Handsworth, West Midlands

Handsworth is a suburb of Birmingham in the West Midlands, England.

History

Handsworth is an Anglo-Saxon name meaning "the land enclosed around hands farmhouse". It was recorded in the Domesday Survey of 1086, as a holding of William Fitz-Ansculf, the Lord of Dudley, although at that time it would only have been a very small village surrounded by farmland and extensive woodland.

Related Topics:
Domesday Survey - 1086 - William Fitz-Ansculf - Lord - Dudley

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The name Handsworth is of Saxon origin, from its Saxon owner Hondes and the Anglo-Saxon word weorthing meaning farm or estate. From the 13th century through to the 18th century, it remained a small village until Matthew Boulton who lived at the nearby Soho House set up the Soho Manufactory in 1764 on Handsworth Heath. Accommodation was built for the factory workers, the village quickly grew, and in 1851, there were over six thousand people living in the township. Forty years later over thirty-two thousand were counted at the census of 1881, and by 1911, this had more than doubled to 68,610.

Related Topics:
Saxon - Anglo-Saxon - 13th century - 18th century - Matthew Boulton - Soho House - 1764 - 1851 - Census - 1881 - 1911

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The development of Handsworth was rather sporadic. The result is that many of the roads and streets have a mixture of types and periods of buildings.

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Postwar

During the Second World War, West Indians had arrived as part of the colonial war effort, where they worked in Birmingham munitions factories. Post-war, a rebuilding programme required much unskilled labour and Birmingham's industrial base expanded, significantly increasing the demand for both skilled and unskilled workers. During this time, there was direct recruitment for workers from the Caribbean.

Related Topics:
Second World War - West Indian - Colonial - Munitions - Post-war - Industrial - Caribbean

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The West Indian population in Birmingham numbered over 17,000 by the 1961 census count. In addition, during this time, Indians, particularly Sikhs from the Punjab arrived in Birmingham, many of them working in the foundries and on the production lines in motor vehicle manufacturing.

Related Topics:
1961 - Indians - Sikhs - Punjab - Foundries

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