General Information
|
Population |
| Total Population |
10,668 (2004 Estimate) |
| No. Over 60 |
18.7% |
| No. Under 18 |
24.7% |
| No. BME |
|
| Indices of Deprivation |
|
| Area KM2 |
1,664 |
| Population Density KM2 |
6.41 |
| Locality |
Three (Click
for more information) |
| Financial
Information |
| Annual Budget |
|
| Annual Precept |
£187,165.00 (2010/2011) |
| Grants Received |
|
| Spending per Resident |
|
| Average Council Tax Band |
£52.48 |
Great Wyrley As It Is Now
Great Wyrley Parish Council came into existence in 1894
following the Local Government Act of the same year. One of its
first investments must have been the purchase of land for a
cemetery in Station Street in Cheslyn Hay. The conveyance is dated
19th May 1896. The conveyance, hand written is not noted
for its full stops. Since those days the parish council has seen
its role as the main provider of leisure facilities.
The parish council provides a community centre, football pitches
with changing rooms, childrens' play areas, Skate Park, BMX track,
youth shelter, bus shelters and public open space.
The Parish Council normally meets on the first Wednesday of each
month (bar August) at 7.15, at the Community Centre, Landywood Lane
with committee meetings on the second Wednesday
Brief History of Great Wyrley
Great Wyrley is well over 1000 years old. Its
name is Saxon in origin derived from Wir leah ‘The Bog Myrtle
Glade.’ Wereleia is mentioned in the Doomsday book as land held by
the bishop of Chester. William the Conqueror allowed a Wyrley Saxon
to remain as the forester of Cannock Chase. Much of the forest was
cleared by Tudor times, when oaks were used for fuel and the
building of fleets and then the first coal was dug .
During the Civil War, Great Wyrley was divided
between king and parliament. Ann, the Walsall born daughter of
Henry Stone, a Cromwellian General was married to John De Wyrley a
Royalist Captain. The 18 and 19th Century brought Wyrley
its own industrial revolution based on coal and iron nearby. The
canals, roads and railways brought skilled men and materials
together. Where they met new factories were built at Church
Bridge.
Great Wyrley is also infamous for the ‘Wyrley
Gang’ who maimed horses and killed them. The local vicars' son,
George Edalji was wrongly convicted of the crime. Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle became involved in the case and George Edalji was later given
a free pardon. To this day no one knows the identity of the Wyrley
Gang.
Links
Contact Details
for the Parish Chairmen & Clerk