Bilbrook, Staffordshire

Infobox UK place
official_name= Bilbrook
country = England
region = West Midlands
area_total_km2 = 1396
population= 5,174 (Estimate 2004)
population_density= 3.68
os_grid_reference= SJ882029
map_type= South Staffordshire
latitude = 52.62443
longitude = -2.17427
post_town= WOLVERHAMPTON
postcode_area= WV
postcode_district= WV8
dial_code= 01902
shire_district= South Staffordshire
shire_county= Staffordshire
constituency_westminster= Wolverhampton
london_distance= 145.53

Bilbrook is a village in the South Staffordshire district of Staffordshire, England. It is situated close to the border of the West Midlands, just outside Wolverhampton. Bilbrook is often overshadowed by nearby Codsall village but has its own separate identity. The village gets its name from the Roman word for watercress, bil, that grew in the local brook until recent times.

History

Prior to the 1850s Bilbrook was a small farming village composed mainly of the Estate of Bilbrook Manor, with its constituent farm workers cottages. Since most manors were established in the Saxon or Early Norman periods it is reasonable to assume that the village has existed for at least a thousand years in some form or other and probably longer than that. In 1851, the 'History, Gazeteer and Directory of Staffordshire (William White, Sheffield - 1851) had this to say:

"Bilbrook is a hamlet of scattered houses, partly in Codsall, but mostly in Tettenhall Parish, four miles NW of Wolverhampton, and near Codsall Railway Station".

Education and amenities

Bilbrook has a first school (Lane Green), a middle school (Bilbrook Middle) and a church. Other features include The Woodman Inn public house and two rows of shops including a Tesco Express supermarket. It has a yearly fete and is generally considered a safe place to live.

Bilbrook railway station is on the Shrewsbury-Wolverhampton Line at Birches Bridge.

External links

* [http://www.bilbrook.50megs.com/history.htm Bilbrook Village Website - History Page]