Oldbury factfile

How to get to Oldbury
Oldbury is a town in the county of Shropshire in the West Midlands. It's part of the Black Country and is close to Birmingham. By road it is best reached via the M5 and then the A4034.

Oldbury through the ages
Oldbury dates back to at least the 13th century but it was with the arrival of the canals in the 18th century that it really came into its own, developing into an important industrial town producing coal, iron and steel.

Because of this ready access to the raw materials required in manufacturing, Oldbury became heavily involved in armaments production during both world wars. In World War I Oldbury was responsible for building the vast majority of British tanks.

As manufacturing went into decline in the 1970s and 1980s, much of Oldbury was redeveloped. Today Oldbury has a very modern town centre, with a variety of retail parks, offices and leisure facilities.

Famous people from Oldbury
Frank Skinner, alternative comedian and co-writer of Euro '96 anthem Three Lions, was born and raised in Oldbury, attending St Hubert's Roman Catholic Junior School and Oldbury Technical School. He came to fame in 1991 after winning the prestigious Perrier Award for comics at the Edinburgh Festival.

Things to see and do around Oldbury
Enjoy the feudal splendour of the Dudley Castle ruins, at the heart of the 40 acres that comprise Dudley Zoo.

Originally a Norman castle, it was rebuilt as a Renaissance palace in 1530 by John Dudley (later beheaded for his part in the doomed plot to put Lady Jane Grey on the throne). And the zoo offers one of the most diverse collections of animals in the country.

A 10-minute drive away, you'll find Birmingham Botanical Gardens & Glasshouses. Opened in 1832, they were designed by leading Victorian horticulturalist JC Loudon. The glasshouses are home to an astonishingly varied collection, from tropical to Mediterranean.

Arts and culture in Oldbury
Set in the grounds of a 26-acre urban heritage park close to Dudley Zoo and Castle is the Black Country Living Museum. Discover a fascinating world with recreated buildings from the 19th and early 20th centuries, brought to life by costumed demonstrators and trained educational guides.

Heritage and natural beauty spots around Oldbury
Parts of Church Square and Unity Place have been designated a conservation area, protecting them from inappropriate development.

Oldbury's canals are increasingly used for boating and angling. And a major reclamation project has turned the picturesque Titford Pool, part of Oldbury's canal system, into one of the area's top beauty spots.

Oldbury's claims to fame
The first branch of Lloyds Bank was opened in Oldbury in 1864. The building remains—but is now the site of a fast-food restaurant.

The World War I song It's a Long Way to Tipperary was written by Jack Judge—who came from Oldbury.