In 1851 West Bromwich was described as a populous parish, lying between Wednesbury and Handsworth, and containing a long chain of villages and streets, which form one widely-spread town extending from the vicinity of Wednesbury, on the Birmingham road, to within three and a half miles NW of Birmingham, and three miles E of Dudley. This parish forms one of the busiest scenes in the South Staffordshire mining and manufacturing district, and extends over about 6000 acres with a population of 34,581 inhabitants.