and coat of arms is an allegorical frieze in terracotta, showing various artists and craftspeople (much spattered by pigeons, unfortunately), with a lady awarding a wreath to one of them. The building is now a Muslim school.

A J Paxton

West Bromwich Institute building, Lodge Road, with Ryland Memorial School beyond

The West Bromwich Institute has housed various schools since the West Bromwich Municipal Secondary School opened here in 1902, financed by G H Kenrick of the local ironware manufacturing dynasty; see the Victoria County History of Staffordshire Link

. The actress and humanitarian Madeleine Carroll was educated here, and a blue plaque to the left of the entrance remembers her. The building housed part of Sandwell College before falling derelict and being damaged by fire in 2013. It is currently occupied by the Al Furqan Islamic lifestyle store and various other businesses.

A J Paxton

Porch of the West Bromwich Institute

For more information on this building see SP0091 : West Bromwich Institute building, Lodge Road, with Ryland Memorial School beyond; I have been unable to discover online the name of the architect. The blue plaque remembers Madeleine Carroll, the actress and humanitarian, who was born in West Bromwich and was a school pupil here. An Islamic shop now occupies this part of the building.

A J Paxton

Market traders, West Bromwich High Street

It is not a good sign when Poundland are moving out of the main street, but these street traders seem to be busy on the pedestrianised stretch of the High Street in West Bromwich.

A J Paxton

Kenrick & Jefferson Building, West Bromwich

Like many buildings at this end of West Bromwich High Street this one is very grand, very Victorian, and in a poor state of repair. Six years ago it was boarded up and sprouting buddleia SP0091 : Former offices of Kenrick and Jefferson, West Bromwich and not much has changed since. It is a Grade II listed building; the listing can be found at the Historic England site Link

. It was another corner of the local Kenrick family empire (see SP0089 : Kenrick Building, Hall Street South, West Bromwich), and was built in 1883 as the headquarters of their newspaper, the West Bromwich Free Press. It is a fine building in red brick and terracotta in a Renaissance style.

A J Paxton

Fortress on Moor Street - West Bromwich, West Midlands

Standing to the south-west of the Birmingham - Wolverhampton Metro tram line, this imposing building is the West Bromwich Police Station. This view was taken from near the junction of Lyng Lane and Moor Street. A stub of Lyng Lane crosses by bridge over the Metro line and then over the West Bromwich Ringway to reach the Bus Station. There are or were plans to close a total of 24 Birmingham police stations but whether this expensively built edifice will join them I know not. Time photo taken 12.59 pm GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). SP0091 : Lyng Lane northern end - West Bromwich, West Midlands SP0091 : Lyng Lane with Moor Street - West Bromwich, West Midlands

Martin Richard Phelan

Lyng Lane northern end - West Bromwich, West Midlands

At its southern end, Lyng Lane joins with Lyttleton Street to the west and Sams Lane to the east. At its northern end, seen ahead, is the junction with Moor Street. On the right of the camera, out of shot, is a stub of Lyng Lane leading to an overbridge crossing the Birmingham - Wolverhampton Metro tram line. Beyond stands the West Bromwich Bus Station and the Kings Square and Queens Square shopping centres. Time photo taken 12.52 pm GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). SP0091 : Fortress on Moor Street - West Bromwich, West Midlands SP0091 : Lyng Lane with Moor Street - West Bromwich, West Midlands

Martin Richard Phelan

Lyng Lane with Moor Street - West Bromwich, West Midlands

At the northern end of Lyng Lane, at its junction with Moor Street. The prominent building to the left is West Bromwich Police Station. To the south-east of here is the West Bromwich Central stop on the Birmingham - Wolverhampton Metro tram line. A stub of Lyng Lane leads to an overbridge crossing the tram line. From here there's (there is) access to West Bromwich Bus Station, the Kings Square and Queens Square shopping centres and a Tesco Superstore with other shops. Time photo taken 12.58 pm GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). SP0091 : Fortress on Moor Street - West Bromwich, West Midlands SP0091 : Lyng Lane northern end - West Bromwich, West Midlands

Martin Richard Phelan

West Bromwich Midland Metro Tram Station

Midland Metro opened in 1999 and runs 20km from Birmingham (Snow Hill) to Wolverhampton (St George’s) largely over the route of the former GWR mainline.

David Ellis