imported>Dawnseeker2000: /* top */ date format audit, minor formatting, refine ref details, unlink common terms

2025-04-05T03:32:08Z

top: date format audit, minor formatting, refine ref details, unlink common terms

New page

{{Other uses|Springvale (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
'''Spring Vale''' is a district and former [[Ward (politics)|ward]] of [[Wolverhampton City Council]], [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]], England. It is situated SSE of the city centre, on the city's border with the [[Metropolitan Borough of Dudley]]. The population of the ward at the [[2011 United Kingdom census|2011 census]] was 12,243.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=13689841&c=Spring+Vale&d=14&e=62&g=6368844&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1450619238562&enc=1|title=Wolverhampton Ward population 2011|accessdate=20 December 2015}}</ref>

It now forms a part of the [[Ettingshall South and Spring Vale (ward)|Ettingshall South and Spring Vale]] ward, the new boundaries taking effect from the May [[2023 City of Wolverhampton Council election|2023 Council elections]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Peter |last=Madeley |title=Wolverhampton Council elections: Full list of candidates standing in this year's poll|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/wolverhampton/2023/04/06/wolverhampton-council-elections-full-list-of-candidates-standing-in-this-years-poll |website=
[[Express & Star|expressandstar.com]] |access-date=15 November 2024 |date=6 April 2023}}</ref>

==Geography==
As well as [[Metropolitan Borough of Dudley|Dudley]], Spring Vale borders the [[Blakenhall]], [[Ettingshall]] and [[Bilston East]] wards, and forms part of the [[Wolverhampton South East (UK Parliament constituency)|Wolverhampton South East]] constituency. It contains the suburbs of Ettingshall Park, [[Woodcross]] (which is actually part of the [[Bilston]] township) and [[Lanesfield]].

==History==
The area has seen some regeneration in recent years, as a result of the closure of the Bilston Steel Works in 1979 by [[British Steel Corporation]]. The works were a major employer for the area and the location where the first [[Bessemer process|Bessemer]] blast furnace was installed, which allowed the invention of [[Tarmacadam|Tarmac]] using burnt coal residue.{{Citation needed|date=November 2008}} The closure resulted in the loss of 2,000 jobs and significant damage to the local economy.<ref>{{cite book|last=Institution of Civil Engineers |title=Urban Regeneration |publisher=Thomas Telford |date=1988 |pages=95–7 |isbn=0-7277-1371-X }}</ref>

==Places of interest==
[[File:Stainless steel sculpture near Spring Vale, Wolverhampton - geograph.org.uk - 2320918.jpg|thumb|'Roll Down' by Robert Erskine]]
In 1994, Blue Lamp and Tarmac Industries developed the land building Springvale Retail Park, providing new employment. In 1995, Blue Lamp Business Parks Ltd. commissioned a landmark sculpture called 'Roll Down', designed and created by sculptor [[Robert Erskine (sculptor)|Robert Erskine]] FRSS.<ref name="waterhouse">{{cite book|last=Noszlopy |first=George T. |author2=Waterhouse, Fiona |title=Public Sculpture of Staffordshire and the Black Country |publisher=Liverpool University Press |date=2005 |series=Public Sculpture of Britain |volume=9 |pages=19–20 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RbfVkHMTC0cC |isbn=0-85323-999-1}}</ref> 'Roll Down' stands on the exact location of where the number 1 Bessemer Blast Furnace, known as Elizabeth to the steel workers, was sited. At a height of {{convert|45|ft|m|0}} and {{convert|18.5|ft|m|0}} wide, 'Roll Down' is made of wrought stainless steel.<ref name="waterhouse"/> It was nominated for the Anderson Sculpture Prize. The sculpture was unveiled on 19 October 1994 by [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] MP [[Dennis Turner, Baron Bilston|Dennis Turner]], who had worked as a steelman at the Elizabeth blast furnace.<ref name="waterhouse"/> Past steel workers were invited to the ceremony and reception. 250 children from the adjacent Springvale Primary school buried memory capsules beneath the sculpture. This was after a tour organised by Robert Erskine to the works in Derby where he was creating 'Roll Down', and involved the children in the project. The capsules contain stories of the children's families experiencing unemployment, but also messages of thought for the future. Many children provided artifacts and objects from their relatives, which in time will be revealed and preserved for future generations. 'Roll Down' is designed to last a minimum of 500 years.

Also located in the area is Spring Vale Library on Bevan Avenue.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://win.wolverhampton.gov.uk/kb5/wolverhampton/directory/service.page?id=3kVb4DJ7fY8&adultchannel=0 |title=Spring Vale Branch Library |publisher=Wolverhampton City Council |accessdate=2024-11-15}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[City of Wolverhampton Council elections]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Wards of Wolverhampton}}

{{coord|52.553|-2.107|type:adm3rd_region:GB-WLV|display=title}}

[[Category:Wards of Wolverhampton City Council]]

{{WestMidlands-geo-stub}}

Spring Vale - Revision history

imported>Dawnseeker2000: /* top */ date format audit, minor formatting, refine ref details, unlink common terms