Bradley
Iron production was always important to Bradley, and the arrival of John "iron-mad" Wilkinson in 1757, saw major developments in production and engineering. He worked closely with Boulton and Watt on their steam engine designs and built the first steam powered blast furnace at Bradley, known locally as "The Mother Furnace". Wilkinson also devised a machine that could bore the steam cylinders necessary for their famous engines. This was a spin off from his more lucrative success with boring cannon barrels which were used extensively in the American War of Independence.
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Bilston
As well as iron production, Bilston's main claim to fame is for its enamelling trade, both decorative and utilitarian. Developed in Bilston around 1750, decorative enamel was applied to a variety of small trinkets. Very much a fine-art craft, makers produced snuff boxes, sweetmeat boxes and scent boxes from copper for people of wealth and fashion. It was a skilled industry, rivalling european trade, by being much cheaper than those boxes produced from silver and gold. Production extended for over eighty years and is now making a comeback. The production of enamel signs and cast iron baths has now, unfortunately disappeared.
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Bushbury
To the North East of Wolverhampton town centre, Bushbury includes the site of the Electric Construction Company and a very large geometric housing estate developed in 1924. The Clyno car company moved here in 1925 but success was shortlived and the factory soon used for other purposes. More successful was the Meadows company, making gearboxes and engines for a variety of manufacturers while nearby Goodyear started to make tyres in 1928. As Wolverhampton grew, industry developed further to the North and West with Turners and IMI Marston in Fordhouses and Boulton Paul at Pendeford.
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Ettingshall
The ancient manor of Ettingshall, between Wolverhampton and Bilston, is surrounded by the areas of Priestfield, Parkfield, Lanesfield and Millfields which became significant manufacturing areas in the early twentieth century. John Thompson Ltd were famous for boilers, tankers, chassis and Tarmac, taking its name from one of the first founders of road building - the Tar Macadam Syndicatr Ltd - set up here in 1905. It developed into a nationwide organisation through the manufacture and supply of its roadstone materials. More than just a road building company.
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Wednesfield
Besides keymaking, Wednesfield had its own exclusive industry - animal trap manufacture - big business at the turn of the century, with Wednesfield exporting traps all over the world. Sidebotham's trap shop, rebuilt in the Museum village, exported 90% of all its traps, with 70% of these being destined for Australia to control their rabbit and dingo populations. Africa and India both made huge demands for lion traps, used to aid communities in ridding themselves of dangerous,possibly man-eating beasts. Opposition to the use of traps began in the 1950's, with a final ban in the early 1980's. Wednesfield's trap trade was inevitably affected and eventually dwindled.
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Wolverhampton
In 985 Lady Wulfruna was granted land in Heantun by the Saxon King Aethelred. She then transferred this land to the church of St. Mary, and Heantun meaning "high town" first became known as Wulfrun Heantun, subsequently corrupted to Wolverhampton. Its early importance was based on wool, but by the late eighteenth century freedom from guild restrictions had encouraged industry based on coal and iron.
Cycle making commenced in the 1860's, Rudge began here, and Sunbeam and Wearwell became famous for quality. Motorcycles, cars buses and commercial vehicles followed with many famous brands and competition successes in the early 1900's. By the 1930's the motor trade had declined but component manufacture and specialist engineering continue to the present day. As a university town it has a thriving nightlife and music scene which draws significant influence from the mix of ethnic communities.
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