Tamworth
Encyclopedia : T : TA : TAM : Tamworth
- For other places named Tamworth, see Tamworth (disambiguation).
| Borough of Tamworth | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Shown within Staffordshire | |||||
| Geography | |||||
| Status: | Non-metropolitan district, Borough | ||||
| Region: | West Midlands | ||||
| Admin. County: | Staffordshire | ||||
| Area: - Total | Ranked 336th 30.85 km² | ||||
| Admin. HQ: | Tamworth | ||||
| ONS code: | 41UK | ||||
| Demographics | |||||
| Population: - Total (2004 est.) - Density | Ranked
Tamworth is a historic town and local government district in Staffordshire England, located 17 miles (25 km) north-east from the city centre of Birmingham. The town gained its name from the River Tame, which flows through the town, as does the River Anker. At the 2001 census the town had a population of 74,531. Tamworth is the home of the historic Tamworth Castle and Moat House, and has an extremely successful non-league football team, Tamworth FC. It is also home to the Snowdome, the first indoor ski slope in the UK and Drayton Manor Theme Park. The town's main industries include logistics, engineering, clothing, brick, tile and paper manufacture. It was also home to the Reliant car company. HistoryTamworth has existed since Saxon times, it was sacked by Danes in the 9th century. Defences in the form of a castle were constructed against Danish invaders by Ethelfleda, Lady of the Mercians, the daughter of King Alfred the Great. In the 11th century, a Norman castle was built on the site of the Saxon one, which still exists to this day.Grants of borough privileges, including rights to a third additional fair in 1588, consolidated Tamworth’s historic importance as ‘the seat of Saxon kings’. Tamworth expanded to become one of the most populous towns in the west midlands by 1670 when the combined hearth tax returns from Warwickshire ad Staffordshire list a total of some 320 households. Its strategic trade advantage lay with control of the two vital packhorse bridges across the Anker and the Tame on the route from London to Chester. While it remained a local market town, it did a brisk trade providing travellers with the staple bread, ale and accommodation, maintaining trading links as far afield as Bristol. Charles II’s reconfirmation of its borough's privileges in 1663 gave the town an added boost, as confirmed by Richard Blome's description of its celebrated market, well served with corn, provisions and lean cattle. There are 4 cannon in the Castle Grounds. In the summer, some children enjoy the delights of the cannon and are often seen climbing on these destructive historical weapons. The town grew rapidly in the 18th and 19th centuries during the Industrial Revolution, due largely to the surrounding coal mines. It also became a hub of the canal network, with the Coventry Canal and the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal being built through the town. Later the railways arrived with the Midland Railway route from Derby to Birmingham, and later the London and North Western Railway, which provided direct trains to the capital. A split-level station exists where the two main lines cross one-another, the higher level platforms (on the Derby to Birmingham line), being at right angles to the lower ones on the main line to London. The Victorian Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel served as the town's MP from 1830 until his death in 1850. It was in Tamworth that Robert Peel unveiled his Tamworth Manifesto in 1834 which created what is now the modern Conservative Party. Tamworth has grown rapidly in the post-war years due to overspill from the West Midlands. A population of about 7,000 in 1931 had risen to some 13,000 just after World War 2; this figure remained fairly static until the late 1960s when a major expansion plan was implemented. Although not officially a "New Town", Tamworth certainly seemed like one for a time. As part of this plan the town boundaries were enlarged to include the industrial area around Wilnecote to the south. The 1961 population of the new enlarged area was 25,000. In 1971 it was 40,000; in 1981, 64,000; in 1991, 68,000 and in 2001, 74,000. The target population is c.80,000. The village of Fazeley merges almost completely into the town to the south west, and, although nominally belonging to the Lichfield District area rather than Tamworth Borough, many consider it to be part of Tamworth. If Fazeley is regarded as part of the town, Tamworth's population has already risen to 80,000. Tamworth was historically split between Staffordshire and Warwickshire, with the county boundary running through the town centre. Staffordshire was made to include the entire borough in 1888. The A5 £26,000,000 five mile (8 km) dual-carriageway 'Fazeley, Two Gates and Wilnecote Bypass' opened in July 1995, acting both as a bypass of Watling Street, and as a fast route for traffic into the town. This was further extended to meet the M6 Toll and A38 in 2005. ReferencesJ. Gould, “The Medieval Burgesses of Tamworth: their Liberties, Courts and Markets”, Transactions of the South Staffordshire Archaeological Society, No. 13 (1971-2).CultureTamworth has several bars the most popular being 'Yates', 'Wetherspoons' and 'B79'. The most popular nightclubs with locals are 'Kube' and 'The Embassy' (the latter known by locals as "The Embo"). However, The Embassy closed for refurbishment and re-opened in June as 'Trinity' a new "Super-club". Other great hangouts include Chicago Rock Cafe, Bonds and the Jailhouse Rock Café. There is and has been for a long time an indie/rock sub-culture. The rock band Wolfsbane cut their teeth in the town, before their lead singer Blaze Bayley, went on to front the legendary Iron Maiden. Venues such as 'Bonds' and 'The Robert Peel' play "alternative" music. Alternative club nights such as the quarterly 'Slackers' and 'Skull Club' and the local band nights at the assembly rooms attract many people as there are very few alternative music venues, although this is growing all the time. The live music scene is currently growing more and more popular by the day due to the high quality of bands on the scene such as 'Illfated', 'The Indigos', popular ska band 'Fishnet Parachutes', 'Mojo Stripe', 'Abraxus', 'Uberweed', 'Headlong', 'Jones Project' and many more besides. There is also a thriving underground Dance/Drum n Bass/Hip Hop scene with Bullit being the main venue where DJs such as Redanka The Dex Pistols, Andy Milford, Matt Fitzpatrick are resident DJs, plus a number of internationally known DJs regularly play sets. The Hip Hop scene in Tamworth goes back to late 80s with Suicide Petch & Juice Mcs producing the first 12 inch "Tamworths Kicking" with Rhythm Damage. Other notable M.Cs from That era were M'add Archer, Dynamic Ammo and Raze Brooks. The hip hop group with the most recognition U.K wide are a 6 man collective called The Gnostix, started in 98 by Semantix The Sorcera & Phil B, they were soon joined by Reggiemental, Agent Ryall, 3rd Degree Burnz & Prophet. Gnostix have grown into a collective family working with other artist such as Raze Brooks, Joe Gutta, Erdington Dan, Second Suspeckt, Moorish Delta7 & Illusive Shadow. Gnostix have done gigs with the cream of U.K hip hop & Drum n Bass with artist such as DJ Krust, Skinnyman, Yungun, Baby J, Yogi etc. Raze & Lava Flo have released Their debut album "It's Not Just About Roses" out on their own label Rb Records and Studio Vasuvie. They have received national press and radio play, to hear their stuff check:
http://www.myspace.com/raze1974 Julian Cope, former singer with The Teardrop Explodes and now solo artist and writer was brought up in the town.
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