Smethwick, Industrial municipality in West Midlands, England
Description
Smethwick is an industrial town in the West Midlands, located west of Birmingham, with residential areas, commercial zones, and manufacturing facilities spread throughout. The landscape shows a mix of older factory buildings alongside newer development.
History
The settlement was recorded in the Domesday Book as Smedeuuich and grew from a small hamlet into an industrial hub. The Birmingham Canal, constructed in the 1820s, brought factories and workers that transformed the area entirely.
Culture
Different ethnic communities have made their home here, and the conversion of a former church into a Sikh gurdwara shows how groups have built their own spaces. You can see how this town has become a place where people from many backgrounds live side by side.
Practical
The town is best reached by public transport, with good connections from Birmingham. Wear comfortable shoes if you plan to walk around and explore the different neighborhoods.
Did you know?
A steam engine built by Boulton & Watt is closely tied to the history of this place and is now displayed at the Thinktank Museum in Birmingham. This engine remains one of the oldest surviving industrial machines and shows the technical power that drove Smethwick's growth.
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Midland Metropolitan Hospital
1.3 km
Black Patch Park
1.7 km
Soho Foundry
1.5 km
Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick
359 m
Galton Bridge
1.2 km
St James' Church
1.9 km
Engine Arm Aqueduct
568 m
Smethwick Old Church
743 m
Smethwick Council House
253 m
West Smethwick Park
1.6 km
Summit Bridge
1.3 km
Thimblemill Library
1.4 km
St Germain’s Church
1.9 km
Church of Holy Trinity
267 m
Smethwick Library
486 m
Smethwick War Memorial, Victoria Park
295 m
Top Lock Of Three, Smethwick Locks, With Attached Footbridge (Approximately 270 Metres West, South West Of Bridge Street Birmingham Canal Wolverhampton Level
642 m
The Waterloo Hotel
911 m
War Memorial at Mitchell and Butlers Brewery
1.4 km
Smethwick Baths
1.5 km
Guest Keen and Nettlefolds (GKN) War Memorial
1.5 km
Paxton House
310 m
Church of St Mary
1.9 km
Footbridge At Junction With Birmingham Canal, Smethwick Junction (Approximately 190 Metres East Of Bridge Street) Birmingham Level Wolverhampton Level
929 m
Railway Bridge 15 Metres North Of Summit Bridge/Roebuck Lane Birmingham Canal Wolverhampton Level
1.3 km
Gatehouse And Adjoining Office Buildings At Soho Foundry
1.5 km
Astle Gates
1.9 km
Victoria Park
414 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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